‘That’s one of my husband’s restaurants,’ Shona said delightedly. ‘You might have seen my son in there from time to time, he’s started working there. Answers to the name of Sharif. Very handsome lad, always has the girls after him.’

‘Must take after his mum,’ Dermot said, ‘but I can’t say I’ve seen him. Maybe he doesn’t work on Friday nights.’

‘Oh, maybe not,’ said Shona, although she was sure that Sharif was meant to work five days a week. ‘Well, I’m glad I’m not taking you out of your way. Balham’s just a few minutes from me.’

‘We’re almost at Tooting Bee now,’ Dermot commented. ‘Have you never thought about driving to work? It’s only a few minutes in a car, but that bus must take forever.’

‘Haven’t learned to drive yet,’ Shona said lightly. ‘I started some lessons after I had the boys, but it didn’t quite agree with me. And the lessons were so expensive, it seemed a bit wasteful. Parvez took me out a few times but I never felt comfortable with him as my teacher. It was the only thing we ever argued about, back then.’ She looked out. ‘Could you just drop me off here, near the station? I need to get something from the corner shop,’ she lied. She didn’t want Dermot driving her all the way home. She didn’t want him to meet Parvez, who would probably offer him a drink for his gallantry. She wanted to keep her school and home life separate.

‘I could teach you, if you want,’ suggested Dermot, pulling over and parking. ‘I taught my ex-wife to drive, and she’d failed four times before she met me. I’m a good teacher - it’s what I do, after all.’

‘I’m sure you are,’ said Shona as she stepped out onto the pavement, noticing that it was the first time he had mentioned his ‘sort’ of marriage since their first stilted meeting. ‘Thanks for the offer, but I think my driving days are over. And thanks very much for the ride.’ She waved enthusiastically as he drove off, and then turned down the street to walk home.