‘What else did she say?’ Her voice was now a whisper.

‘Nothing, she hung up. When I told Mrs C, she said I should have dialled 1471 and phoned her straight back, but the butcher phoned right afterwards about an order.’

‘Did she sound young or old?’

‘No idea. You think that was maybe his mum?’

‘Maybe.’ Fiona looked at the clock on the dashboard. ‘I’ve got to get going, I’m picking up Jamie.’

She told him about Jamie’s football lessons and about his new best friend Jack next door.

‘And how about you, Fiona? How’re you doing?’

‘I was doing okay till just now.’

‘I’m sorry, but Mrs C thought I should tell you and…’

‘God, no, Doug, thanks for telling me. Really, I’m glad you did.’ She turned the key in the ignition.

* * *

‘Is there any more soup, Granny?’

‘Jamie, I love feeding you. You have such a good appetite. Of course there’s more soup. About a gallon.’

‘What’s a gallon?’ Jamie held out his bowl.

‘A lot!’ Dorothy took the bowl and went to the cooker and picked up the ladle.

‘So, tell us more about the football then. What position are you playing?’

‘Well, I started off at centre midfield but now I’m playing centre forward and I’ve got to run even faster. I scored a goal.’

‘What about Jack?’

Jamie giggled. ‘They started him off in goal, he hated it.’

‘But he’s only a wee boy, what’s that about?’ Dorothy pushed the bread basket over the table.

Jamie helped himself to another roll. ‘He’s smaller than me but he’s only ten and a quarter. I’m ten and a half. Anyway, they moved him to left back and he’s cool with that.’

‘Remember that day Pete and you played football all day long, the Easter weekend when I was doing a shift for Mrs C at the hotel?’ asked Fiona.

‘Yeah, he was ace at keepy-uppy.’ Jamie rammed the roll into his mouth.

‘And that training exercise you used to play too, what was it called again?’

Jamie swallowed. ‘Dribbling Dingo Drills, Pete said he played it a lot at home. I loved playing that with him.’

Fiona grinned. ‘Sounds a bit of a made-up name to me.’

‘Said Sam taught him.’

‘Who’s Sam?’

Jamie shrugged then pushed his chair back. ‘Pa and me fixed the chairs well, didn’t we, Granny?’

‘You certainly did, sweetheart.’ Dorothy tickled the nape of his neck. ‘Now, would you like a banana or an apple?’

‘Can I take it outside? Said I’d meet Jack on the Green after lunch.’

‘Okay,’ said Fiona. ‘You can play outside all afternoon, but don’t forget to tell him we won’t be around tomorrow morning. We’re off to the museum, Martha’s going to show you the pictures of the Tay Bridge disaster.’