Every birthday and every Christmas, the children received expensive, jaw-dropping presents from their grandparents in Chester, but during their visits to London (which thankfully for Dan were both brief and scarce), neither of Jackie’s parents showed themselves capable of any degree of spontaneity or fun with the children. But then, Josh, Millie, and Nina had Battersea Gran to provide that, and they had an instinctive understanding that having her constantly in their lives was worth much more than the material goods bestowed upon them by the others. If there was ever to be a battle of loyalties, then Battersea Gran was always going to win hands down. Josh spoke for them all when he once described her as being the ultimate Gran.

That evening, the weather had displayed typically fickle British tendencies and changed from winter back to the Indian summer that Mr. Fish, the television weatherman, had promised. As Dan drove home after taking Battersea Gran back to her flat, he had to make use of the visor to shield his eyes from the watery rays of the setting sun, and the freezing draught that had earlier blown in through the gap at the top of the windscreen had now become a warm and comforting blast. Even though it was just before seven o’clock in the evening, Clapham Common was now awash with people who had been lured from their homes by the rise in temperature. As he sat in the queue for the traffic lights, Dan watched the walkers, the joggers, the footballers, the Frisbee throwers, and the kite flyers, as well as the bedlam of unruly dogs that joined in with any game that would accommodate them.

All was quiet when he entered the house. There was a note on the third step of the stairs that explained the silence. Jessica Napier, one of Millie’s closest friends from her previous school, had rung to ask Millie and Nina around to her house for the evening. Dan scrumpled up the paper in his fist and walked through to the kitchen. He was pleased about that. Millie had had little contact with Jessica since she left Alleyn’s. Maybe this heralded a new beginning to their relationship.

He briefly considered taking Biggles and Cruise out to join the hordes on Clapham Common, but then decided that, for once, they could make do with their nightly traipse around the block. It was a better idea to enjoy the tranquility while it lasted. He took a beer from the fridge, picked up a Sunday magazine from the table, and made his way out into the back garden.