The conversation lulled as Kate screwed the bolt securely to the door.

‘She still working hard?’ said Iris, once the screech had subsided.

‘I hardly ever see her. She’s investigating some major story. Top secret.’

‘I remember when I used to mind her for you and she’d be outside on her pink bike with those tassels on the handlebars. Taking all her teddies for a ride. One by one. Once round the tree and back again, then it was the next one’s turn. Always fair and square. She was always like that. Hated meanness or anyone taking advantage.’

‘There you go,’ said Kate, sliding the bolt back and forth. ‘One at the top, too. Although I really don’t think anyone’ll try anything.’

Iris moved her gold-rimmed glasses from their resting place on the top of her maroon-rinsed hair and placed them on her nose. She looked across at the door. ‘Makes me feel better, anyway. Now, hadn’t you better get home before your shopping spoils?’

Kate stood and gathered her grocery bags and tools. ‘Becky is meeting Tim tonight.’

‘First time?’

‘Yes. I was fine this morning, and now . . .’

‘Bit nervous?’

Kate nodded.

‘Oh, I’m sure they’ll get along. They’re both very lucky. You’re a good sort, love. Thanks for popping by.’ Iris started to hoist herself out of her chair.

‘Please don’t get up. I’ll see myself out.’

‘Do you mind sticking Constanza back in the window on your way out?’ The porcelain flamenco dancer in a flame-red dress was Iris’s sign – she put it in the window at night and it was taken away in the morning. That way, Kate knew she was OK.

‘Course. Ring if you need anything.’

‘I will. Don’t forget my invite sometime. I want to meet this fancy fella too.’

Kate leaned down and gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘It’s a date.’

A bag in each hand, Kate walked through her front door, kicking it shut behind her. She slipped off her shoes, then went into the kitchen and lifted the grocery bags onto the worktop. She took a little peek inside, delighting in things she hadn’t been able to afford for a very long while; in fact she’d never been this extravagant, not without getting items from the discount shelf. The fillet steak, a packet of the ‘upmarket’ frozen oven chips, double cream and fancy chocolate to make a mousse. She placed them all just so in the fridge, and then, noticing the bin needed emptying, tied up the black sack and made her way out of the side door to dump it in the wheelie bin. She was just about to turn back when an unmistakable odour wafted down the garden.

Frowning, she walked across the small patch of grass to her back fence. She sniffed again. Two or three young male voices sounded from the other side. There was a narrow path there that led to the high street and the college, the same path that backed onto Iris’s house. Very quietly, she lifted the faded, tatty kiddy’s plastic table that had been Becky’s when she was small. She carefully placed it against the six-foot fence, then stepped up and peered through a small knothole near the top. Three lads were standing on the other side, loitering, swaggering. Looking suspicious by way of not doing very much at all. They passed round a joint – the source of the smell that had trespassed under Kate’s nose.