First he took her to the back of the house and showed her the view across the valley. It was winter, and the vines were bare, but the sun was shining, and the rows of brown plants threw blue shadows, making curvilinear patterns like brushstrokes.

She said: “What kind of grapes do you grow?”

“Cabernet sauvignon, the classic red grape. It’s hardy, and this stony soil suits it.”

“Do you make wine?”

“Yes. It’s not great, but it’s improving. Come inside and try a glass.”

She liked the all-wood kitchen, which looked traditional despite having all the latest gadgets. The cabinets were natural hand-scraped pine, washed with a light stain to give the wood a golden glow. Dave had removed the flat ceiling, opening up the height of the room to the underside of the pitched roof.

He had spent a lot of time designing this room because he wanted it to be like the kitchen of the house in Great Peter Street, a room where everyone came to hang out, eat and drink and talk.

They sat at the antique pine table and Dave opened a bottle of Daisy Farm Red 1969, the first one he and Danny Medina had produced as partners. It was still too tannic, and Beep made a face. Dave laughed. “I guess you have to appreciate its potential.”

“I’ll take your word for that.”

She took out a pack of Chesterfields. Dave said: “You were smoking Chesterfields when you were thirteen.”

“I ought to give it up.”

“I had never seen such long cigarettes.”

“You were sweet at that age.”

“And the sight of your lips sucking on a Chesterfield was strangely arousing to me, though I could not have said why.”

She laughed. “I could have told you.”

He took another sip of the wine. It might be better in a couple more years. He said: “How is Walli?”

“Fine. He does more dope than he should, but what can I tell you? He’s a rock star.”

Dave smiled. “I smoke a joint most evenings myself.”

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Sally Dasilva.”

“The actress. I saw a picture of the two of you, arriving at some premiere, but I didn’t know if it was serious.”

It was not very serious. “She’s in LA, and we both work a lot. But we get a weekend together once in a while.”

“By the way, I have to tell you how much I admire your sister.”

“Evie’s a good actress.”

“She made me weep with laughter in that movie where she played a rookie cop. But it’s her activism that makes her a hero. A lot of people oppose the war, but not many have the guts to go to North Vietnam.”

“She was scared shitless.”

“I bet.”

Dave put down his glass and gave Beep a direct look. He could not contain his curiosity any longer. “What’s really on your mind, Beep?”

“First, thanks for seeing me. You didn’t have to, and I appreciate it.”