Catherine asked Jimmy again as he stood at the door with the girls. “Of course I don’t mind,” Jimmy said. “Why would I mind taking my own daughters to school? I’ve done it loads of times before.” “I just feel so …” Catherine looked at her two girls kicking at pebbles in the front garden, Leila with her coat hanging off her shoulders as always and Eloise pointing her toes like a dancer. “I can’t see her today. Or anyone. I’m not ready. I’ll probably never be ready, actually, so while you’re out I’ll be checking property prices in the Outer Hebrides.” “That seems like a long way to go to visit,” Jimmy said. “Well, obviously you’d have to come too,” Catherine said, lifting Jimmy’s heart for a fraction of a second. “You could buy the house next door.” “Right, well,” he said. “I’ve got this thing up in London later.” “What thing?” Catherine asked. “Don’t tell me you’ve been discovered at last?” “No, well, not exactly.
