‘That’s for sure.’ He took her hand in his. ‘He’s a lucky little boy. Those two will give him a wonderful life.’

Bess smiled. ‘They really will.’

Natalie chatted to Philip, as her nan and grandad put on their coats and gathered up their prized shopping bag.

‘It’s strange, Bess, isn’t it?’ Mario said. ‘I don’t think either of us could have imagined how far we would have come from when we got the news of the baby, but we have. I’m proud of you – proud of us.’ He put his arms around her and she kissed him, burying her face in his chest, inhaling the scent of the man who had pledged to love her for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.

‘I’m proud of us too.’ Bess bit her bottom lip, thinking of that afternoon at the Glade and how close she had come to losing everything. It was as if her husband could read her mind.

‘I’m glad they’re moving, the Maxwells. It’s a relief, not only because it’s awkward when I see him, what with me having given him that black eye . . .’ he said. Bess winced at the thought of the altercation she had, luckily, missed. ‘But also, it means some other poor sods will have to suffer their Christmas party.’

‘I’m glad we can talk like this, Mario, really glad.’

‘Yep.’ He shifted to put his arm around her shoulders as the two walked off down the corridor. ‘I was thinking, it’s been a while now. Do you think you’ll ever get to meet your little girl?’

‘Oh, Mario, fingers and toes and everything crossed. But who knows? She knows I want to make contact and has my details, but the ball is entirely in her court. She might never make contact or refuse my letter. Or she might jump at the chance to meet me and even then, it might only be out of curiosity and to tell me to leave her alone. She might want only to know who her dad is.’ The thought filled her with dread, knowing now she would do her very best to keep this particular grenade from Michelle’s door. ‘The permutations are many and not all have a happy outcome, no matter how much I pray for it. But it’s out of my hands, so . . .’ She let this trail, once again not wanting the jarring disappointment to cloud this magnificent day.

‘What will be will be, eh?’

‘Yup.’ This much she knew.

The family said their goodbyes to Natalie, who was heading home to catch up on work. Mario insisted on driving, so Bess sat in the back of her little Nissan with her mum, while her dad climbed in the front.

‘Let me know when you get home safe, Nats!’ she yelled through the window. ‘There are idiots on these roads!’