Page 182 of When We Were Young

He composes himself as I get closer.

‘Congratulations on the book,’ he says.

‘Thanks for trusting me with it. This book would never have happened if you hadn’t let me loose on Will’s stuff.’ I pause, then ask, ‘Is Mary coming?’

‘She’s got a bit of a cold. She sends her apologies, but she asked me to give you this.’

He hands me a thin box wrapped in yellow paper dotted with tiny white birds.

‘Oh, she shouldn’t have.’

‘Open it.’

I rip off the wrapping and lift the lid. Inside is a pen with delicate leaves curled around the barrel.

‘I told her writers don’t use pens anymore, but she wanted you to have it, anyway,’ he says.

‘It’s beautiful. Perfect for signing books. Please thank her for me.’

‘Maybe you can thank her in person? She loves it when you visit.’

‘I’d like that. Come with me. Some people you know have already arrived.’

I take him over to Matty and Reu. ‘I know you see Reu regularly, but here’s a face you might not have seen for a while.’

Aidan claps a hand on Matty’s shoulder. ‘Long time no see, man.’ Then Aidan wraps an arm around Reu’s neck. ‘Did this dude tell you he’s godfather to my eldest?’

Matty laughs. ‘I can’t think of a more heathen godfather.’

Reu feigns offence.

‘No, seriously,’ says Aidan, ‘he’s the coolest godfather. I mean, who else can get Ed Sheeran to send a video message on the kid’s birthday?’

Reu grins. He’s a session drummer, often away on tour with big-name artists. In between gigs, he volunteers at the youth charity his sister founded. He’s a genuine hero. It’s hard to imagine him broken by addiction.

‘Although, I’ll never forgive him for buying her a drum kit,’ Aidan adds.

‘Come on,’ says Reu, ‘She’s getting good, now.’

‘Yeah, I admit it, sheisgetting pretty good. She’s eyeing the prize at the school talent contest, that’s for sure.’

I glance at the stairs as Pippa drags me away to talk to my contacts at a suicide prevention charity, but there’s still no sign of Mum.

I’m mid-conversation when she finally shows up at the top of the staircase. Like Aidan, she winces when she sees Will’s face everywhere. She’s wearing a stylish wrap dress with a bold geometric pattern; hexagonal bangles hang at her wrist. As I listen to the charity guys, Mum composes herself, scans the room, and spots Dad. When she reaches him, she toucheshis arm and whispers into his ear. Whatever she’s said makes him chuckle, and he kisses her on the lips. They’re still like newlyweds, even though they’ve been married for three years. After the wedding, we all took the name Lawrence-King. It was as though the three of us made a promise to each other that day, not just the two of them.

As soon as I can break away, I go to Mum. ‘I was worried you weren’t coming.’

‘I’m so sorry I’m late. I spilled a tin of paint in the studio as I was leaving, and I had to clean it up.’

‘Was it blue, by any chance?’ I ask.

‘Oh no, did I miss a bit?’

I wipe the smudge from her jawline with my thumb. ‘There.’

‘All gone?’

‘Yep.’