She laughed. ‘I’m sure you can pick one.’

‘I ran away with a girl when I was Jeremy’s age.’

‘You did not.’

‘Lucinda O’Brien. She was eighteen.’

‘Ah, no.’

‘I left a note saying, “Goodbye, Mammy, I’m in love”, and we took a train to Galway.’

‘Was that all you said?’

‘That’s it.’

‘I’d have murdered you.’

‘If she could have, she would have.’

‘How long did you stay?’

‘I lasted about two weeks before I rang home and asked me old man to collect me. Lucinda O’Brien was a bit of a nutter, I’m afraid, and what was initially exotic and quirky became dark very quickly.’

She bit her lip.

Maisie knew all about that as Fred was aware. Although Danny had never been exotic, he was most definitely dark.

‘Did you ever see her again?’ she asked.

‘Nah. When a woman threatens to stick a knife in herself because she thinks you have a thing for her ma, it’s best to leave well enough alone.’

‘And did you have a thing for her ma?’ she asked.

‘I’d never even met the woman.’

She laughed.

The rain kept coming down, and by the time they got to the car they were soaked through. He turned on the heater, which blew warm air into their damp faces.

‘I’m sorry I dragged you out into the rain,’ she said.

He smiled at her. ‘I’d go anywhere with you, Mai.’ He took his chance, leaned over and kissed her. Suddenly they were making out like two teenagers on a deserted road in a storm. Eventually Fred came up for air. ‘I have a proposition.’

‘OK?’

‘There’s a hotel around the corner. No pressure, absolutely none at all. I’m only saying. Your choice, Mai.’

She smiled at him, a proper smile that reached her eyes. ‘What are you waiting for?’

He kissed her full on the mouth. ‘Remember this date because from now on, Mai Bean, this is my new birthday.’ He put the car into gear and tore off around the corner like a Formula 1 driver at Silverstone.

Chapter Four

‘Welcome To Paradise’
Green Day, 1994

Maisie

FRED AND MAISIE lay in one another’s arms, naked and warm on a large double bed in a clean but sparse room on the third floor of a hotel she hadn’t even noticed the name of. Slut. She giggled in her head. ‘I can’t believe I just did that.’

‘You’re not sorry, are you, Mai?’

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘It was lovely.’ Suddenly she was crying. Where did that come from? Stop it, Maisie, stop right now. She’d never cried in front of Fred before, no matter how much she’d wanted to.

‘I’m so sorry, Fred.’ She snivelled. Attractive. ‘I don’t know what’s got into me.’