‘I’m about,’ Niall says, trying to read his expression.

‘Still got your wee girl and that?’

‘Aye … of course.’ Some people in the town still ask him these strange, cold questions. Niall looks up and sees the barman is now looking over at him. As Niall catches his eye, he looks away.

‘Sandy!’ Kenny brightens.

‘Hello hello,’ says Sandy.

‘Still at it with the ladies?’

‘Well, you know.’ He winks.

‘Still doing those house calls?’

‘What can I say? Gotta give the customers what they want.’ They burst out laughing as Niall shakes his head and orders three beers.

8

Lauren’s father looks unusually smart in a kilt, shirt and waistcoat as he stands by the back room’s sliding glass door. His ponytail is neat, and he has trimmed his beard.

‘Why are you wearing that, Dad?’

‘Have to, don’t I?’ He begins to pace the room, frowning. ‘These guys I’m playing with? This band. You know what it’s called? The “No Troosers” Ceilidh Band. What that means is – before you start giggling – you have to wear a kilt. Naff, really. But money’s money.’ He takes his old semi-acoustic guitar out of its case, flipping up the latches, checking it over. He starts to play the opening to ‘Paranoid’. ‘I’m not sure that’s what they’ll be wanting, is it?’ He stops. ‘Sing this one to me, Lauren, why don’t you?’ He starts playing ‘Bonnie Tammie Scolla’ loudly, as he knows she’s trying to learn it. He points the guitar towards her, with a nod. She begins to sing:

‘Where have you been aw the day, bonnie mammy, bonnie mammy …’ Her father hasn’t noticed, so she carries on. ‘Where have you been aw the day bonnie mammy Chris …’

He stops the music and stares.

A shadow passes the hall window and there is a loud rap at the door.

‘Right.’ He shoves the guitar in its case. ‘That’ll be Ann-Marie.’

She enters the hallway in an ice-blue anorak, her short hair in tufts from where she has pulled off her knitted hat.

‘Hullo, how are you?’ Ann-Marie says. ‘Hi, Lauren!’

Niall says, ‘Aye, no bad, yourself?’

‘Yeah, I’m OK. Exams and stuff.’ She sounds out of breath and her nose and eyes are watery from the cold.

‘I see. You were missing home, then?’

‘Yeah. It’s been ages since I’ve been here properly, you know? Nice to see people again. Vairi. Alan popped by the other day. Dad’s giving me some more driving lessons. I’m almost there.’

‘Uh-huh.’ He looks down at his guitar case and sighs. ‘Right. That’s me off then. Lauren – don’t be giving Ann-Marie any cheek, you hear?’ He pulls Lauren’s head to his chest and kisses it, then takes off and slams the door.

Ann-Marie turns towards the locked living room.