Danny ignores me and James crunches down on a poppadom, which drowns out any conversation I try to make.
‘That one’s a poppy field in France we visited. We were driving past, and she insisted I stop. She took photos and painted it when she got back,’ says Elias.
‘Wow, fantastic. Sounds like you had a beautiful trip.’
Danny suddenly grabs hold of his plate and the beer in front of him and storms off.
What on earth did I say?
‘Danny, get back here,’ shouts Elias.
‘No, it’s fine. Let him go,’ I say.
‘Think I’ll take this up too,’ says James, picking up his plate.
‘Oh no. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to cause any problems between you all. This is a disaster. I shouldn’t have come.’
‘Of course, you should. They’ll come around. I promise.’
As Elias strokes my hand in a bid to reassure me, I don’t have the same level of confidence. These boys might be in their twenties, but I can clearly see that they are still grieving the loss of their beloved mum.
Later, when I’m lying alone in Elias’s spare room, I think about how much the boys are still hurting. You can tell what a close family they all were. Although I miss lying beside Elias, it wouldn’t be at all appropriate to share the room he had with the boys’ mother.
At breakfast the following morning, James just about nods his head at me, and Danny pushes past me. The atmosphere in the kitchen is colder than the milk on my cereal.
‘So, I was thinking I could show you Cheadle today,’ says Elias cheerily.
‘Aren’t you busy, Dad?’ says Danny.
‘Well, yes, I’m spending the day with Lucy. Showing her around.’
‘I need help with a few of the invoices. I was hoping you could give me a hand,’ says Danny.
‘Of course. You want to sit down now?’
‘No, well, I need to make a few call outs. Bang on a few doors. I thought we could go round together. The old customers would love to see you again.’
I get the feeling that Danny will make any excuse to ensure we don’t spend the day together. I look at the kitchen clock. It’s only ten a.m., and I already feel as though I have outstayed my welcome.
‘You go, Elias. It’s more important that you sort the business out. Get those invoices paid. We can do lunch another time.’
Elias looks at me and then Danny. I notice how smug Danny’s expression is. It is as if he is trying to tell me that he has won the first round.
‘No, you came all this way to visit… I…’
‘It’s absolutely fine. You know, in hindsight, I should probably get back home. I only have a few more chapters until I finish the book. I’m almost there. Why don’t we both work this weekend. There’s plenty of time to do something another time.’
‘No, I won’t hear of it,’ says Elias.
‘Dad, you know, Mrs Papadopulos would love to see you. She might even give you some of that olive oil she brings back from Corfu.’
Elias doesn’t look convinced, but Danny is very persuasive.
‘It’s fine. Honestly, I’ll leave. I forgot my laptop, so I can’t get any work done, and I really need to get the book finished, so please don’t worry about me. It probably wasn’t the best timing. I’ll head back.’
Elias tries to protest, but I won’t hear of it. Danny is not going to be won round easily, and just like Elias felt when he visited me, I realise I am not welcome, and it is best I get home.
Elias can’t apologise enough for the way Danny has treated me, but I remind him that even though they’re grown up, our kids still just see us as the parents they grew up with, and they hate big changes – including the dynamics of a new relationship.
