In the kitchen a few minutes later, Frank had boiled the kettle and was pouring water into the cups when he heard his mobile phone ringing faintly. Tracing it to the pocket of his coat in the hall, he pulled it out and saw that it was Jo – and he’d already missed three calls from her.

‘About time!’ she said when he answered. ‘I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?’

‘Sorry, I didn’t hear it. You should have tried the landline instead.’

‘I did, but I got the dead tone. What’s going on?’

Wandering back into the kitchen, Frank glanced at the house-phone on the worktop and tutted softly when he saw that its screen was blank.

‘The storm must have knocked the line out,’ he said, wedging the mobile under his chin so he could add sugar to the cups.

‘Evan said it was a bad one. Has it done any other damage?’

‘I don’t know yet. I’m going to take a look around when I’ve had my brew.’

‘You couldn’t pop over to Yvonne’s while you’re at it, could you?’ Jo asked. ‘I tried ringing her when I couldn’t get hold of you, but she’s not answering, either.’

In no mood to see his nosy neighbour, Frank said, ‘Her phone will have been affected, as well. We’re on the same line, don’t forget.’

‘And her mobile?’ said Jo. Then, her clipped tone telling him that it wasn’t so much a request as an order, she said, ‘Just do it, Dad. She was kind enough to check on you after Mum passed away, and being a good neighbour is a two-way street, you know?’

‘Fine, I’ll go over there,’ Frank conceded.

‘Make sure you do,’ Jo said. ‘And let me know how she is.’

‘Will do.’

‘Right, well, I’ve got to go. I’m supposed to be helping Emily with a school project.’

‘How’s she getting on?’ Frank asked.

‘She loves it,’ said Jo.

‘Ah, that’s good. Give her my love, and say hi to Sam.’

Immediately that call was finished, Frank’s phone started ringing again, and this time it was Evan.

‘Morning, Pops. How did you get on with the storm?’

‘I’m going to check when I’ve had a brew. How about you?’

‘A couple of slates came down, but nothing major. Has Jo managed to get hold of you yet? She rang me in a flap, reckons she’s been trying to call you all morning.’

‘I was talking to her before you rang,’ Frank said, stirring milk into the drinks. ‘I take it you didn’t tell her about Irena still being here?’