‘All right, Pops,’ Evan said, jumping out of the driver’s seat and blowing on his hands as he trudged across the snow. ‘Kettle on?’

‘What are you doing here?’ Frank asked. ‘Did your sister send you?’

‘No.’ Evan pulled a face, as if he didn’t know what Frank was talking about. ‘I haven’t heard from her in weeks. I was passing and thought I’d pop round to see how you’re doing.’

Frank didn’t believe that for one minute, but he could hardly turn him away, so he stepped aside and waved for him to come inside.

Evan cast a quick glance around the hallway as he shrugged his coat off.

‘Looking for something?’ Frank asked, closing the door. ‘Or should I say someone? That is why she sent you, isn’t it? To make sure my guest has really gone?’

‘Guest?’ Evan repeated, maintaining the innocent act. ‘I haven’t got a clue what you’re on about.’

Quickly stepping in front of the living room door when Evan walked toward it, Frank said, ‘Go and put the kettle on. I’ll be with you in a minute.’

Evan gave him a bemused look and headed into the kitchen, and Frank went into the living room.

‘It’s my son,’ he told Irena quietly. ‘I’m going to have a cup of tea with him, and then I’ll get rid of him. Do you want to stay in here, or would you rather go upstai—’

‘Any biscuits to go with this brew?’ Evan asked, popping his head around the door.

Sure that he’d done it on purpose, Frank scowled at him. But Evan was too busy staring at Irena to notice.

‘Well, hello,’ he purred, edging past Frank and holding out his hand. ‘I’m Evan. And you are . . .?’

Conscious that his son had no idea of the life Irena had escaped and probably thought she would be flattered by his attentions, Frank shoved him back out into the hall, saying, ‘She’s not feeling too well, so let’s leave her in peace, eh?’

‘Wow, what a beauty,’ Evan said when Frank pulled the door shut. ‘Bit young for you, though, isn’t she?’

‘Don’t be so disrespectful,’ Frank scolded.

‘Joke.’ Evan held up his hands.

‘Not funny,’ Frank snapped, herding him into the kitchen. ‘And now you’ve seen what you came to see, you can have your drink and go home.’

‘Marie’s at bingo, so I’m in no rush,’ Evan said, flopping onto a chair. ‘So who is she?’ He jerked his head at the door. ‘And what’s with the bruises?’