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Frances pushed off again and let go of Lucie’s hand, not quite meaning to.

“I’m doing it,” she said, half laughing.

“You are,” Lucie said, now beside her.

They moved side by side, not touching but close enough that Frances had to resist reaching for her again. The courtyard trapped the sound between its walls, each scrape of steel on ice folding back on itself.

Once Frances was steadier, their conversation began to flow more easily.

“It was good of Mara to help out,” Lucie said.

“Yes,” Frances agreed. “I don’t get much time away from home, other than working.”

“Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can feel relentless, so well done for asking for help — again. It’s important to look after yourself.”

“Why do you help me so much?” Frances asked. Her heart rate picked up in anticipation of Lucie’s answer, but she kept her eyes fixed determinedly ahead.

Lucie didn’t reply straight away. She traced a shallow curve in the ice, then straightened.

“I like your mum.”

“Does she remind you of your gran?” Frances wondered aloud.

“In some ways.” Lucie skated away, circling her. “But not in others. That’s not why I do it.”

“Oh.”

Lucie passed in front. “I just meant... I’m not harbouring some strange sort of nostalgia.”

Frances pushed forward, gaining a little glide, and let the silence stretch. “Then why?” she pressed, hoping to get a different reason.

“Well...” Lucie’s lips curved faintly. “Because it matters. Because you needed someone, and I could be that person. That’s reason enough, isn’t it?”

Frances swallowed. It wasn’t. She wanted to hear that Lucie was doing this for her, because she harboured feelings for her.

“Have you made any arrangements yet for London? Where to stay?” Frances asked, needing to move the conversation away before she started to feel foolish for wanting to hear something else.

“No, not yet. I was just going to book a cheap hotel.”

“Mum’s due for her check-up with her specialist in the city. I was thinking I could book it to coincide with your trip, and we could all go together. There’s plenty of room at the house.”

“You still have the house in London?” Lucie looked surprised to hear it.

“Yes. It was Mum and Dad’s — a wedding gift from my grandparents,” Frances said, catching the barrier and slowing to a stop. “I lived there when I was working in London.”

“If you’re sure there is room, that would be great. It would save me the expense of a hotel... and transport, assuming that’s included too.”

“It is,” Frances confirmed, a twinkle in her eye.

“On one condition.”

“Anything,” Frances said too quickly.

“We take your mum to see a show. I’m sure she would love it,” Lucie said, coming to a stop beside her.

“Done,” Frances quickly said. “I think it would be rather fun. Shall we catch our breath for a minute? I brought a flask of hot chocolate.”

Lucie groaned with pleasure. “Hot chocolate! You know my weak spot.”