‘Us? We’re good,’ I say, guarded. There was something off in her tone. She continues watching me, I feel the urge to speak again. ‘Cain’s good. He seems to enjoy working and it’s getting him out of the house, earning again. Takes his mind off things.’

‘Good,’ she says. ‘That’s nice.’ Her eyes don’t leave mine as she takes another gulp of wine. ‘Um, can I talk to you about something that might seem a little—’ her free hand dances in the air between us ‘—what’s the word … gauche?’ she says. ‘Is that it?’

‘I don’t know,’ I say. ‘Depends.’

A moment passes, I see her uncertainty.

‘What is it?’

‘Look this is a little awkward for me, Lina, but I know you guys are struggling at the moment.’

‘What do you mean?’ Is this about money or something else?

‘I mean … well, I know Axel won’t bring it up directly with Cain. His approach is to throw money at problems but it’s not so simple.’

‘Umm sorry what is it—’

‘Look you don’t have to tell me what’s going on. It’s just Axel’s gym is at capacity, and he’s giving up some of his own clients for Cain,’ she says, and I can see the colour in her cheeks. She’s holding her glass in two hands but takes one off to twist a finger at the corner of her eye. ‘Axel told me Cain has had a couple of arguments with people at the gym, he snapped at one of the regulars about taking too long using a chin up bar that Cain was waiting for. I guess I’m wondering if everything is okay with him?’

He has been moody lately, I’ve noticed. Not as bad as that year after he returned, when he was going to physio three times a week, taking handfuls of painkillers and antidepressants.

‘He’s doing okay,’ I say. ‘Maybe he’s just been a little bit off the last few weeks.’

‘Yeah,’ she says. ‘Well, Axel wants to open a second gym and after this renovation money has become really tight for us. I’m sure when he stopped charging Cain to use his space it helped but now he wants to give Cain a loan, to help him get things moving.’

I can feel blood rushing to my own cheeks. Axel isn’t charging Cain any more? So what overheads does Cain have? ‘But Cain’s business is doing okay,’ I say. ‘What do you mean get things moving?’

She doesn’t say the word oh but her mouth forms the shape, those perfect eyebrows rise up her forehead.

‘Claire,’ I say, my voice firm now.