She smiled at the memory. Recalled Becky’s wide-eyed fourteen-year-old practised look of innocence, her green-and-black checked skirt revealing her lovely long legs, her not really having a clue what it meant, what it might invite.

‘Roll it back down,’ Kate had instructed.

Her daughter’s face had reddened in indignation. ‘But it’s true!’

‘I think we both know it’s not.’

‘It is, Mum.’

‘Really? Shall we call the school office now?’ Kate picked up the phone, held it aloft.

Realizing she’d been rumbled, Becky exploded in teenaged fury. ‘You never let me do anything!’ she said, stomping up the stairs, and Kate pulled a face as she saw her daughter’s knickers on display at every stamp.

‘We had a big row,’ she told Greg, ‘and she said she wanted to go to Paris where they were “free and bohemian”. Somehow I convinced her to stay in south London.’

Greg laughed. ‘She sounds spirited. Strong opinions. I would’ve liked to have met her.’

‘Fortunately, the angst period didn’t last long. Only a few months, then she miraculously metamorphosed into a pretty cool young woman. One that I could recognize as my daughter.’

Kate’s phone began to ring. She looked at the screen – it was Tim.

Greg glanced down, saw the glass was cracked. ‘Wow, you can see through that?’

Kate shrugged. New phones weren’t high on her agenda at the moment.

‘You want a top-up?’ asked Greg, indicating her cup as she answered her phone. She nodded, and he went to the counter.

‘Hey, you,’ Kate said into her mobile.

‘Hey, you, yourself,’ said Tim. ‘Everything OK?’

‘The trucks are transformed,’ said Kate.

‘I’m glad. You still there?’

‘No, I’ve come for a quick coffee with Greg. We’re going over the questions for the interviews.’

‘When do you think you’ll be home?’ asked Tim.

‘Not sure. Is there something going on?’

‘No, no. Just wanted to make sure I was back for you, that’s all.’

She felt a burst of affection. ‘When do you finish work?’

‘Last route is at four. Should be home by six-ish.’

‘OK. I’ll be back by then.’

‘Great. Love you.’

‘You too,’ said Kate, as Greg returned with two fresh coffees.

It took less time than she thought to go through the questions and, realizing she was only a bus ride from Elephant and Castle, where Tim’s route started, Kate decided to head there and ride home with him on his last journey of the day.

She arrived early at Tim’s stop and two 196s left before she knew Tim would even have started work. But he wasn’t driving the 4 p.m. or the 4.08 p.m., or even the next two buses. At half past, she wondered if she’d got the time right, but was certain that was what he’d said. So, where was he? She tried ringing but got his voicemail. Another 196 turned up and she dithered for a moment – should she still wait?

‘You getting on, love?’ asked the driver and she did, wondering all the way home what had happened to Tim.