Then he thinks of how sad Jen looked when he left her this evening. How she’d sat on the sofa with a hot-water bottle pressed against her stomach, her lovely pale green eyes shining with tears she was trying not to shed. Another period, another chance missed. He hadn’t wanted to leave her but she’d insisted. ‘As long as you bring me back some Maltesers,’ she’d said good-naturedly, as he kissed her goodbye.

‘You have a lovely home,’ Theo says now, meaning it. Two ageing Golden Retrievers with grey whiskers come waddling up to him and he bends to pat them.

Larry smiles in response. ‘Come on, then,’ he says, clapping Theo on the back, like he’s known him for years. ‘Let’s go through to the sitting room. Do you want a cup of tea? Marge,’ he bellows, before Theo’s had the time to answer. An older version of the woman cuddled up to Larry in the photos appears in the hallway. She’s tall with high cheekbones and shoulder-length white hair and looks smart in a silk blouse and navy trousers.

‘This is Theo, Victor’s boy.’

‘Hi, Theo,’ she says, grasping his hand warmly. ‘Good to meet you. Cup of tea?’

Theo says he’d love one, then follows Larry into a cosy room at the front of the house. He perches on the edge of the sofa while Larry sits in an armchair, one of the Retrievers at his feet. The other dog sits beside Theo on the sofa and rests her head on his lap.

Larry chuckles. ‘Bonnie likes you.’

Theo strokes her head. ‘I love dogs. Hopefully one day my wife and I will get one.’

‘Well,’ says Larry, hands on his large stomach, ‘I was surprised to hear from you. I haven’t seen Victor in . . . gosh . . . years. How is he doing?’

‘Okay, thanks. He’s retired.’

‘How is your mum? I went to their wedding . . . What must it have been now? Thirty-five years ago.’

‘My mum . . . she died fourteen years ago. An accident.’

Larry’s face falls. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. She must have been young.’

‘Yes. Too young.’ Theo swallows. ‘I know it must seem strange, me asking to meet you, but . . .’ He looks across at the kind-faced man, with the large, happy family, and knows he can be honest. ‘I found something of my dad’s and it’s raised more questions than answers.’

‘Okay.’

‘You and my dad had a clinic together. Back in the 1970s.’

‘Yes, that’s right. A private practice. We worked together for years.’

‘And I was wondering . . .’ He pauses when Marge comes in with two mugs. He takes one from her, careful to keep it away from Bonnie’s head, which is still resting on his leg.

‘And you were wondering?’ Larry prompts, when Marge has left the room.