Niall carries in the gigantic pie ceremonially, the brown edges of the pastry bubbling with gravy. ‘Here we go. Like Desperate Dan, eh? But it’s rabbit, not cow.’ He raises his eyebrows at the burning candle. ‘You wanted to add a touch of class, did you, kiddo?’ In the candlelight each move Lauren and her father make is projected on to the wall as something larger and more theatrical. The sour smell is growing and Lauren wonders if he can smell it too.

She wrinkles her nose and makes shadow animals – a rabbit, a dog and a bird. Its wings end in huge feathery fingers, like a buzzard.

‘Ach, I forgot to cook vegetables and that,’ Niall says.

‘’S OK. What’s that smell?’

‘What smell? Your fingers look like feathers there,’ he says, pointing to the shadow. ‘Now. How much of this are you wanting?’

‘Don’t mind. However much.

‘Dad,’ Lauren says, chewing a chunk of meat.

‘Yes?’

She swallows it down and it sticks in her throat. ‘This is really good.’ It would be, without the smell.

‘Thanks, love.’ He tucks a napkin into his collar and takes a bite thoughtfully. ‘It is actually, isn’t it?’

‘Jameson’ll be wanting some.’

‘They’ll all be wanting some.’ He spreads out his arms happily.

‘Who’s they?’ Her teacherly voice is a way of showing him affection.

The patio doors opposite the table are now a deep-black rectangle. The room has a strange humidity.

He smiles and shakes his head. ‘So, do you have homework today?’

She is about to eat another forkful of pie, but stops. ‘Dad … you sound really serious.’

‘I can be serious.’ He is looking down at the plate of his own cooking.

There is a soft knocking noise. Lauren’s shoulders lock and her voice comes out as a whisper. ‘Dad.’

The smell is overpowering now. Their heads turn sideways to the sliding doors. A gaunt face comes forward out of the dark, peering in.

Lauren shrieks, bolting back in her chair.

When the figure moves closer out of the dark, they can see it is the woman in the dressing gown.

Nausea roils in Lauren’s stomach. Niall puts a finger to his lips as he slowly gets up from the table. The woman takes a step back, her face expressionless. Lauren grips the seat of her chair. ‘Dad?’ she whispers. ‘Don’t open it!’

Before she can stop him, Niall carefully turns the key and slides the door open, making a slow shhh. The young woman reaches up and takes hold of his hairy face in her slim hands. He looks down at her with curiosity as he did on the road.