Lucy left her Jimny in the MiniMart car park, and they walked together across the road to the Wagon & Horses pub, which, though popular with both factory and office workers at lunchtime, usually had a couple of tables spare. Today was no exception.

Cora ordered tagliatelle, Lucy a small portion of salad with poached salmon.

‘You eat like a rabbit,’ Cora said disapprovingly. ‘I don’t know where you get the energy from to do your job.’

‘Don’t like filling myself up at lunch,’ Lucy replied. ‘Makes me sleepy in the afternoon.’

‘Does that matter … if you’re working funny hours again?’

On reflection, Lucy supposed it didn’t, given that she was mainly going to be on nights. It would probably help if she could get some kind of shut-eye today, even if it was only short-lived. But she still wasn’t hungry, and that was probably down to the excitement of her forthcoming assignment.

‘I just didn’t inherit your miraculous metabolism, Mum, that’s all,’ Lucy replied.

Cora gave a sweet smile. Before spotting someone she knew across the pub, and waving.

‘All right, Cora … looking gorgeous today, as always!’ a burly builder shouted as he and his mate trundled across to the exit in their dingy overalls and heavy, dust-caked boots.

‘That Jimmy Ogden?’ Lucy said after he’d gone. ‘Now … he has put weight on.’

‘And he probably puts in a tougher day’s shift than the two of us together,’ Cora replied. ‘Just goes to show … we’re all different, lovie.’ She leaned across the table and playfully patted Lucy’s cheek. ‘So don’t feel inadequate.’

‘Get out of it,’ Lucy chuckled.

They continued in this fashion for the remainder of the meal, enjoying each other’s company, easily and idly avoiding any risqué subjects. Until inevitably, almost unavoidably, Lucy sat back, dabbed her lips with a napkin and, after the barmaid had taken their empty dishes away, asked: ‘I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything from him, have you? He’s not tried to contact you?’

Cora looked unperturbed by the question. She wore her readers as she perused the sweets menu. ‘Not at all. He said he wouldn’t, didn’t he?’

‘And he’s the kind of guy who keeps his promises?’

‘He kept them for thirty-odd years, love.’

And that, from her tone, was the end of this particular matter.