‘Nearly time for walks,’ he tells him. ‘Let me just get this sorted and we’ll be off. Round the creek and then a cup of coffee. You’re going to be seeing Al at the weekend. You’ll like that, won’t you?’

Amy comes into the Coffee Shop, waves to Lydia behind the counter, and glances around for Cosmo. There is no sight of him and she debates with herself as to whether she should simply order a takeaway or sit down and hope that he might show up. Even as she thinks about it, he comes in behind her. His smile, the look in his eyes, threatens to unsettle her, but she manages to stay calm and bends to stroke Reggie.

‘I was going to grab a takeaway,’ she says, ‘but now that you’re here …’

‘I’ll order,’ he says, ‘if you just hang on to Reggie.’

Amy sits down at a table, pulling Reggie in beside her, encouraging him to sit close to her, and looks at Cosmo standing in the little queue. It’s odd, that sense of vitality he has; the ability to appear twice as alive as anybody else. As he turns she glances quickly away and he comes to sit with her, carrying a plate of honeycomb tiffin.

‘Do you like these?’ he asks. ‘Shall we share? I’ve brought two forks.’

She laughs. ‘I love it. Thanks.’

He begins to tell her about something called Newsflare; that they’re interested in some of his photographic work. They pay for videos and would be interested if he could get clips that could be used on local television news. Anything that would be of interest like special events, severe weather, accidents. He is enthusiastic and she listens and watches him, wondering what will happen when his house-sitting in Batson Creek finishes. He doesn’t talk much about London and she’s beginning to wonder, to hope, that he might think of relocating down here. Perhaps this photography opportunity might be a way of encouraging him.

‘I’m going to have to dash up to London this weekend,’ he’s saying. ‘It’s a family celebration that I must go to, and I can pick up a few things whilst I’m there.’

A family celebration. Amy thinks about it. She can see that it’s much too early to be included in that so she gives up the idea of suggesting she should go with him. Anyway, it’s all a bit tricky: she doesn’t really know him well enough yet.

‘What about Reggie?’ she asks.

She notices a little flash of something in his eyes: relief? Is he glad that he hasn’t got to explain why he’s not inviting her? A tremor of pride stiffens her and she hopes she hasn’t been looking too keen.