“It’s hard to believe that was Magnus,” I say as I watch the two men laughing at something. “Has he changed much?”

“Not so you’d notice. When I first arrived at the house he shared with Chris, he was showing a bloke out. The next morning there was another one. And then another and another. I single-handedly credit Magnus for my having no problem in talking to strangers.”

“Well, fair’s fair. He’s got no problem shagging them,” I say, and she laughs.

Mags and Chris look over. “I detect badly hidden glee in your face, Lennie,” Mags says in a voice full of mock reproof.

“I’m surprised I’ve managed to hide any of it,” she replies. “This is what I’ve been waiting all my life for.”

“Hardly a ringing endorsement for your marital relations,” he observes.

Chris claps him on the shoulders. “Marriage teaches you to grab your little bit of joy when it happens along,” he says in a virtuous tone of voice.

Mags chuckles. “Well, I’m so pleased that Lennie’s brother has given her such a golden moment.”

Chris shakes his head. “I’m still bemused that Laurie managed to get you to come here and play bingo. It’s like seeing a gorilla in a bikini at a wedding.”

“Your analogies, as usual, make no sense,” Mags says.

His voice makes me smile. Deep and warm, with hints of an accent and that tiny lisp that softens consonants. He looks up at the building. “Let’s get this done, yes?”

“You know you can drink during bingo,” I call.

He turns to me instantly. “Alcohol?”

“No, Horlicks.” He rolls his eyes, and I laugh. “Of course, booze.”

“I thought that was banned.”

“Only at children’s bingo which, let’s face it, is the only way you’re going to beat us,” Lennie says sweetly.

Mags cocks his head, and Chris grins at him. “Welcome back to my world, Magnus. Surely you remember how intensely competitive she can get.”

“I am not,” Lennie says.

Her husband chuckles. “So, it wasn’t you betting that you’d get your coffee first at the café this morning? You bet actual money.” She slumps, and he laughs. “You’ll never beat them, Magnus. Lennie even has her own dobber.”

“Dobber? Is that some form of sexual infection that I’ve never heard of?”

“No. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of all of them,” my sister says with a poisonous smile, and I laugh.

We head into the building, and I pause in the entry, looking around with pleasure. It’s an old music hall, and very little has been done to change the beautiful gaudy lines of its interior.

Mags comes up next to me, following my gaze to the high, vaulted ceiling. “Why here?”

I don’t pretend not to know what he’s talking about. “I wanted to see it, Mags. Look at the light.”