‘Dear me,’ she says, waking with a start. ‘I must have dropped off.’

I laugh, and the moment is broken.

‘Let’s go to the community centre,’ she says, ‘and I’ll introduce you to Cyril, my new friend. He’s setting up a mindfulness circle – used to be a bit of an old hippy, if you ask me. He’s very nice.’

I look at her sideways. ‘Oh yes?’

‘Shush. He’s just a friend. I’m far too old for that sort of thing.’ She levers herself out of the armchair.

We walk to the community centre, which I recognise from Nanna’s Instagram photographs. It’s funny piecing it all together – makes me realise how much she must enjoy seeing the photos of my life in London. I resolve to take more. I’ve been slacking off a bit, because life seems to have been nothing but the commute to work, slaving over a hot desk all day, commuting home again, collapsing in front of Netflix, and then bed.

‘This is Cyril,’ Nanna Beth says, having taken me straight over to a man once we arrive at the centre.

I can see he was probably quite handsome in his day. He’s got a kind face, and is dressed in a soft houndstooth checked shirt and a smart navy blue sweater.

‘Ah, Jess, I’ve heard all about you. I’m a bit of a fan.’

‘You are?’ I say, surprised.

‘I am. Anyone who brings a smile to Beth’s face the way you do must be a pretty good sort, in my opinion.’

I look sideways at Nanna Beth and realise with amusement that she’s gone a little bit pink. She ducks her head, laughing, and says, ‘Oh, Cyril, you are a charmer.’

Cyril chuckles, sounding pleased with himself – but not in a smarmy way. It’s nice for her to have something good in her life after all those years of looking after Grandpa with his dementia.

‘I’m going to take Jess for a walk along the prom, and get an ice cream. You’re never too old for an ice cream with your nanna, are you,’ she says, squeezing my arm. I shake my head.

‘Do you want to join us?’

‘Ice cream, in March?’ Cyril shakes his head and does a mock shiver. It’s sunny outside, but there’s still a definite chill in the air. But ice cream on the prom is our thing, and we’ve always done it no matter what the weather. ‘Absolutely not. I’m sure you two girls have lots to catch up on, and I’ve got plenty to be going on with here.’

I swear if he could have had a cartoon twinkle in his eye, he would have. Nanna positively skips out of the community centre on my arm. I can’t help wondering if I’ll be as sprightly as she is at seventy-nine.