Clara considered this for a moment. ‘Well, don’t forget to tell him that Mammy makes yummy dinners. And on Tuesdays we have ice cream for dessert and then maybe he won’t be too busy.’

‘I won’t,’ Jo smiled.

‘I like him,’ Clara said, with such an air of authority about her that it was clear she had given this a lot of thought.

‘Well, as it happens, I like him too. He’s a nice friend.’

‘He might be a nice boyfriend maybe,’ Clara said, faux innocently, and Jo laughed. She was totally being set up by a six-year-old.

‘He might be,’ she agreed. ‘But we’re just ordinary friends for now.’

‘So it might change?’ Clara asked as they walked through the school gates.

‘It might,’ she conceded because it was easier than explaining the concept of rebound relationships and trust issues to a six-year-old. Her answer made Clara grin from ear to ear and she skipped happily into school, leaving Jo thinking that it would be wonderful to see the world the way a child sees it. Even with her own take on things, Clara still saw hope and easy answers everywhere. That seemed so appealing.

Lorcan was cleaning the shelves when Jo arrived at Harry’s shop. She didn’t see him at first, only spotting Harry – who was sat on his chair behind the counter flicking through the Derry Journal and commenting on the death notices.

‘Not a lot of deaths this week,’ he said, without even saying hello. ‘People won’t be happy.’

Jo raised an eyebrow.

‘You may well look confused there, young Jo, but believe me, the deaths are a big selling point for these local papers. Sure, us older ones don’t all have that Facebook yoke you all have. For a lot of us, the only way we keep up with what our old friends and neighbours are at is by looking at the Journal.’

‘To see if they’re dead?’ Jo asked, unsure if she had picked Harry up correctly.

‘Exactly. Or if they have people belonging to them who are dead. Sure, then we can go to the wake or the funeral and catch up. It’s not the same for you young ones. You know every detail of everyone’s life. What they’re eating for their dinner. When they give the house a clean or read a book, or buy new underwear. Nothing’s private any more.’

Lorcan stood up then and Jo caught a glimpse of him, and the smile on his face which said ‘Grandad’s in great form today. Prepare for one of his big rants’.