‘He and Mary went out for years. It took the rest of us by surprise, especially Mickey; he was a bit put out at first, to say the least. It almost seemed incestuous, like cousins falling in love or something. Then everyone got used to it. We thought they’d stay together, but suddenly, a year and a bit ago, it was all over – no one really knows why. And then Mary married David and straight away she got pregnant. I don’t know what Luke thinks about that; he seems all right, but he’s quite a secretive kind of person, so who knows. Since Mary, there’s been nobody really, not that we know of. Though he’s a bit of a mystery to us.’ She licked the last bit of ice cream, then chucked the wooden stick into the canal. ‘He’s very good with children; we all hope he’ll have some of his own one day.’

‘Who’ll have his own what?’

Neil was standing behind them, holding Katherine by her sticky hand. Chocolate was smeared round her mouth.

‘I was just talking about Luke.’

‘Oh, Luke. He’s got his head in the clouds,’ said Neil. Irene could tell this was something they always said about him.

‘There’s the boat,’ she said.

‘There’s another thing about Mickey,’ said Lorrie as they scrambled to their feet, waving their hands to the two men on board.

‘What’s that?’

‘He’s fallen for you.’

‘Oh nonsense, Lorrie.’

‘He has.’

‘Only because I’m the only available woman on board.’

‘Even so, he’s got his sights set on you. It’s obvious a mile off. You should watch out.’

The boat slowed right down and Luke chucked a rope across to them. It snaked onto the path and Irene picked it up, wrapping it round the nearest tree and passing it back. Neil, Lorrie and Katherine stepped aboard and Lorrie disappeared down below.

‘I’m going to cycle on for a bit,’ Irene said when Mickey reached across for her bike. ‘Unless I’m needed on board, that is.’

‘How about if I come with you? Luke can steer for a bit. All right, Luke?’

‘We’ll meet you at the series of locks then; we’ll need your help for that.’