Isobel stood up. ‘You have a go. I can’t see any more pieces that will fit; I think I’m too close to it.’ She went to the scullery to wash her hands. ‘You know, this water seems alright now,’ she called, with a hint of mischief in her voice as she ran the tap. ‘Perhaps the system has fixed itself.’

‘Let’s hope so, I could do without another bill.’ Ann sat down and studied their progress. She picked up a piece of sky and slotted it into place.

He was still on his feet. ‘I think it’s time I went. I’ll not disturb your meal.’ He picked up his cap from the back of the chair. ‘Thank you for the bread, Isobel, and the soup.’ He looked at Ann. ‘And please, call me Keith, Miss Black.’

Ann saw that there was a paper bag with a fresh loaf poking out of the open end on the dresser, and beside it sat a large glass jar of what appeared to be Scotch broth.

She gave in. ‘What’s for dinner, Isobel?’

‘Macaroni cheese, with crispy breadcrumbs on top and roasted red cabbage with walnuts,’ replied Isobel. ‘It’s almost done.’

‘Enough for three?’

‘I would think so.’

Ann pointed at the chair he had just vacated. ‘You may as well sit back down then, Keith.’ She tried out the sound of his name. ‘Dinner is almost ready.’

‘Thank you.’ He was clearly uncomfortable. ‘But only if you are both sure; I don’t want to impose.’

‘We are sure, aren’t we, Isobel? We quite often make extra, just in case. You never know who might call by at dinnertime.’ She looked down at the jigsaw. ‘We might need to move this along a bit to make room for us to eat, though.’

They managed to shuffle the puzzle along by taking a side each and moving it an inch at a time along the well-worn wooden table.

‘There are plates in the cupboard behind you,’ said Ann, ‘and cutlery in the drawer below that. And if you don’t mind, there’s a thick mat on your left, to put the hot food on.’

Isobel opened the oven, and the smell of melted cheese oozed across the kitchen. She lifted the round enamel dish out carefully. It was a bigger one than they normally used for the two of them; Isobel had obviously been scheming this all day. Ann had wondered about it before, and now she was sure of it.

When they were all seated, Ann put the serving spoon into the hot pasta and pushed it round so it was pointing at Keith. ‘After you. Guests first.’ She watched him eye up a quarter of what was in the dish and serve himself, taking care not to appear greedy. She was sure he would finish the final quarter at the end. He had a look of hunger about him, that was for sure.