The streets of Finsbury Park were bustling with activity as Diane made her way from the tube station to Timothy and Lucy’s flat. She had called Timothy two days earlier to ask if she could visit them on Saturday.

“You want to come up to London?” Timothy’s voice had been slightly incredulous on the other end of the line. “You never do that. What’s up, Mum?” He sounded worried.

“Can’t I just take a trip to the city of a Saturday?” Diane didn’t want to worry Timothy needlessly, but she also didn’t want to have this particular conversation on the phone. She needed to witness her son’s reaction in person when she gave him the news. “I haven’t been to London in ages and I have a few errands to run. I thought it might be nice to take the opportunity to have lunch with my son and daughter-in-law.”

So she’d taken the early train up from Crawley. Timothy had suggested they meet for brunch at some new restaurant in his neighbourhood, but Diane had asked to meet at the apartment first so she could talk to him in the safety of his home. Not that she was afraid of him throwing a tantrum in public, but this felt like a conversation better had in private.

She arrived at the apartment building and rang the bell. The door buzzed open and Diane walked up the stairs to Timothy’s flat on the first floor, nerves screaming in her whole body.

“Hello, Mum.” He was waiting for her in the open door to the flat.

“Darling,” Diane said, taking her son in her arms for a hug. This steadied her a little. The feel of her son always had that effect on her. She took off her coat and handed it to him to dispose of. Lucy was waiting in the tiny living room, sitting at one end of the two-seater sofa that filled half the space. “Don’t get up, dear,” Diane said to her and bent to give her a peck on the cheek. “How’s my future grandchild?”

“Your grandchild’s doing great. Making me throw up every morning, but I suppose that’s normal.”

Diane sat next to Lucy on the sofa.

Timothy hovered over them, as if unsure how to act. “Would you like a cuppa?” he asked before walking over to the tiny open kitchen at the end of the living room and switching on the kettle.

Diane looked around the small flat. She had been here before of course, but it had been quite some time ago. Tim and Lucy mostly came down to Tynebury. “I suppose you’ll be moving somewhere bigger once the baby arrives?”

“We’ve started looking,” Lucy said before heaving a loud sigh. “It’s not easy though. Everything’s so ridiculously expensive. And if a place is within our budget it needs so much work to make it suitable for a child.”

“You know I would be happy to help out. And so would Lawrence.” The nerves were coming back in full force now and Diane thought it better to keep the conversation on safer topics than the one she had come to address. At least until her stomach had stopped doing somersaults. Some mild bribery wasn’t beneath her in order to get her son on her side.

“No, Mum,” Timothy said loudly as he took mugs from the cupboard. “Thank you, but Lucy and I will figure it out ourselves.” He brought over the mugs and placed them on the small table next to the sofa.

“I know you want to be completely independent and self-sufficient, Timothy. I admire that. But I also know the reality of London real-estate and I want my grandchild to have everything he or she needs.” She looked at Lucy encouragingly. “Just think of it as an advance on your inheritance.”

“It’s very generous of you, Diane,” Lucy said, looking at Timothy. “We’ll think about it.”

Diane detected a hint of determination in Lucy’s voice. Maybe she would be able to convince Timothy that accepting some help from their parents wasn’t a sign of weakness.

A silence fell. Diane racked her brain for something else to talk about. She never had problems coming up with things to discuss with her son. They had always been very open with each other about everything. But today was different. She knew Timothy suspected something was going on that had prompted this visit, but it was up to her to bring it up.

“How’s work, darling? I’ve been rather busy myself, what with the end of the fiscal year. I went in to the office every day this week, can you believe that?”

Timothy brought over a pot of tea and poured it. He handed a mug to Lucy and then to Diane, before sitting down on a chair.

“Work is great, Mum.” Timothy cocked his head. “You, however, seem a bit off. Is something going on?”

Diane shifted in her seat. The tea shook slightly in her hand so she put it down. “You’ve always been such a perceptive lad.” She looked at Lucy. “Ever since he was a young boy, he could always tell when something was bothering me.”

“I know what you mean,” Lucy answered. “That’s why I love him.”

This simple phrase seemed to provide Diane with the courage she needed. She straightened her back, turning her head towards her son again. She cleared her throat.

“You’re right that there’s something on my mind,” Diane started, “something I need to talk to you about. I’m not really sure how to go about it, because it’s not something I had ever thought I would have to talk about with you. I suppose I’m just afraid of how you’ll react.” She stopped, unsure of how to continue.

“You’re kind of scaring me now,” Timothy said. “Is it your health? Is something going on?”

“No, love, it’s nothing to do with my health.” Diane paused. “Or maybe it is to do with my health, my mental health.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve been quite… sad ever since the divorce from your father. I didn’t realise just how sad I was myself, really, until recently. Because you see, I’ve been feeling quite the opposite for the past couple of weeks.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been seeing someone. Romantically, I mean.”

