He raises a hand in farewell and goes out into the street. Lights twinkle in the dusk, the water is smooth and grey so that the jetties and the little boats seem to be balancing on sheet metal. He goes down the steps and into the pub. Max is already standing at the bar, a pint of ale in front of him, and he turns as Jack comes in and nods a welcome.

‘So,’ says Jack when his pint has arrived, ‘you were looking pretty damned miserable this morning and you don’t look much better now. What’s up?’

Max folds both his arms on the bar and stares into his pint. ‘Judith wants us to move to Oxford,’ he says.

Whatever Jack was expecting, it wasn’t this. ‘Oxford? But why? I mean I know you’ve got family there but … Is she really serious?’

‘Very serious indeed. She wants to be nearer to the grandchildren.’

Jack takes a swallow of his ale, wondering what to say to this. Family comes first, of course, but this is a very big step.

‘Is Paul suggesting this?’ he asks cautiously. Just for a moment he’s forgotten the name of Max’s daughter-in-law. ‘Do they need help with the new baby?’

Max shakes his head. ‘It’s totally Judith’s idea. She thinks that as we get older the journey will become more difficult.’ He shrugs. ‘Well, I can’t argue with that.’

Jack is silent. He knows how much Max loves Salcombe, his boat, sailing, all his friends. At the same time, he loves his family, too.

Max glances at him. ‘Bit of a bummer, isn’t it?’

Jack nods. ‘I have to say it is.’

‘There’s more. She thinks Cara should buy our house, thereby enabling us to buy in Oxford without any delay or problems, and solving where Cara should live all in one stroke.’

‘What?’ Jack sets down his glass with a smack that nearly spills his ale. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Yep.’ Max smiles wryly. ‘She thinks that Cara has settled in so well here that it’s the perfect answer, plus I would be able to keep the boat and we could come down for holidays.’

‘And what does Cara say to these plans for her future? I thought she came here to be near you.’

‘Cara doesn’t know yet. Sam’s taken her over to stay with Fliss and Hal for a few days. They’re back tomorrow when Judith plans to break the happy news.’

‘Sorry. Let me get this clear.’ Jack shakes his head. ‘So your family don’t know you’re coming and Cara doesn’t know you’re going?’

‘I think that sums it up.’ Max drains his pint. ‘I don’t know how Cara will react.’

Jack thinks about it. Part of Cara’s happiness in Salcombe is due to being with her brother. Buying their house while he and Judith move to Oxford is something else.