‘C’mon,’ Steve said, leaning right across the passenger seats to talk to her through the open window. ‘Dunt be daft, I’ll keep me hands to meself.’

Daniel said, ‘Bloody right, you will,’ but Alison ignored them both and walked away, so he jogged after her. ‘Do you want a lift home?’ he said. ‘Because I can ride with you to Attercliffe, sit between you and him. It’d save you waiting for a bus?’ She shook her head. It was late, but she didn’t want to go back home yet, and most certainly didn’t want to be driven all the way to her door. Anyway, Steve was already swinging the Transit in a U-turn in the street and screaming away towards the main road, so they went to Daniel’s house and found Claire there, and Joe, Daniel’s brother, who only turned up once in a blue moon. Both were in the front room, which was softly lit by a single standard lamp and the glow of the television. There was something so peaceful, even beautiful, in the mundane scene, and Alison reached for Daniel’s hand, laced her fingers through his, the better to belong here.

‘Evening, you two,’ Joe said, without taking his eyes off the screen. ‘It’s the late film, only just starting.’

‘Hiya, Alison,’ Claire sang, and her voice and smile registered sheer delight. She patted the sofa. ‘Sit down next to me while our Daniel puts the kettle on.’ She had her bare feet planted in a washing-up bowl of soapy water. ‘Foot bath,’ she said before Alison asked. ‘It’s right good when you’ve been on your feet all day.’ She wiggled her toes, and splashed, and Alison laughed. Claire, softly pink and pampered, was wrapped in a pale blue quilted dressing gown; she looked cherished. Her hands, folded demurely in her lap, were creamy white, tipped with raspberry-red oval nails. Alison sat down beside her. Daniel had gone into the kitchen.

‘You smell nice,’ Alison said.

‘I had a bath earlier, and put some Radox in,’ Claire said. She bared a tender forearm and offered it for Alison to sniff, which she did.

‘Lovely.’

‘Sea minerals, or something,’ Claire said. ‘Feel how soft it makes my skin.’

Joe glanced across. ‘Claire, shut up,’ he said. ‘I’m watching this.’

Claire smiled amiably. Alison looked at the screen, where some sort of psychedelic dream sequence was unfolding. ‘What is it?’ Alison asked.

‘The Underground Man,’ Joe said. ‘Book’s good.’

‘I’m not bothered about watching it, myself,’ Claire said. ‘But there’s nothing else on this time of night.’

Joe turned up the volume.

‘Where’ve you been then?’ Claire asked, speaking a little louder. ‘Somewhere nice?’

‘High Green, miners’ welfare,’ Alison said, and Claire pulled a doubtful face, and when Daniel came in with four mugs of tea, she said, ‘High Green, Daniel? Funny place to take your girlfriend.’