The next morning, Gareth decided he was too ill to come. Feeling sorry for himself, he dragged his aching bones back to bed and vowed to spend forty-eight hours under the duvet.

Judith had already phoned Patricia to tell her they’d be calling in en route to the party, because they needed to discuss something in private. Arriving in Coed Celyn around midday, they dropped their bags at the hotel and sent Dominic off in search of flowers and champagne to take to the party later. Judith and Jack made their way to Patricia’s house, but were both surprised to find that Judith’s key didn’t work in the lock.

As Judith knocked tentatively on the door, Jack pointed out a key safe – a new addition that was jutting out of the wall. But they had no time to discuss it, because the door was flamboyantly thrown open by Adrian, who stood there smiling.

‘Welcome! Welcome!’ he crowed, and made way for them to enter.

Judith was wrongfooted by his being there. She’d specifically told her mother she wanted to see her alone.

‘Can I get either of you a cup of tea?’ Adrian said brightly, wringing his hands and reminding Judith of Uriah Heep in Dickens’ David Copperfield.

‘I’m fine, thanks. Mum?’ asked Jack, ever the height of politeness.

‘No thanks, we just had a coffee.’

They made small talk for a while. Catrin and Sol’s anniversary party seemed to be the talk of the town.

‘My friend Tina works Montgomery Hall,’ said Adrian conspiratorially. ‘They’ve pulled out all the stops for it, I’m tellin’ you. Champagne, the lot.’

‘Right,’ said Judith cautiously, feeling uncomfortable discussing her friends’ private lives with this comparative stranger.

‘Would’ve been nice to have been invited!’ mumbled Patricia. ‘I’ve known the girl since she was five.’

‘I think they were a bit tight on numbers. Anyway,’ Judith said, changing the subject, ‘don’t let us hold you up, Adrian.’

‘Yeah, we need a little chat with Nana,’ smiled Jack. ‘It’s a private family matter.’

Adrian swallowed nervously, smiling briefly at Patricia before ploughing on. ‘Actually, I’ve been asked to stay.’

‘Sorry?’ said Jack.

‘See, what it is, Mum’s got plans of her own.’

Judith didn’t know what threw her most – the fact that Adrian was so flagrantly defying their request for privacy, or the fact that he had just referred to Patricia as ‘Mum’. She opened her mouth to protest, but Jack interrupted her.

‘Just a sec,’ he said gently. ‘When Adrian says you’ve got plans, Nana, what does he mean?’

‘I’ve got a friend who’s a financial adviser,’ Adrian launched in, and again, with cool diplomacy, Jack interrupted.

‘Nana, why don’t you tell us what you want, rather than other people speaking on your behalf?’

‘I want Adrian to sort everything out for me. I trust him lock, stock and barrel. He’s like the son I never had.’

‘Is that why he’s started calling you “Mum”?’ asked Judith, unable to hide her sarcasm.