Her Cornish mother, long dead now, had taken the unheard-of step of marrying a black American GI who’d been stationed near Porthmellow in the war. Evie’s parents had settled locally and her heritage meant she stood out in the community ‘like a sore thumb’ – Evie’s words, not Gabe’s. Thank God the world and Porthmellow had moved on since then, thought Gabe. Not far or fast enough by a long way, but sufficiently for Evie to have stayed in the town where she was now a stalwart.

Evie had trained as a teacher and retired a dozen years previously, while Gabe still worked in the chip shop. Her warmth, good humour and firm but compassionate manner had endeared her to the whole community, and to Troy, who was besotted by her, above all else.

And, Gabe reflected, maybe Evie did have a point about his batter … it didn’t show on screen but there were a few tiny lumps. ‘I’ll try to pop in and ask for her tips,’ he said, trying to hide his amusement. ‘Sorry to hear about her arthritis.’

‘Evie would love that. Always had a soft spot for you. Mind you, she’d hardly recognise you. You were a lanky streak of piss when she last saw you, always ready to pick a fight with the world. Now look at you – a regular George Clooney,’ Troy said, chortling at his own joke.

Gabe hadn’t heard anyone chortle in a long time and strangely, Troy’s backhanded compliment raised a smile on his own lips. George Clooney was a great actor and a good-looking bloke, but he was old enough to be Gabe’s dad. Unexpectedly, Troy slapped him on the back. For an eighty year old it was some whack and Gabe lurched forward, which made Troy chuckle even more.

‘Well, I can’t stand here rattling on with you. I’ve a meeting with the harbourmaster about this festival to go to. I’m on the committee, you know,’ he added proudly.

Gabe resisted the urge to rub his back where Troy had slapped him. ‘I didn’t know that. You’re obviously in great demand.’

He showed Gabe his remaining teeth. ‘I am. Oh, and by the way, you’ll doubtless be crossing paths with Samphire Lovell while you’re here. She runs the whole thing with a rod of iron, but you must know that.’ Troy smirked. ‘Can hardly avoid her, can you, lad? Even if you wanted to.’

Still cackling, Troy ambled off over the car park towards the harbourmaster’s office, leaving Gabe staring after him.