She could remember the day they had gone to buy the present, which had been followed by dinner at hers, and then... She felt a lump form in her throat as the girl continued to chat away about Jacob, how he was her favourite uncle, and how she loved coming to visit him in Holby, and how maybe Connie would like to join them next time. She had more ease to conversation than her own daughter, but she had a similar maturity and level of knowing beyond her years.

"Can we sit down? Grandma said we would have to wait for some time yet before we go in, and..." She gestured downwards, before looking back to Connie, who helped her to a bench around the back of the building, the hubbub of talk dying away.

"I have a daughter, she's a little older than you. She's called Grace."

"That's a nice name. You have a nice name too."

Connie gave a soft laugh, and looked down to the side to see the little girl who looked up at her. She was dressed in a simple, black dress with black patent shoes, and wore a thin black ribbon in her hair. She had a large boot on one of her legs, and Connie could see her wince every so often. Mia noticed her concerned looks, and leant backwards into the bench.

"I didn't want to come in the wheelchair. It hurts but I can manage."

Tears pricked at Connie's eyes, and she turned her head so that Mia wouldn't see. This little girl had lost her father, and she hadn't mentioned her mother, only her Grandma. She took a deep breath before looking back at her, and the little girl gave a sad smile before reaching to touch her fingers to Connie's hair.

"I'll have to tell Uncle Jacob that I agree."

"What do you mean?" Connie gave another soft laugh as she watched the little girl stroke strands of her hair between her fingers.

"You are very, very pretty."

As Connie opened her mouth to reply, a familiar laugh came from in front of them. "I think you will find I said she was beautiful, short-stuff. How's my favourite girl?" Jacob squatted in front of them, smiling up at the girl who threw herself forward to hug him. He hugged her back just as tightly, his eyes shutting for a moment before they looked up at Connie. He was looking at her as though he needed something, but she didn't know what it was.

"Do you think Connie will let me try on her high heels when my leg is better?" Mia whispered into Jacob's ear, and another laugh bubbled from his lips, a sound that made Connie's heart soar.

"I think you'll have to ask her yourself, because I've yet to meet anyone who's allowed to even touch them!" Jacob pulled back from Mia and tucked her hair behind her ear. "How are you feeling?"

"Good!" Mia replied, despite the fact she'd just told Connie her leg was causing her pain.

"Well, you're going to need to be in top form if you're going to sing in front of all the people here!"

Mia's face fell then, and she frantically shook her head. "I can't."

"Grandma told me you wanted to?" Jacob frowned, his hand resting momentarily on Connie's knee to stop himself falling as Mia stood up suddenly.

"Well I changed my mind. My father has died and he's never coming back. You can all be happy and sing if you want, but I have nothing to be happy about! I've lost my mum and my dad, and you don't even want me to live with you, even though you promised I could if anything ever happened to dad!"