‘Yeah, it has been for me too.’ He smiled and clinked his glass with hers. This was the life he’d craved. A good job, money in his pocket and a beautiful, kind woman by his side. The waiter brought over the bill. For once he could pay without hesitation. He placed his credit card onto the silver tray, not even looking at the total. When he’d paid, he took out a crisp tenner and left it under the candle. Maddy smiled and nodded her approval. He gave a little tug of the suit cuffs. He could get used to this. For the first time in his life, he felt good about himself.

On the way home, he asked the taxi to stop at the north side of Uxbridge Common, so they could stroll back in the moonlight. Another couple were by the pond and a man passed with his dog along the pavement.

They sat on the grass. Max laid his hand over Maddy’s and edged closer to her. Paint and plaster rimmed his nails, dirt etched into the lines of rough skin.

‘See the full moon?’ he said, gazing at the sky. ‘My gran used to say that it represents a full belly, a full purse, a full womb and a full life.’

Maddy cocked her head at him. ‘I like that.’

‘And it’s supposed to be lucky for romance,’ he added.

‘Do you believe it is?’ She smiled.

‘I’d like to think it’s true.’

‘We get on really well, don’t we?’ She squeezed his hand.

‘We do,’ he said, pressing her hand back.

‘Tell me more about when you lived with your gran.’

‘We rented a barge for a while, when things got worse money-wise. Her brother owned it and didn’t charge us for the first three months, but it was damp and cold most of the time. I went to school in all the wrong clothes and shoes. That’s when I learned to fight my corner against the bullies. I had to survive somehow after she died, so beating people up for a loan shark was how I got by. I’m not proud of it.’

‘I wish I’d known you then. I might have been able to help you take a different path.’