‘Can we talk about something else?’ she suddenly blurted out. ‘Sorry. It’s just I’m exhausted with death talk. Selfish, I know.’

Jack smiled. ‘Of course. I totally get it … Umm, saw our surrogate yesterday. She is blooming.’

‘Aw, that’s nice. Has she done it before?’

‘She’s had three babies of her own. And this is her second surrogacy.’

‘Such a selfless act.’

‘Yeah.’

They sat in silence then, sipping their drinks, lost in their own heads and not wanting to climb out of them.

‘And how’s your grandmother these days? We lost touch.’ Thinking about Patricia always made her flinch, remembering the disastrous trip to Cyprus all those years ago.

‘Oh, y’know Nana Pat. Still mad as a box of frogs. Did you hear about the toyboy?’

And for the first time in a week Lana smiled as Jack regaled her with the story of Patricia and Adrian Oliver.

‘It’s an absolute mess,’ he continued. ‘Turns out this guy has enlisted the help of some financial adviser – bloke called Steven Dean who he met at an AA meeting.’

‘Blimey,’ said Lana, gripped by the story.

‘He was the one who started the ball rolling with the POA. But he’s also managed to convince Patricia that she’d be better off if she put her house in trust so that Social Services “can’t get their hands on it”. And surprise, surprise, the named trustees on the document are Adrian himself and a friend of his called Tina, who Nana’s never even met. The whole thing is dodgy beyond belief. But until they do anything illegal, we’re a bit stumped. Plus Nana is compos mentis. She knows what she’s doing.’

‘But I’m sure when we went to George’s funeral Patricia said something about her will … that George had asked her to ensure she left the house to Judith? I mean, I know that’s a few years ago now, but surely she can’t put the house into trust?’

‘That’s what I’ve been trying to explain to Mum. My Pappoús may have requested that Nana left her the house, but she’s perfectly within her rights to change her will again. And if that’s what she has done, Mum won’t have a leg to stand on.’

‘She’s such a piece of work, your gran,’ said Lana. ‘I mean, she must be eighty-odd now, and she’s still being a monumental pain in the arse.’

Jack smiled. ‘The battle’s not over yet.’

They finished their drinks and made to head back.

‘It’s been really nice getting to know you a bit,’ Lana said to Jack as they left the pub.

‘Yeah,’ he mused, and thought for a moment before saying, ‘Such a shame about you and Mum. I reckon she could do with someone like you as a friend. Lighten her up a bit, y’know? She does tend to get a bit serious at times.’

‘Well, that’s not such a bad thing. Playing the clown hasn’t got me very far, if I’m honest,’ Lana said ruefully. And then the thought struck her that both Judith and Gareth would be at the Kelly house when they got back – and Lana realized how little resilience she had left to cope with being ignored.