Jake stood up. ‘No thanks needed. It’s been a pleasure.’

‘What about tonight – Krish?’

‘Fancy a balti?’

‘Love one.’

‘I’ll pick you up if you like. Seven-thirty?’

She gave him the address, then hesitated. Jake looked down into her eyes. There was a moment of awkwardness, of not knowing how to part.

Anna went to the stairs taking refuge in the need to hurry. ‘Bye then. See you later.’

In the street she lit her first cigarette of the day, thinking that by now she would normally have had a couple already.

The growling of Jake’s Transit van sounded incongruous in the suburban street. She climbed up into the cab, slim in jeans and a round-necked navy top which followed every curve of her.

Jake gave her a broad smile. ‘You ready for this?’

‘Doing my best to be.’ As Jake reversed into Kate’s strip of drive, she said, ‘Does Krish know we’re coming?’

‘I phoned.’ The van accelerated loudly. ‘He sounded very low. Didn’t say much.’

‘But he’s coming?’

Jake nodded.

‘Did he say anything about last night?’

‘No. He never says much on the phone. Always afraid she’s listening.’

‘What a life.’

Jake inclined his head in agreement. ‘My guess is he won’t have had the easiest of days.’

As they drove along the Alcester Road towards Moseley, the two of them talked rather abstractedly. Had she got to Roland’s in time? Had he had many customers that day? Anna was feeling nervous about seeing Krish. Not because she didn’t want to forgive him, to give him support, but because those feelings had somehow to be made clear.

They saw him waving to them from the corner of the road before they even reached Olivia’s house. Jake braked sharply and Anna moved up into the middle seat of the cab. Seeing Krish again she was struck once more by the enormous appeal of his puppy-like looks.

‘Been forced to camp out on the pavement now, have you?’ Jake joked as they pulled away.

Krish seemed slightly breathless. ‘I thought if she saw you two it’d make things worse. It’s been bloody awful in there today.’ He shifted uneasily beside Anna, avoiding her eyes. ‘She’s not speaking to me – not a single word. Ben’s been out all day, so there’s just Sean. Jesus, is he a moody bloke. Must be living with us that does it.’

He gave a nervous little laugh and turned to Anna. ‘I’m really, really sorry about last night,’ he said disarmingly. ‘I got completely above myself and I regretted it straight away. Can you forgive me?’

Anna smiled. There was an adroitness in the apology which made her realize that he had become well practised at saying sorry, keeping things smooth. Living with her, no doubt.

‘It’s OK.’ To her annoyance she felt herself blushing. ‘I hope you didn’t get into too much trouble over it?’

‘I expect you’ve gathered my mother’s rather possessive?’

‘Don’t worry,’ Jake said. ‘Anna’s on your side.’