It made her realise that Cameron would be the same. ‘I suppose that’s the end point to our arrangement. Well, it actually is the end point because we wrote it into the contract.’ Ros concentrated on her cereal bowl. The weeks were disappearing, which meant time with her father was too.

Cameron put down his spoon. ‘I’ve been thinking about that and I’m here for you as long as you need me, and before you say anything about money you don’t need to pay me anything more. You’ve been brilliant about me moving in here and picking up the food bills and stuff. And anyway, I’ve grown fond of Barry. I feel I owe it to him to make sure that you really are okay. So I’m here for the funeral and for as long as you need a friend.’ He fixed her with sincere eyes. ‘I mean it.’

‘I know you do and it’s very kind of you. Thank you,’ she said.

How come something so lovely made her feel so sad?

For once Ros was pleased to be greeted at the door by Gazza. Although he bypassed her quite quickly in favour of Cameron. ‘Hello,’ she called tentatively into the hallway.

‘Hello, come in. I’m in the kitchen,’ called Barry.

Ros was surprised to see her father on his feet whisking something. ‘You’re at the Yorkshires early.’

‘I had a few eggs that needed eating so I thought I’d made a bread and butter pudding.’

‘Top idea,’ said Cameron, greeting Barry warmly.

‘You probably should be sitting down,’ said Ros. She’d not seen him this active for a while.

‘I’m fine. While I’m feeling good I figure I should get on with things.’

‘Good approach,’ said Cameron. ‘But you’ll still be doing your Yorkshire puds right?’ He seemed to freeze while he awaited Barry’s response.

‘Of course.’

‘Phew. That’s a relief.’

‘Where’s Amanda?’ asked Ros.

Barry stopped whisking. ‘Your mum popped out for a coffee maker. She’s not keen on instant.’

‘She’s making herself at home then.’ There was dis-comfort in her words.

‘She’s just trying to help, Ros. You don’t need to be so wary of her.’

‘I’ll get the potatoes started,’ she said.

‘Come on. Let me finish preparing the bread and butter pudding and then we can have a coffee and a chat like always.’

Cameron gave her a look that said she was being unreasonable. She remembered what he’d said about this all being about Barry and to not get distracted by her mother. Ros took a breath and slapped on a smile. ‘Sure, I’ll put the kettle on.’

Ros was feeling easier once they were all settled in the living room, with Gazza lying by Cameron’s feet with his legs in the air, and them all chatting about who the next Doctor Who might be. The moment burst like a balloon as a key went in the front door. The chatter stopped and everyone waited. The front door closed and Amanda appeared in the doorway holding a large box.

‘Here, let me take that,’ said Cameron, getting up quickly. Gazza looked on with disappointment that his tummy rub had been interrupted.

‘Oh, you must be the boyfriend,’ said Amanda.

‘Yes, I’m Cameron. Lovely to meet you, Mrs Foster.’

Ros and Barry winced at the same time. ‘I am not, nor have I ever been, Mrs Foster,’ said Amanda, fixing Cameron with an irritated look.

‘Oh sorry. My mistake I just assumed you and Barry were married. My apologies. Hello and pleased to meet you . . .’

He left a pause that Amanda didn’t fill. Barry cleared his throat. ‘We were married but she didn’t take my surname. Maybe just call her Amanda.’ He was looking to his ex-wife for her agreement.

‘I’ve never been keen on complying with social norms or bowing to the patriarchy,’ said Amanda. ‘I was also establishing myself in my profession at the time so a change of name would have been detrimental.’

‘Right,’ said Cameron, for once appearing as if maintaining his smile was a little tricky. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you, Amanda. Let me help you with that.’ He went to take the box from her.

‘I am quite capable of carrying it into the kitchen. I managed to get it from the car to here. Is your assumption that I’m not capable as a mere woman or that you would like to be seen as a knight in shining armour by coming to my aid?’

‘Err, well. I was just trying to help. But if you’re good, I’ll leave you to it.’ Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets. Amanda went off to the kitchen. Cameron hovered awkwardly in the doorway looking confused by the rebuff.

Ros was incensed by her mother’s rudeness and stormed out after her.

‘Ah, Ros, can you move whatever that is?’ she asked, nodding at Barry’s bread and butter pudding. ‘I need to put this box down.’

‘I thought you didn’t need anyone’s help. Or was it just Cameron you were being rude to?’

Amada seemed taken aback. ‘I wasn’t being rude. Simply asking what his motivation was. Are you going to move that?’

‘If you ask politely I might.’

‘Fine.’ Amanda put the box on the edge of the worktop and used it to shove the pudding out of the way.

‘Everything okay?’ asked Cameron, joining them and placing a reassuring hand on the small of Ros’s back.

Ros could feel emotion bubbling in her gut. It was anger mainly and she wasn’t sure how to deal with it. ‘Barry tells me you’ve moved into Ros’s apartment and that you’re a student on a low income,’ said Amanda as she stared Cameron down.

‘I didn’t say that exactly!’ called Barry from the other room.

‘It’s fine – that’s all accurate,’ said Cameron. ‘But once I graduate, hopefully I’ll secure a good job and that will put things on a more even keel.’

‘Hang on,’ said Ros to Cameron. ‘It’s not really any of her business. I could be shacked up with all of Southampton football club including the reserves team and it would not be for you to pass judgement.’

‘I would if you’d said Portsmouth,’ called Barry and Cameron laughed. Ros and Amanda both glared at him.

‘Despite what you may believe, Rosanna, I am interested in your welfare,’ she said as she began unpacking the coffee machine. ‘Now that’s cleared up would anyone like a decent cup of coffee?’

‘Grrr,’ was all Ros could manage in response and she stomped out of the kitchen.

***

Ros managed to keep out of her mother’s way for most of the run-up to dinner but once they were all seated with their full plates in front of them it wasn’t as easy to avoid her.

‘Amanda, what is it that you do for a living?’ asked Cameron.

‘I’m a quantitative analyst.’