Suddenly her father moves, twisting round in his chair, and she sits up to see what has attracted his attention. Cara has come in and is putting her belongings on a table by the door. As she goes to order her coffee it’s clear that she’s alone and her father pushes back his chair. He grins at Amy.

‘Two’s company, three’s a crowd,’ he says. ‘See you later.’

And, picking up his coffee, he goes to join Cara.

Cara has just come from the bookshop, collecting some books she ordered from Jessica, the owner, and enjoying a chat with her. She’s delighted to see Jack.

‘May I join you?’ he asks. ‘I’m tired of playing gooseberry so I’m counting on you to save me.’

Puzzled, she glances across the café, waves to Amy and then sees Cosmo coming back from the counter.

‘You’ve met Cosmo at last?’ she asks. ‘What do you think of him?’

‘He’s very smooth,’ says Jack, sitting down. ‘He didn’t turn a hair.’

‘You mean this wasn’t arranged? You just met him by chance?’

‘That’s right. Amy and I were already here when he arrived with his dog. Took it all in his stride.’ He glances across at Cosmo, who is making Amy laugh. ‘Good-looking devil, isn’t he?’

Cara watches the two young people. There’s a new ease to their behaviour, a new intimacy.

‘I wish I knew a bit more about him,’ Jack is saying, ‘but I suppose there comes a point when you just have to let go. You’ve met him a couple of times, you said. What do you make of him?’

She is not going to tell him that because of Cosmo’s resemblance to a man she knew nearly forty years ago she wouldn’t trust him for a second. It would sound so crazy. Instead she casts around for a light-hearted response.

‘The dog likes him,’ she says, nodding towards Reggie, whose head rests on Cosmo’s knee. ‘That’s supposed to be a good sign, isn’t it?’

‘Dogs like anyone who feeds them,’ he answers cynically. ‘You’ll have to do better than that.’

‘Amy likes him,’ she offers. ‘Does that count for anything?’

‘Are you kidding? Look at him. Even I can see that he’s an extremely attractive young man. He’s older, sophisticated, London-type. All guaranteed to turn her head.’

Cara laughs. ‘What a cynic you are. Well, he’ll be gone soon, from what I gather, so we must hope he doesn’t break her heart.’

She wonders how she can talk so lightly, but what else can she do?