‘I’m fine,’ insisted Kate. The headache had left her a bit listless. She kicked herself for mentioning it, as it was nothing compared to Iris’s fall. She’d tripped on the rug in her living room that morning and had been unable to get up, instead dragging herself to the phone over the course of what must have been about half an hour (Iris only knew this because her Mediterranean property programme had played through to the credits) and had called Kate, downplaying it as usual.

‘It’s nothing much, I just think I’ve bumped my elbow. I was wondering if you could pop over, love?’

‘Sure, I’ll come now,’ Kate had said.

‘Just one thing. If you could bring your key . . . I don’t think I can get to the door.’

Kate had hurried over immediately, let herself in and helped Iris get up into her chair. She was more apologetic than anything and, having swallowed some paracetamol, had insisted on walking again after a bit of a rest.

Kate looked down at the list. ‘Which coffee would you like? I don’t know why you didn’t just let me do the shopping and bring it to you.’

‘Then I wouldn’t have got out of the house,’ said Iris. ‘And believe me, when you get to my age, you take any opportunity to get out. Anyway, I have my stick. And you. The decaf, please, love. I’m going to try a new health and fitness regime.’

Kate put a jar into the trolley. ‘Just as long as you don’t forget to use me. No being a martyr and trying to manage when you genuinely need help.’

‘Yes, love,’ said Iris automatically.

‘I mean it. It’s our pledge, remember?’

‘Oh yes, I do. Twenty-first of September, 1995. You had to go back to work, bless you, and I took care of Becky.’

‘Yes, and in return, because you’d hardly take any money—’

‘You didn’t have any, love.’

‘I promised to take care of you when you—’

‘Became an old codger.’

‘Didn’t say that.’

‘Didn’t need to. We both know it’s true.’ She put a hand on Kate’s. ‘And you do know I appreciate it, don’t you?’

Kate nodded and looked at the list. ‘Sushi? Really?’

‘Like I said. Clean living. Oh, I do think it’s great how that man is setting up that bursary. When does it start?’

‘This year. He wants to advertise next month and then we’ll be going through the applications together. He wants me to do the interviews with him too. Me! I’ve never interviewed anyone in my life.’

‘Think you’ll be good at it?’

Kate thought for a moment. ‘I know what a passionate journalist looks like.’

‘There you are then. So, you’ll be spending a lot of time with him.’

‘Who? Greg? I guess so.’

Iris pulled a face.

‘What?’

‘You know men. How they can read something into nothing.’

‘How did you know? Tim was a little . . . wobbly last night.’

Iris smiled knowingly. ‘They’re all the same. My Geoff was never keen on me working at the dispatch centre. Specially as I was mostly on nightshifts. All those male drivers hanging about waiting for a job.’