'What do you want us to do?'

'I don't know. Give me a minute. Have you called Ed?'

'Yes, he's talking about helicopters. He's on line three.'

Grace picks up the phone.

'For fuck's sake, Ed, that'll only encourage him. Look, talk to the lawyers and call me back. See if we can get some sort of injunction.' She puts the phone down and turns to Maxine. 'How many cameras?'

'A full line-up, I'd say.'

'Jesus.'

Actually, I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Jimmy; even though I'm sure it's down to rampant pregnancy hormones. I was in tears yesterday watching a baby penguin on one of Jack's wildlife-in-peril programmes. But the idea of leaving Jimmy standing by the gates does seem a bit hard.

'Surely it wouldn't be that awful if he saw her?'

Christ. I so didn't mean to say that out loud.

Grace looks annoyed.

'Yes. It would.'

'But it might not be that bad. I mean '

'Look, perhaps we should reschedule the knitting for another time.'

'Oh, right ... well, yes, of course.'

'If you leave now the press will stop you at the gates, so if you could wait downstairs for a while until we sort this out that would be great. Maxine will show you where. Thanks, Jo.'

Bugger. I think I've been dismissed.

'I'm sorry, Grace. I didn't mean to speak out of turn.'

She gives me an odd sort of look; a mixture of annoyance and something else too, a hint of vulnerability in amongst all the steel. Damn, I've been clumsy, and this is bound to be upsetting for her.

'I know you're trying to protect her, Grace, of course you are. And I know it's hard. You know I do. But won't you have to let him see her at some point, if he's bothering to turn up? Otherwise when she asks you about him, what will you say?'

Maxine nods.

'That's true, Grace.'

Grace looks at Maxine, who blushes and turns to me.

'And I know how difficult this is, Grace, trust me. I'd hate it if Daniel did anything like this, I really would. Not that it looks likely, but we'd all be here with you. If you need us. And if you let him in, then the press won't have a story, will they?'

She smiles.

'Okay, okay, I get it. You might be right.'

Maxine looks surprised.

'Shall I call Ed back then?'

'Yes.'

'Maybe we should release a statement as soon as we let him in. Something about how you're glad he's finally showing an interest, and you hope to work things out amicably?'

'Good plan, Max. Get Ed to sort it out. I wonder why he's turned up now; has he got a new album out this week or something?'

Maxine nods and starts scribbling on her pad.

'Well, why the fuck didn't you tell me? We should have known he'd pull something like this. Christ. Okay, say I'm glad he's here and we're sure it's got nothing to do with the album being out this week. My only concern is Lily. And if he wants to build a proper relationship with her, then fine.'

'Bond is better.'

'Yes, bond. But I want him to take a drugs test first, just to make sure he hasn't slipped back into his old habits. Brilliant. That should do it. Jo, can you hang on? He knows Max so it'll only make him worse if she's around, and I want a witness.'

'Sorry?'

'When we let him in.'

'Of course, if you're sure. I mean there's a chance he might be reasonable, isn't there?'

'Not really, no. Max, has he brought some babe with him?'

'Yes.'

'What's she doing?'

'Posing with a giant pink teddy bear.'

'Wearing?'

'Not very much.'

'So this is her coming-out party then. Clever. Right, tell Bruno to let Jimmy in, but not the girl, once you're sorted with the statement. I'm going to get changed.'

Twenty minutes later we're sitting downstairs in the posh living room with the emerald-green velvet sofas and Grace has changed into a beautiful wrap dress, and appears to have gone into some sort of breathing-exercise trance. She looks staggeringly beautiful, and is clearly in full Diva mode as the door opens and Bruno escorts Jimmy in.

Christ, it's really Jimmy Madden. He's looking fidgety and very thin but still unmistakably every inch the Rock Star. Bruno positions himself by the door, as if Jimmy might be about to steal a painting.

'Hi, babe, nice place.'

Grace smiles, one of her full megawatt smiles.

'What do you want, Jimmy?'

'Who knows, darling? I'm fucked if I do.'

Grace sighs.

'I haven't got time for this.'

'Got your attention, though, didn't it?' He grins. 'And I've got a right to see my daughter.'

She stiffens, and then seems to remember something as she breathes out slowly.

'Your what?'

'I only want to see her. What harm could there be in that?'

'And will there be cameras at this touching moment?'

'Fuck off.'

'Jimmy, this is me you're talking to.'

'I'd like to get to know her. I think it'd be cool.'

'What about your other children? Aren't they cool too?'

I've forgotten that he has other children; two, I think, or possibly three, from his first marriage, or maybe the second. I've lost count and I suspect he probably has too. They must be teenagers now.

'I know I've made some mistakes, but I'd like this one to be different.'

'I bet you would. How's the new album selling?'

'Don't be a bitch. It's very bad karma, babe.' He turns to me and does one of his slow-motion, crooked-teeth smiles, and my stomach lurches. Blimey. 'Who the fuck are you?'

'She's a friend of mine, Jimmy. Leave her alone.'

'Oh, you've got a friend now, have you? How much are you paying her?' He smiles again. 'Whatever she's paying you, darling, trust me, it's not enough.'

Before I can stop myself I'm blurting, 'I don't think this is helping anyone,' and going bright red as he looks at me, and laughs.

'Oh, don't you? Well, it's definitely helping me.'

Grace stands up.

'Well, it's been lovely seeing you again, Jimmy. So sweet of you to drop in; do let us know next time you're in the area.'

'Where is she?'

'Upstairs. Asleep.'

'Babes, I know you're only looking out for her, and I can respect that. Totally. But if I could spend a little time with her and get to know her ... I'd hate her to think her dad didn't care about her. That's all.'

Grace smiles, a sad sort of smile; I think part of her really wants to believe him.

'Okay. Come next weekend sometime, Sunday maybe. Half an hour. No media. And you sign a confidentiality agreement. No interviews, no photos.'

'Come on, be fair. All I want is a couple of snaps for my mum.'

'Your mum's dead, Jimmy. We went to the funeral, remember? It was just before my mum got ill. And if you want photographs I'll get Max to give you copies. She'll even put them in frames for you. Oh, and we've released a statement, saying we'd like you to take a drugs test before you see Lily. The lawyers insisted.'

'You're a fucking piece of work, do you know that?'

'Well, as my mum used to say, it takes one to know one. Bye, Jimmy.'

Bruno steps forward, and opens the door.

'See he doesn't take any detours, Bruno. And Jimmy, next time, pick up the fucking telephone.'

He hesitates, and then walks out.

Christ. My hands are shaking, so God knows how Grace is being so calm.

She sits back down.

'So. Not interested in my gorgeous girl after all, then.'

'I'm so sorry, Grace.'

'It's fine.'

'No, it's not. And I'm sorry I sat there like a dummy. I should have said something. Apart from that stupid thing about how this isn't helping.'

'I liked that. He probably thinks you're my lawyer anyway, don't worry about it. You were great.'

'You never know, maybe when Lily's older he'll have mellowed a bit.'

'Settled down to grow organic veg and play the fucking lute? Not likely, he wants to go out in a blaze of glory, very rock and roll. It's amazing he's lasted this long, actually. There's a hotel room somewhere with his name on it, trust me.'

'Well, you gave him a chance.'

She smiles.

'Next weekend is like next year in Jimmy world. Forty-eight hours is about the most he can cope with. I didn't give him any chance at all. I can't afford to. He'd blow it. There'd be pictures of her in all the papers, and I don't want that for her.'

'Of course you don't.'

'No more news from Daniel, I take it?'

'No, not since the DNA letter.'

'God, men can be so useless.'