He gazed across the rooftops towards the docks, the lights on the cranes visible in the distance. Below them, cars clogged the surrounding roads, and pedestrians trickled in and out of the neighbourhood restaurants and bars, as though this were a normal Saturday night.

‘Is that where she was when she went missing?’ Holly asked. ‘Somewhere out towards the docks?’

Fleet must have been staring more intently than he’d realised.

‘It’s where she was last headed,’ Fleet told her, tearing his eyes from the horizon. ‘But the truth is, by now …’ She could be anywhere, he didn’t need to add.

Holly looked where Fleet had been looking. She gave a shiver.

‘Jesus, Sprig, I’m sorry. Let’s go back inside. I should have taken the hint.’ Fleet hastily stubbed out his cigarette on the guard rail in front of them.

‘No, it’s fine,’ Holly said. ‘I’m not cold. I was just …’ She glanced towards the distant cranes. ‘I’m not cold,’ she repeated. ‘I promise.’

Even so, she wrapped her coat tighter. Whether consciously or not, she kept her arms crossed over her stomach.

‘How are you feeling?’ Fleet asked her.

‘Me?’ Holly responded, sounding surprised.

Fleet’s eyes dipped again towards her belly.

‘Oh. I mean … fine. Physically. Just a bit embarrassed I came to you in such a state when you and Nicky were dealing with this.’

‘You weren’t to know. And anyway, it was good to see you. It’s always good to see you.’ Fleet looked at the cigarette packet he’d started fiddling with in his hands.

‘It’s been good to see you, too,’ Holly agreed.

Fleet’s eyes met hers and then rebounded.

‘Listen, Sprig. I’ve been thinking.’

‘About what?’

Fleet turned to face her. ‘Just … and don’t take this the wrong way …’

Holly’s expression tightened a fraction, and Fleet considered whether he would be better off holding his tongue. It was none of his business, after all. He had no right to interfere. Even though his intention was to help, there was no guarantee Holly would see it that way, and after what had amounted to a small detente, he risked pushing her further away again.

On the other hand, he’d already pushed her so far they’d ended up divorced, meaning he could hardly make things worse. And Holly knew he had her best interests at heart. Didn’t she?

‘I was wondering …’ Fleet ventured. ‘Just, whether you’d given any more thought to … you know. To the baby. To what you intend to … That is, to whether you’ll …’

‘To whether I’ll keep it?’

‘Right,’ said Fleet, wary of the flatness to Holly’s tone.

‘I told you already that I will, Rob. Nothing’s changed. And to be honest, if there’s something you were planning to say on the matter, now’s probably not the best time.’