‘Never a burden.’

‘You know what I mean. I’ll probably be working late again, anyway.’

‘What is making your hours so long?’

Becky paused. She didn’t like lying to her mum.

‘Just got a tough boss. Big story. Got to prove myself, you know how it is.’

‘I do. What’s the story?’

‘I’m sworn to secrecy.’

‘No one will know if you tell me.’

‘Mum, stop it.’

‘A clue?’

‘No. Now, why don’t you tell me more about this Tim instead.’ Becky went to the fridge, pulled out a half-drunk bottle of wine and poured two glasses in a determined effort to change the subject.

She couldn’t tell her mum what she was investigating yet, there was still too much that could go wrong.

THIRTEEN

2018

‘Pinch me!’

Tim did.

‘Not there!’ Kate laughed, slapping his hand away from her bum.

‘You’re most definitely not dreaming. You are one bona fide, deal-making, share-holding, arse-kicking hot lady.’

‘Salt and vinegar?’ asked Donny, from across the counter. His fish and chips were legendary, and Kate and Tim were out to celebrate her victory.

‘Yes, please,’ said Tim. ‘Tell me again how he looked when you gave him a bollocking.’

Kate pulled a face, what she thought was part-surprise, part-bemusement, part-alarm.

Donny frowned. ‘Was he constipated?’

Kate snorted and indicated the two plates of food. ‘How much?’

Donny brushed her away. ‘On the house.’

‘No . . .’

‘Don’t argue. That’s a fine thing you did today, and Becky would’ve been proud.’ He smiled. ‘We’re all proud, eh?’ and with a nod of respect he went to serve his next customer.

They sat at a table in the window, the early-evening high-street bustle unfolding in front of them. The first workers to escape; mothers of young children herding their offspring home to bed; the older college kids with their lanyards around their necks, congregating in packs at the bus stop and outside the corner shop.

Tim lifted a chip. ‘To safer trucks,’ he toasted, and Kate tapped his chip with one of hers.

‘Safer trucks,’ she echoed. The pain of losing Becky was ever present, but what she’d achieved was no mean feat and maybe it would go some way to making her heartbreak more bearable. She could tell Tim knew what she was thinking. She still marvelled at how he’d come into her life and at such a difficult time, too. Some men would have found it too much – understandably, in many ways – but he’d stuck it out. She’d sometimes wondered if there had been another reason he’d stayed around, but then chided herself for being ungracious.

‘Thanks, Tim.’

‘What for?’

She took his hand. ‘I’m incredibly lucky. I couldn’t have done it without you.’

‘You know what I think? I think that’s bollocks because you’re strong and you know what you want.’ He winked at her and made his voice sultry. ‘You’re my kinda gal, Caitriona Ellis.’

She laughed. ‘Really, you’ve got to work on that accent.’

‘I’ll have you know I was offered a place at Prada.’