‘I expect you’re a very nice man.’

‘Is that enough?’

‘It’s pretty good for starters.’

‘So we got married.’

‘Just like that.’ She clicked her fingers.

He nodded. ‘Everyone thought we were mad. “Wait a bit,” they said. “Where’s the rush? You have all your lives ahead of you. Get to know each other. This is a mighty step you’re taking. Think about it a while.” We paid not a blind bit of attention to them and just went ahead. Well, I have to admit that I would have taken things a bit slower – gone in for the church and all that – but she wasn’t having any of it.

‘ “What’s wrong with the register office?” she said. “Why spend all that money and energy on all the other carry-on? We only do that for our parents. I don’t want to get married for my parents. It’s just you and me. That’s what I want.” Oh God, I remember I had a few bad nights over that. I thought my mother would go mad. Caitlin just laughed. “Sure she’ll come round in time,” she said. “And it won’t bother God too much. He’s got more important things on His mind, or at any rate He bloody well ought to have.” She was like that. Impulsive. Very modern, I suppose. Wonderful.’

‘Go on. Go on.’ Clara wiggled her backside into a more comfortable position on her chair. ‘I love listening to stories.’ She looked at his face and then put out a hand and touched him. ‘Sorry. That sounds really crass. Maybe that’s what I am, a crass voyeur of some sort. I love sitting and trying to work out the truth from the fiction. Most people tell you quite a lot of lies when they begin to talk about themselves.’

He felt his face go red.

‘I don’t …’

‘I don’t mean lies, I mean embroidery of the truth – structuring the truth. The truth is never structured in reality. It’s all over the place; sometimes untellable. So, you got married?’

He nodded.

‘And your family? Were they …?’

‘My mother was upset, yes. I hated that. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. My father said nothing, absolutely nothing, but she … well, I think she thought I was laying myself open to some dreadful retribution. She believes in the dreadfulness of God as well as in His loving kindness.’ He smiled sadly. ‘She’s old-fashioned. Anyway, we got married, just as Caitlin wanted us to. No fuss. No carry-on. A few pals, a few jars. A very expensive meal, just the two of us. Roscoffs. Have you heard of Roscoffs?’

‘Yes. Everyone’s heard of Roscoffs. Belfast’s best.’

‘She didn’t want to go there, but I persuaded her. I felt gross extravagance was important at that moment. The bride wore black. I didn’t tell my mother that.’ He took a drink of coffee and swished the liquid round and round in his mouth for a few moments before swallowing it.