I’ve met a man.’ Rory paused on purpose. She had been waiting to get her own back on her mum for pretending she wanted to move in with her. This was her chance.

Sheila nearly combusted on the spot. ‘Really? Oh Aurora! How wonderful! Who is he? What is his name? Where did you meet him?’

‘His name’ – Rory was enjoying this – ‘is John Prince.’

Sheila’s hand fluttered to her chest. She looked like she might actually faint, so Rory decided it was time to put her out of her misery. Or false hope.

‘Don’t get excited, Mum. He’s a builder. I might ask him to do some work on the house. No romance.’ She picked up her mobile and scrolled through to find the pizza delivery app.

But Sheila was still smiling. ‘We shall see. It’s early days.’ She paused and frowned. ‘You did check he wasn’t married?’

Rory looked up from the screen. ‘How the hell would I know that?’

Sheila rolled her eyes. ‘What woman doesn’t check for a wedding ring when she talks to a man? Sometimes I wonder if you are my daughter at all.’

Rory wished she hadn’t started this. ‘Whether or not he is married is irrelevant, mother. As long as he does a good job and doesn’t charge me too much, that’s all I’m interested in.’

Her words fell on deaf ears: Sheila was lost in thought. ‘A builder. Like your dad.’

‘Mum. I am warning you.’

Sheila held her hands up. ‘I’m not doing anything.’ But she was still smiling when Belle reappeared, slipped in next to her on the sofa and gave her a kiss.

Sheila turned her attention to her granddaughter. ‘How’s college?’

Belle pulled her legs up under her. ‘It’s good. I’m really busy but I’m enjoying it. How’re things at Seymour House? Any more gossip? What’s Barb been up to?’

Sheila settled into the sofa, ready to launch into a story. These two loved a gossip. It was amazing how interested Belle was in her grandmother’s anecdotes. They made Rory want to boil her own head.

‘There has been quite a bit of excitement actually. New residents moved into the vacant two-bedroomed place on the floor below mine – a couple. Although we’ve only seen the man so far. Well, you can imagine, Barb was all over him like a rash. Introducing herself, telling him about all the social events we have on.