‘Of course.’ Alice gave one of her over-elaborate shrugs as if she hadn’t noticed Hugo’s departure. ‘It was all a long time ago. I’m sure Lee has moved on from all that …’ She waved a hand in the air in lieu of finishing the sentence.

Aaron felt it better not to comment. His brother’s mental health wasn’t something he wanted to discuss with the woman who’d prompted the problems. Who knew? She might get a power kick out of it. He got up, feeling ruffled and dissatisfied at Alice’s I-don’t-get-what’s-bugging-you manner. Clancy turned to watch him but her expression was remote and she made no move to see him to the door. He had no idea what she was thinking or what she wanted, so he said goodnight.

He wished heartily that Princess Awful Alice had remained safely wherever she’d been instead of turning up to spoil everything.

But once he was in the porch and about to open the outer door he heard footsteps behind him. When he turned, though, he found himself in the company of the wrong cousin. Alice was there, playing with a plait and regarding him with caution. ‘Erm,’ she began hesitantly. ‘How is Lee?’

‘OK.’

She twirled the plait faster. ‘Is he married and everything? Having a lovely life?’

The nervous titter that followed grated on Aaron’s nerves but he decided to share minimal facts with her. She was bound to bump into Lee. Nelson’s Bar was tiny. ‘He moved away, was in a relationship and had a daughter. Now he’s a single dad and he’s moved back.’

‘Oh.’ She looked thoughtful as she turned and went back inside.

As he marched back up Long Lane, Aaron wished he could have told her that Lee had found the love of his life and would probably say hello for old times’ sake at some point, but he was very busy with the happy business of living.

Her presence was like a snake in the village grass.

He reached home in a few minutes, so deep in thought that when he rounded his building and a shadowy figure on the garden bench moved, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Then Lee’s voice said, ‘Evening.’

Aaron took refuge in brotherly ribbing. ‘What are you doing littering my garden?’ He sat down, having a fair idea of what was coming.

‘Have you seen her?’ Lee asked.

Aaron joked no longer. ‘Alice? Yes, just came from there.’

‘And?’ Lee kept his gaze on where the sea could be heard but not seen.

Heart aching for his little bro, Aaron answered as fully and honestly as he could, softening his voice when he mentioned Alice’s husband and feeling Lee’s recoil. He described her traveller-chick image and the lack of apparent change to her personality. ‘She asked about you,’ he concluded, because Lee had the right to know.

Slowly, Lee nodded. ‘Thanks.’ He clasped Aaron’s shoulder and left without giving any indication of how the news bulletin had been received.