Jo had known, of course, that Paddy would behave himself after a few minutes. He was a big softie who just got excited for the first few minutes of his walk, as if he could sniff freedom in the air. But he would always, always settle down and walk obediently eventually. Admittedly, it did sometimes feel as if he was walking Jo and not the other way round, but Paddy was still one of the great loves of her life.

The three walked contentedly over the pedestrian Peace Bridge, towards the Waterside and the beauty of St Columb’s Park, which ran along the banks of the Foyle. When they stopped to watch how the river forged a path through the heart of the city, Lorcan spoke.

‘I need you to know, I love my grandad very much,’ Lorcan said sincerely. ‘He has always been a hero of mine. I’ve so many happy memories of visiting him when I was smaller. When he got sick, that time, I… I wasn’t in a good place, you know.’

‘Look,’ Jo said, not wanting him to feel as if he owed her an explanation. She’d made her point earlier and she didn’t want to drag it out. ‘You don’t have to justify yourself to me. I just care about him too, you know. We all do.’

‘And I’m so grateful for that,’ Lorcan said. ‘We all are. It’s not easy being away from him. Dad tried to talk him into moving over to us in Cheshire, you know, after Granny died. Dad had plans drawn up to build him his own annexe at the back of the house because we all know Grandad likes his independence. But he wouldn’t go for it. Said his home was here and his memories of Granny were here and he couldn’t, and didn’t want to, leave either. Dad has a business to run, you know. He couldn’t move back and, well, I…’

‘I get it, you all have lives.’ Jo had the grace to feel admonished for her earlier honesty. ‘And I could’ve told your dad there was no way Harry would leave the lane. He’s forever telling us the only way he’ll leave is in a coffin.’

Lorcan blanched at the words.

‘It makes him happy, Lorcan. He could’ve retired and spent his days reading the paper by the fire in the Ivy with Noah and I minding him. We made that offer, you know. But he wants to live his life and that involves that shop and being lord of all he surveys. Even the on-the-turn bargain basket.’