‘It’s very effective,’ he said. ‘But, if you want to know, I went to see if there were any cans of energy drink, and the lights just went out. I think a bulb has blown. And then I knocked something over, I couldn’t see what. That’s about the time I heard you screaming and shouting and come hurtling after me.’

‘I was hardly hurtling after you,’ Jo said, her defences up. ‘I was checking if Harry was okay. We care about him here, you know. Especially since his heart attack. We’ve been looking after him.’ She hoped that the bold Lorcan, with his floppy hair and his blue eyes and the hint of a tan that seemed at odds at this time of year, would get the dig. That she, and the rest of the residents on Ivy Lane, had stepped in to care for Harry where his own family had not. Harry, of course, wouldn’t hear a bad word spoken about either of his two sons, their wives or his grandchildren – of whom Lorcan was the oldest and, as such, held the title of ‘favourite’.

‘Well, there’s no need,’ he said, brushing over her concern. ‘It was just me, wanting a super caffeine fix.’

‘I hate to break it to you, Lorcan, but you won’t find any energy drinks in this shop. Your grandad isn’t a fan of the concept. He’ll happily tell you why, at length, if you ask him. You’ll have to make do with a can of cola, or fizzy orange.’

The look on Lorcan’s face was similar to that of Clara when she was told she absolutely could not have a bar of chocolate just before bed. Clara had an excuse for childlike behaviour. Lorcan did not, and he had just reinforced her negative opinion of him.

‘I’m Jo, by the way,’ she said, and held her hand out to shake his, having decided that despite her feelings towards him, she should still practice good manners. ‘You’ll find we’re actually quite a nice bunch here and we hold your grandad in extremely high regard. I work a couple of shifts here, every now and again when needed. As you might know he’s getting older and doesn’t always keep well. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to do what is needed to look after him, you know. Since he’s all on his own with little family support.’

He stared at her, and ignored her outstretched hand. She took that as a sign her message had been received.

‘I really should just get what I came for and be off. I’m on bacon sandwich duty this morning,’ she said.