He looked back to see her and Mark wave before she closed the door.

They didn’t speak much on the flight to London or in the lounge where Harry waited with him until his flight was called. Now it had been, they spoke in a rush. Yes, I’ll come and visit. No, Roisin’s not using the apartment. No I don’t want rent. No, I don’t know where Bernadette lives. Yes, I have the address. Yes, I know it’s walking distance from Broadway. Yes, I know Broadway’s a big place.

The tannoy announced last call. They walked to the gate. The old friends embraced each other. He thought the big man was going to crush his ribs. He searched for something poignant or memorable to mark the occasion, but it wouldn’t come. Instead, he walked through the gate and then he remembered. He shouted back beyond the impatient queue behind him.

‘Hey Harry, who sang ‘I Wanna Kiss You All Over’?

The big man put his hand to his ear to signal he couldn’t hear him.

‘Shout louder, Cormac!’

He shouted.

‘I WANNA KISS YOU ALL OVER!’

They were staring now.

‘I don’t know. Can you sing a bit of it for me?’

He looked around him. The queue had lost interest. He sang a bit.

‘I wanna kiss you all over

Over again

I wanna kiss you all over

Till the night closes in….’

Harry still had his hand to his ear.

‘I’ve nearly got it. Sing a bit more if you can and a bit louder.’

He sang in a shout.

‘Stay with me, lay with me

Holding me, loving me

Ba…a…by.’

The queue rediscovered its interest and now formed a circle around him waiting for Harry’s response. He leaned around the counter and called Cormac to him. Cormac bent his ear to Harry’s cupped hand.

‘It was Exile, Cormac. Exile sang it. Oh, and by the way, I knew the answer on the ‘who sang, “I wanna kiss you all over”‘ bit, because I’m the daddy when it comes to music, I think you’ll agree. Now if you’d like to turn around, my gullible friend, your audience awaits.’

He clapped his hands as Cormac began to move and the audience joined in rapturously. Cormac fixed his gaze firmly on the floor and didn’t look up, even when he heard the gruff American accent ask Harry who actually sang the song. He was walking quickly down the tunnel when he heard his friend’s theatrical reply, delivered in a camp style any method actor would be proud of.

‘I’M SORRY, SIR, BUT I’M TOO UPSET TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION! YOU SEE, THAT OLD DOG THERE BROKE MY HEART AND NOW HE WANTS TO RUB MY NOSE IN THE DIRT! OH, THIS IS ALL SO DREADFULLY PAINFUL!’

It wasn’t until he was in his seat Cormac allowed himself a smile at his own stupidity. He was glad Harry Crossan was his friend and he was sure he was going to miss him more than Harry would ever know.