‘Jesus, Fred, I’m so sorry. Were you there?’

‘I heard the call and got over there as quick as I could but by then the roof had collapsed. She was gone.’

‘When?’

‘It will be the ten-year anniversary in March.’

‘You must still miss her?’

‘No, I don’t, if I’m honest.’

Maisie hadn’t expected that.

‘It was a long time ago now.’ He smiled. ‘Now I just miss missing her.’

‘Oh,’ she said. God, he’s lovely. Maisie had loved the ghost of her dad long enough to understand. Now he was just a collection of happy memories and nothing more tangible than that. ‘I am sorry.’

He smiled at her and patted her hand. ‘There’s a time for all things, Maisie,’ he said, with a quiet emotion, and although she wasn’t absolutely sure what he meant, she knew he was allowing her into the darkest corners of his soul.

‘You deserve better.’ She meant it.

‘Back at ya, lady.’

After that, they couldn’t shut up. He talked about working for the guards and how he’d moved up the ranks, how he felt about his job and the difficulties he faced. He loved it, though. When he talked about it and the people he worked with he spoke with passion. ‘There’s a lot of heartache out there, a lot of fucked-up people, but there are the good and the great too, like you,’ he said, over dessert.

She blushed tomato red. She wished she knew what he saw in her.

The first half-hour of their night had felt like a lifetime, but the next three and a half flew by. When they stepped out into the night air, Maisie didn’t feel the cold at all. She was all aglow, high on wine, adult conversation and attraction.

Fred

‘Watch your step there, me lady. It’s a night for black ice.’ He took her hand as they left the restaurant, the evening coming to an end all too soon.

They had talked about everything from his job to burping babies to fishing to dental hygiene to politics. Fred particularly enjoyed any story that featured Valerie. He had a soft spot for the child: she was strong and had attitude, a force to be reckoned with. Every time she’d encountered him she’d sized him up, even as a toddler. She’d always had her eye on him. Good for you, love. When she was younger she’d been more open, easier to reach, but that was OK: she was growing up, learning, finding out about life, and when you’re a young one growing up in a city, it’s good to be guarded.