‘They’re a bit tatty,’ Gina said, pushing the paper wallet towards her. Nell opened it, and tried to focus. There were two photographs inside. One was in colour and had been taken outside someone’s house, an older woman was standing by the front door. Her hair was pulled back from her face, she wore glasses, and a floral apron covered her clothes; she rarely wore make-up, Nell remembered, but liked a nice perfume – Elizabeth Arden, Lily of the Valley. It was her grandmother, Rebecca. The second was in black and white, the same woman, but younger, her arms linked with another woman Nell didn’t recognise, both caught striding down the pier, smiling brightly at the unseen photographer.

‘Where did you get these?’ Nell placed them carefully on the table, side by side; almost afraid to touch them.

‘I’ve no idea, pet. Not really. My gran knew Ida, Ida Green – that’s her with your gran – and I inherited all her old photos. I was actually looking for a few pictures of Dave and Jenny, you know, for their anniversary.’

‘I remember this.’ Nell pointed towards the colour shot. ‘The house, I mean.’

‘Your gran and Ida were neighbours up on St Mary’s Crescent.’

‘Really?’ Nell picked up the black and white photo again, frowning, ‘I can’t quite . . .’ The name was familiar, though the memory shimmered, just out of sight. A shadowy figure leaning over her, pressing something small into her hand.

‘I thought you might like them,’ said Gina.

‘That’s so kind of you, thank you,’ said Nell, oddly touched by the gesture.

‘You’re welcome. She was such a nice lady, kind.’

‘Yes. She was.’ The photo began to blur. Nell cleared her throat, and tried to smile.

‘And if you don’t mind – are you quite all right, pet?’ asked Gina. ‘In yourself? Only you seemed a bit – worried, back at the house.’

*

It seemed easier to start with Carolyn. Nell took a sip of chamomile tea, breathing in the sweet floral scent. ‘The thing is,’ she said, ‘I don’t remember her at all.’

‘But you went to school together?’

‘Evidently.’

‘Don’t you have any old photos?’

‘Not really. Well, at home, packed up in boxes.’ Nell picked up the pictures of her gran again, she’d show them to Chris and Maude, maybe get her old albums out once they got back home.

‘And she’d be the right age?’

‘I guess. I don’t think I’ve got the nerve to ask.’

‘The trouble with Carolyn is that once she’s got an idea in her head, she won’t let it go.’