‘Yes. I was just thinking about you recently and had a mind to look you up.’

‘You were?’

‘You’re in London, right? A friend of a friend from Manchester said you’d moved there.’ He laughed. ‘Must be the time of life, you know, reviewing the situation, looking back over past times. Wow. I think I need to sit down. Talk about a blast from the past. How did you find me?’

‘I have a friend who’s a computer geek. He tracked you down.’

‘Well I never. I’m flattered. So, to what do I owe this honour?’

I racked my brain for the sort of excuse Heather would come up with. ‘I … er … a project I’m working on. I’m thinking about writing a book about the Manchester area when we were there, so I am getting in touch with people I knew from that time to see what they remember.’

‘Fiction or non-fiction?’

‘Oh er … fiction, but of course the facts and the setting must be right.’

‘I’d be glad to help. And am I right in thinking you’ve just had a big birthday? I seem to remember your birthday was a few weeks before mine.’

‘I have. You have a good memory.’

‘Mine was the month after yours, so I always remember. Hey, we have to meet up.’

‘Yes, that would be interesting after all this time.’

‘When? Damn it, I’ve just been up to London recently. I could come up there, see where you live …’ He sounded eager, too eager.

‘Or I could come to you. I’m just in the process of moving, you see.’ That way, I can get away if necessary, I thought.

‘OK. Come here. Sure. Great. Let’s do it. How you fixed for this weekend?’

‘This weekend?’ It all seemed to be happening a bit fast, but I knew I had nothing urgent on and it had been me who had contacted him, so why were alarm bells ringing and why was I feeling hesitant? What did I have to lose? ‘I … OK, why not?’

‘Will you drive or get the train?’

‘Train probably.’

‘Great. Saturday then? Get the train to Westgate-on-Sea. I’ll pick you up from the station and rustle up some lunch. Be fantastic to see you again.’

‘Just remember I am thirty-five years older.’

‘Me too, Bea, but it will be great to catch up, relive some old times. Here’s my mobile, you can text me the details of your arrival time when you know and then I’ll have your number in case of delays.’ He gave me his number then I heard him laugh. ‘Unbelievable that you should get in touch when I’d been thinking about you.’

‘I know.’

‘Oh. Right. OK. See you Saturday,’ he said and hung up.