She scanned Timothy’s face, waiting for his reaction. It took him a second, but soon enough his mouth started spreading into a smile.

“That’s wonderful. I’ve been telling you for ages you should try to find someone new.”

“That you have. What I’m unsure about is how you’ll react when I tell you who it is I’m seeing.” Her glance skittered away from him now. This was the crucial part of her announcement.

“Hold on,” Timothy said. Diane’s gaze went back to him and saw him frown. “It’s not Lionel, is it?”

A laugh bubbled up from deep inside Diane and took away some of the tension that had been building in her gut. “No, dear,” she said. “I haven’t been that desperate.” Diane steeled herself to take the final step in the process she had set in motion by coming up to London. “It’s Tamsin, the new golf pro at the club.” There, she’d said it.

Timothy’s eyes opened as wide as Diane had ever seen them and his mouth seemed to fall open a little. Diane heard Lucy take in a breath. Neither of them said a word.

Diane’s heart sank. Maybe her son wasn’t ready for this. Maybe she should have waited.

“B—but,” Timothy finally said. “I don’t understand. Tamsin is a woman. You, er, you’re…” Confusion was clear on his face. “But you’re not gay, are you? You were married to Dad for so long. So how can you be seeing this woman?”

Diane tried to put on her most reassuring smile. She found herself calmer now that she’d told Timothy. As if saying it to him out loud had lifted the burden of worry she’d been carrying around.

“I don’t know if I would call myself gay. I don’t know if I would call myself anything, really. It’s all so new to me as well.” She chuckled. “Tamsin has been calling me a latebian, which I suppose is an accurate description.”

Timothy didn’t look amused at this. “Who is this Tamsin, anyway? She’s much younger than you, isn’t she? How do you know she’s not some gold digger, seducing you to get to your money?” He shook his head.

“Timothy,” Diane said in a firm tone now. “I may be older than she is, but I still have all my faculties and I think I would be able to see through that kind of ploy, if that were the case. But it’s not. We’re in love.” She felt herself go all mushy inside. “She makes me happy.”

Diane felt Lucy’s hand on her arm. “I’m happy for you, Diane. You deserve to have someone in your life who makes you feel like that.” Lucy turned to Timothy and said in an authoritative tone, “Whoever that person is.”

Lucy’s words seemed to shut Timothy up for a moment, but his face still betrayed his dismay. “But—” he started.

“I understand this is a lot to take in.” Diane stood. “I need to use the loo, so please take these few minutes to absorb the news.” She walked out of the living room, through the corridor, to the bathroom. She didn’t really need the loo, but a few minutes on her own to collect herself. And she wanted to give Timothy some privacy as well. She lowered the lid of the toilet and sat.

His reaction was certainly not what she had hoped for. Nevertheless, she felt much lighter than before she’d arrived. It was out in the open now, too late to take it back. She had just come out to her son, the first step in what she expected would be a continuous journey if things continued to go well with Tamsin.

Diane thought about the other night, her dramatic departure from Tamsin’s cottage and her return to it not long after. About the feeling of coming home that had overwhelmed her when Tamsin had pulled her into her arms, still dripping wet from the rain. And that feeling told her that, even if her son needed some time to adjust to the situation, she had made the right choice.

She pulled the flush and opened the door. She heard Lucy’s voice coming from the living room.

“You will support her and be happy for her.” Diane stood still in the corridor. It was clear her daughter-in-law was not afraid of laying down the law. “Our child will grow up seeing there are all kinds of love in the world and knowing its grandmother is a happy woman because of that.” Diane’s heart grew a few sizes at this. At least she was sure her son had made the right choice of partner for himself.

She walked back into the living room and took in the scene. Lucy and Timothy were standing next to the sofa, holding hands, their heads close together. Diane gave a small cough and they both turned towards her.

Timothy let go of Lucy’s hand and stood in front of Diane. He cleared his throat.

“Mum, I’m sorry about my reaction. It’s just—you took me completely by surprise.”

Diane brought her hand up to his cheek. “That’s all right, darling. I understand you’re in shock. I’m still a bit in shock myself. You can take all the time you need to get used to the idea. And when you’re ready, I would love for you and Lucy to come down to Tynebury to meet Tamsin. I’m sure you’ll love her.” A wave of emotion swelled up inside Diane at the thought of introducing the two people who mattered most to her.

“Well,” Timothy said, a smile on his face now, “if I was able to tolerate Debbie, I’m sure I can grow to like Tamsin as well.” He grinned at Diane now. “I’m hoping for some free lessons for our child once he or she is old enough to hold a golf club.”

Diane pulled her son into a tight hug. “I’m sure we can arrange that,” she said, tears of joy gathering in the corner of her eyes. She held him for several seconds, until he started to squirm, just like he used to when he was a boy.