Shelly stared at him. ‘What?’ This was a first, Dad offering to make her a mug of tea! Then the penny dropped. He was trying to fix her up with Malcolm. As if she hadn’t got enough to deal with. ‘You’re both very kind, but I’m running late.’

‘Our Shelly’s very conscientious, Malcolm; it’s a wonder she hasn’t got herself wed to some lucky fella by now.’

Shelly pointed her toothbrush at her father. ‘Dad! Cut it out.’ She turned to Malcolm. ‘Sorry I don’t have time this morning, Malcolm. Thanks for bringing the post, but you could have dropped it into the surgery, saved yourself the bike ride.’

‘No trouble. Any time I can be of use, vet, just let me know.’

She nodded at him, glanced at the clock, hurried towards the stairs, then swung around. ‘Actually, there is something, Malcolm. Would you come upstairs with me?’

Dad blew a raspberry into his tea, choking and spluttering.

‘Dad! I’m warning you!’ She turned to Malcolm. ‘Take no notice of my father, clearly he’s lost the plot. I’m about to have him certified. The thing is, Malcolm, I’ve got a trunk of my grandmother’s things at the top of the stairs and it’s too heavy for me or my father. Do you think you can manage to get it down?’

‘Glad to help,’ he said, squaring his shoulders. He hauled the dusty leather trunk down the stairs.

‘How on earth did they manage a thing this size without wheels? It must weigh a ton.’

‘I guess, if you could afford this much luggage, then you could afford a porter,’ Malcolm said, dragging it into the kitchen.

‘That’s great, Malcolm, thanks.’ She pulled on her coat and grabbed her bag. ‘Bye, Dad!’

*

That evening, she mopped a thick covering of dust off the trunk. ‘Goodness knows how long it’s been up there, Dad. I wonder what’s inside. It was always locked when I was a kid on a Christmas present search. I never did manage to find the key. Do you know where it is?’

He chuckled. ‘Did you think we didn’t know what you were up to? It’s hanging on the back of the tallboy door in the loft.’

Shelly laughed. ‘What? But how did you know?’

‘Believe it or not, we were young ourselves once, and we both searched the house for presents whenever we had the chance, too.’

‘I’m quite excited.’ She dragged the case between two armchairs. ‘I’ll dish up the dinner first, then put the next cassette on. What do you say, Dad?’

‘Fine by me. ’Ere, what do you think of that Malcolm? He’s real sweet on you, told me so himself.’