‘Stoner, remember. If he got off the dope, it would be worth seeing where he ended up. I’ve already messaged Kate, his sister.’

‘Yeah,’ said Pete. ‘But we all smoked dope back then. He’s probably some hotshot executive now. I remember him. He dressed like a Victorian poet.’

‘That was him. Very intense too.’

‘Michael O’Connor?’ asked Marcia. ‘Definitely a contender.’

I felt myself blush. ‘Peter Pan type, and I haven’t heard from him since his fleeting visit weeks ago, so maybe he hasn’t changed after all and is still full of promises and plans but fails to deliver.’

Marcia was watching me closely. ‘By the colour of your face, there’s still clearly something there.’

‘You really loved him, didn’t you Bea?’ Pete asked.

‘Did but … not sure I want to go back there to all that uncertainty.’

‘You mustn’t let fear hold you back, Bea,’ said Marcia. ‘If he’s The One, then of course it’s going to bring up some concerns. You have to be brave to let go to love—’

‘And face the possibility of loss and heartbreak,’ I said.

‘Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,’ said Marcia.

‘OK. Keep him on the list. I have his mobile number now so I can chase him up.’

‘OK. Next. Graham. Ah …’ I saw Marcia put a line through his name. ‘Then Richard.’

‘He’s not on the list,’ I said. ‘Nor is Joe Wilding.’

‘I know, but one thing you have to consider, Bea, is that Billy and Grace never got to spend a long period of time together, from what we know; they were young lovers and never really got to do the moving in together, getting bored with each other, finding each other’s faults. So who’s to say that they would have stayed the course anyway? Like with Joe and Richard, you found out you weren’t suited to either because you were with them for years. I think, with the right one, the years will get better, so I reckon you haven’t met him yet.’

‘And that brings us pretty well up to date with the list, unless there’s anyone you’re holding out on telling us about,’ said Pete. ‘Kevin, Bruno, Sam, Michael.’

I cursed that I blushed again and Eagle-eyes Marcia spotted it straight away. ‘Ah. OK, I’m going to add your neighbour Jon. I know there’s something going on between you two.’

‘No there isn’t. He fancies himself as a playboy so, no, I don’t want him on the list.’

‘Ah, but one night with you might change all of that. Ah …’ Marcia studied my reddening face. ‘Bea! He’s already had one night with you. Really? Have you been holding out on us? You have, haven’t you?’