‘One of the reasons, yes,’ she answered sadly. She pictured her husband bundling the sleeping bag under his arm and the sound of his van door closing. ‘But mainly, Dad, he’s moved out because we both need space to figure out what comes next, no matter how much I hate the idea of him not being around.’

‘It’ll all work out if it’s meant to, lovey,’ he offered sagely. ‘Am I allowed to call him and see how he’s doing?’

‘’Course you are, Dad!’ She loved that he had asked, as much as she loved his concern for his son-in-law.

‘Do you think we can meet her then, your little girl?’ her mum asked, with such hope it made Bess’s heart flex. ‘I’d make her very welcome: cook a nice dinner. I could do lamb and make one of my lemon meringue pies.’

‘There’s not a soul on the planet who would not love your lemon meringue pie,’ Bess said. She watched as her dad took his wife’s hand and kissed the back of it. A moment so tender it felt wrong to witness it, especially as she and Mario had never been so apart in every sense.

‘What’s her name?’ her mum asked.

‘Ellory.’ Again the joy of saying her name out loud split her face in two.

‘Celery?’ Her dad looked at her quizzically.

‘Celery? Who in the world would call their child Celery, Dad?’ she laughed, his question enough to defuse the situation.

‘Well, you never know nowadays. People call their kids all sorts!’ her mum added.

‘Ellory,’ Bess repeated.

‘Ellory,’ her dad smiled. ‘Our oldest grandchild . . .’

‘And Pippin’ – her mother’s voice caught – ‘he did the right thing by you, Bess. He looked after you.’

‘He really did, but it’s been hard for him to be near me and now you know why.’

Her parents looked at each other with relief and for the first time she realised that they must have wondered what they had done wrong. Mario was right – a bloody mess.

‘I’m going to call him.’ Her mum reached for her phone.

‘Please don’t, Mum!’ Bess said, sitting forward. ‘Not straight away – let me go and talk to him first.’

‘Face to face?’

‘Yes, face to face. It’s long overdue,’ Bess said as she made the decision.

‘Cheshire is a heck of a long way.’ Her mum put the phone back on the side table as she stood. ‘I’ll make you some snacks for the journey.’

Bess again felt the rise of tears.

‘Cheese and tomato?’ her mum asked from the doorway.

‘Please, Mum.’ She nodded. ‘Cheese and tomato would be lovely.’