‘Leon’s with you?’ She sounds surprised, her eyes widening. ‘Are you guys back together? You never said.’

‘No. No, we’re not together, just good friends, that’s all.’ She isn’t sure that’s how she really feels, but for now it is all Faith needs to know. ‘I would have told you if it was anything more, honestly.’

‘It’s fine, no worries.’ She places her hand on Alice’s arm. ‘I couldn’t be happier if you two make a go of it.’ She looks over her shoulder, and points towards a booth. ‘We’ll be over there once you’ve eaten.’

Leon is sitting by the window in the deserted restaurant. A candle flickers on the table in front of him. He looks up from the menu as Alice approaches. ‘I can barely see this,’ he says with a laugh. ‘But can just about make out burger and chips, so I’ll go with that.’

Alice sits down, but before she can tell him she’s seen Faith and Mitch, Christine appears. ‘Can I get you guys anything to drink?’

‘A small red wine please.’ Alice scans the menu quickly, trying to decide what to eat, so she doesn’t delay things any longer.

‘Lager,’ Leon says. ‘Cheers.’

‘And I’ll have fish and chips, please.’

‘Burger for me,’ Leon says.

‘Is that the portrait?’ Leon says, as Christine walks away.

Alice looks to where Leon is pointing, her hands flying to her mouth. ‘Oh my God.’ It hangs under a picture-light on the other side of the restaurant. In seconds she’s on her feet, dashing between the empty tables. She stops in front of it, stares up at the man in the picture, her heart thudding. She sees her father’s unusual eyes, his sharp nose. This man in the picture is much younger than her father was, but it’s him. It has to be. The resemblance is uncanny. She gazes up at it for some time, emotions rising, before making her way back to Leon, who is shoving his phone into his pocket. ‘Everything OK?’ she says, sitting down.

‘Yeah. Just work. I pulled a sickie to come here – not sure they’re convinced. It’s OK; there are plenty of stand-ins at the pool.’

‘I hope I haven’t got you in any trouble.’ Leon loves his job; she would hate him to lose it on her account.

‘It’ll be fine.’ He nods towards the portrait. ‘So, what are your thoughts?’

She gazes across the room. ‘It looks so like my dad.’ Her voice cracks. ‘One blue eye and one green is so rare.’ She turns, glances at their blurred reflections in the window beside them, and back to Leon. ‘But why would it be here?’