Bernie knew that her son wanted to protect her but she wanted to do nothing more than to call that number.

'Just call her' Elinor snapped, giving her the piece of paper she'd scribbled on.

'Why the hell should she?' Cam retorted. 'She's the one who broke it up.'

'Cam, please.'

'How can you even consider speaking to Serena again? After what she did?'

'Actually, auntie Serena never told us what happened' Jason chimed in.

Cam shot his mother a glance. Neither had she but he was loathe to admit it. Elinor was quick off the mark though.

'She's not told you either then?' She turned to Bernie.

'Mum's in bits. Keeps crying when she thinks we can't see her, listens to maudlin love songs from the 60s, it's awful. There are some weeks when we never see her smile.'

Bernie felt sick at the thought of Serena hurting in her absence.

'What did happen?'

'Now's not the time, Jason' his cousin muttered. Bernie could tell that she was dying to know but if Serena wouldn't tell them, neither would Bernie.

'My mum's never gotten over Serena, more fool her' Cam started heatedly.

Bernie had vowed to come back if anyone had hurt Serena. But saving Serena from herself was tricky. Bernie hadn't managed it all that time ago and she wasn't sure she could do it now. But she knew that she wanted to try. She left the children bickering and hurried away, dialling the number. She was such a coward that she'd hung up. Hearing Serena's voice had made her heart skip into her mouth so she couldn't answer. She looked over her shoulder. They hadn't noticed that she'd gone. Time for a drastic pick-me-up.

She took out the tiny bottle of whiskey hidden in her bag and downed it. It was probably four shots in one go but it lit her up and gave her courage. It was an emergency measure. She rang again. She heard Serena's irritable threat. Before she could finish, Bernie interrupted. Saying the name she'd not dared to say out loud for three years. She'd heard Serena start with surprise. Pictured her in one of her lurid blouses with a drink in hand. An image that stabbed through her mind and invaded her senses. She could smell the wine, feel the material on her fingertips, the lingering perfume on her neck still there even after a hard day's work.

'Bernie? Is that you?'

Bernie confirmed.

'Where are you?'

'At Kings Cross. We've just bumped into Elinor and Jason. I've had an entire mini bottle of whiskey in five seconds flat. I think I'm drunk.'

How she had missed that low chuckle. Today it was giving her goosebumps.

'The kids are confronting each other. We've told them nothing and now there are accusations flying everywhere.'

'Wait there.'

'What?'

'Wait there. I'm coming to get you.'