‘Shall we order?’ asked Susan, summoning a waiter with an imperious click of her fingers, and a boy came over and handed them menus. Shane and Susan decided to share a bottle of wine, and while Nelson would have loved to join them – he felt a strong need for alcohol – he stuck to sparkling water, pointing out that even though he wasn’t on duty yet, he would be in an hour.

‘Do they give you a breathalyser test when you clock in?’ she asked, smiling a little.

‘Yes,’ he said.

‘Really? I was kidding.’

‘Then no.’

She stared at him. ‘They do or they don’t?’ she asked, and Nelson could feel himself starting to blush.

‘They definitely don’t,’ he said. ‘I was only kidding too.’

‘What a pair of kidders!’ said Shane, looking from one to the other hopefully.

‘I’m very funny,’ said Nelson quietly.

‘I have to say, you’re not my brother’s usual type,’ said Susan.

‘Oh no? What’s his usual type?’

‘Cockier, I’d say. Like the cat that got the cream. My brother’s a catch, don’t you think?’

‘He is,’ agreed Nelson. ‘I’m very lucky.’

‘You are.’

‘Well, I am too,’ said Shane.

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Susan. ‘You could have any man you wanted. Take a look in the mirror.’

‘Susan always sticks up for me,’ said Shane, smiling.

‘I wasn’t aware anyone was putting you down,’ said Nelson.

‘I’m just saying that I hope you know how lucky you are,’ said Susan.

‘I do,’ replied Nelson, feeling the irritation grow inside him. ‘But I hope he feels lucky too.’

‘Why, are you a catch? Because he is.’

‘Yes, you said.’ Nelson swallowed. ‘And I think I am, yes. I’m … you know … nice.’

‘Nice?’ asked Susan, the expression on her face suggesting that she’d just swallowed sour milk. ‘Nice in what way?’

‘Oh, just in a general sort of way,’ said Nelson. ‘I try to be …’

‘Nice?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well,’ she said, narrowing her eyes, ‘I suppose my brother has always liked a man in uniform. When he was fifteen he had a crush on the local curate.’

‘No, I didn’t!’ protested Shane, laughing.

‘You did so. The poor man practically had to take out a restraining order against you. And then there was that doctor you dated. And the air steward. Ryanair,’ she added, turning to Nelson and practically spitting out the word. ‘Not even Aer Lingus.’

‘Well, perhaps it’s a slight fetish on my part,’ admitted Shane. ‘Lifeguards, there’s another.’

‘All they wear is a pair of skimpy red shorts,’ said Nelson.

‘Exactly.’

Susan laughed heartily and put a hand on Shane’s arm, leaving it there much longer than necessary.

‘All my friends had crushes on him when we were growing up,’ she continued. ‘It was such a shame that he batted for the other team. No, not a shame, I don’t mean that. But they were disappointed, shall we say. I wouldn’t have let them near him anyway. I’m very possessive. Honestly, Nelson, if I wasn’t his sister, I’d have gone after him myself.’