They were discussing wedding arrangements: caterers, photographers, invitations…This part of the conversation George understood. Then they began discussing whether to book a hotel (Katie and Ray’s preferred option) or hire a tent for the garden (the preferred option for Jacob who was very excited by the whole tent concept). At this point George began to lose focus.

Katie turned to him and said something like, “When will the studio be finished?” but she could have been speaking Hungarian. He could see her mouth moving but was unable to process the noise coming out of it.

The accelerator was being pressed to the floor inside his head. The engine was screaming, the wheels were spinning and smoke was pouring off the tires, but he was going nowhere.

He was unsure what happened next, but it was not elegant, it involved damage to crockery and ended up with him exiting rapidly through the back door.

7

There was a clatter of plates and Jean turned to find that George had vanished.

After about five seconds of stunned silence Jacob looked up from his bus and said, “Where’s Grandpa?”

“In the garden,” said Ray.

“Right,” said Katie, her jaw hardening.

Jean tried to head her off. “Katie…”

But it was too late. Katie stood and marched out of the room to hunt her father down. There was a second short silence.

“Is Mummy in the garden as well?” asked Jacob.

Jean looked at Ray. “I’m sorry about this.”

Ray looked at Jacob. “Bit of a fiery lady, your old mum.”

“What’s fiery?” asked Jacob.

“Gets cross, doesn’t she,” said Ray.

Jacob thought for a few moments. “Can we get the submarine out?”

“Come on, then, Captain.”

When Ray and Jacob reached the landing Jean went into the kitchen and stood by the fridge, from where she could see Katie without being seen.