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head. ‘I took her out last weekend, to Wharton Park actually, which is where I got your birthday present. They were having a Sale of Contents. She seemed … well, maybe a little better, but that’s not saying much.’
    ‘Such a terrible thing,’ George sighed. ‘I feel so … helpless.’
    ‘We all do, Dad,’ said Alicia despairingly.
    ‘First, losing your mother when she was eleven, and now …’ George shrugged helplessly. ‘It seems so unfair.’
    ‘It’s dreadful,’ she replied, ‘and very difficult to know what to do or say. Julia took Mum’s death so hard then, as you know, Dad. It’s like she’s lost the three people in the world that have meant the most to her.’
    ‘Has she mentioned if she’s going to return to the South of France?’ asked George. ‘I would have thought she’d be better off in her own home, rather than sitting in that depressing cottage all day.’
    ‘No. Perhaps she can’t face the memories there. I know I’d struggle if this house was suddenly –’ Alicia bit her lip – ‘empty.’
    ‘Grandpa? Do you have a girlfriend?’ The mood was diffused by Kate, climbing on to his knee.
    ‘No, my darling,’ chuckled George softly, ‘I only ever had eyes for your granny.’
    ‘Well, I could be your girlfriend if you wanted me to,’ Kate offered generously. ‘You must be lonely, living in that big house in Norwich all by yourself.’
    Alicia winced. Kate had an unerring habit of saying all the things that everybody else just thought.
    ‘I’m not lonely, darling.’ George ruffled her hair affectionately. ‘I’ve got Seed, my doggie, and all my plants to keep me company –’ he squeezed her – ‘but I promise you, if I’m ever in need of a girlfriend, I’ll give you a call.’
    Alicia saw Julia’s car snaking slowly up the drive.
    ‘She’s here, Dad. I’ll go and greet her, see how she is.’
    ‘Right-ho, darling,’ George agreed, sensing Alicia’s concern.
    Alicia went to the front door and opened it. As she stood waiting for Julia to climb out of the car, she mused on the fact that, even though it was over twenty years since their mother had died, George had never done what most men did and looked for a replacement for her mother. Alicia remembered the eagle-eyed divorcées circling her still young and attractive father, yet he had never shown the least bit of need or interest.
    Perhaps, thinking back, there had been the occasional woman, but only to serve on a physical level. She doubted he had even bothered to look on an emotional one, believing and accepting that no one could replace his soulmate, his partner in crime and botany: her mother, Jasmine.
    Perhaps having a passion like her father did had helped fill the hole.
    But then, surely, that should be true of Julia too?
    Julia emerged from the car, shrouded in a cardigan several sizes too big, and walked up the path towards her.
    ‘Hi, darling. Dad’s here already.’
    ‘I know. I’m sorry I’m late. I lost track of time,’ she answered defensively.
    ‘Never mind, come in.’ Alicia indicated the rectangular present under Julia’s right arm. ‘You managed to get the pictures framed, then?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Julia!’ Max walked towards her as she entered the room. ‘Lovely to see you,’ he smiled, as he put his arms round his sister-in-law’s painfully thin shoulders. ‘Can I take that from you?’ he offered.
    ‘Thanks.’
    ‘Hello, Dad. Happy birthday.’ She bent down to kiss him.
    ‘Darling, thank you so much for coming.’ George reached for Julia’s hand and squeezed it.
    ‘Right, now we’re all here, shall we open the pressies?’ suggested Alicia.
    ‘Can I open them for Grandpa?’ said a voice from under the coffee table.
    ‘I think Grandpa can manage,’ Max admonished his youngest son as he picked up the urn and gave it to George. ‘This is from all the Howards. Looks like one hell of a beer tankard to me,’ he chuckled, indicating the large handle-bulges on each