‘Dunno.’ He shrugged. ‘Blue fleece and jeans?’

Fiona began to load the dishwasher and looked up at the calendar on the wall. The twenty-ninth of October, the anniversary of the day she had met Pete five years before.

* * *

‘So are Granny and Pa home next week?’

‘Yes, they’re in Lewis this week then Skye at the weekend, home on Tuesday.’

‘It’s funny without them in the house. Quiet. D’you think there’s a ghost that comes out when they’re away?’

‘Don’t be daft, of course there’s not.’

They were sitting at the kitchen table, eating macaroni cheese and looking out at the pouring rain.

‘Can I have some more tomato sauce, Mum?’

‘No, you put far too much on. Your plate’s all pink, it looks disgusting.’

Jamie continued forking up the pasta. ‘Ben Conti said his granny found a ghost once. Somewhere in Italy at her house there. He calls her Nonna, funny really.’

‘What, the ghost?’

‘No, his granny. She told him it was a friendly one. How d’you know if ghosts are friendly?’

Fiona splashed some more wine into her glass. ‘I have no idea. Now eat up if you want to see Robotboy.’

The phone rang and she stretched over to the counter for it.

‘Oh, hi, Mum. Yeah, everything’s grand thanks. Yes, he’s right here, want a word?’

Fiona picked at her pasta as Jamie chatted, smiling as he nattered on about football and Halloween and macaroni. She took the phone back once he was done.

‘Yes, everything’s good here thanks. House hasn’t burned down yet.’

Jamie frowned at her. ‘Joking!’ she mouthed.

‘Wait!’ said Jamie, reaching over to grab the phone back. ‘Forgot to tell you, Granny. Guess what, I saw someone today who looked like…’

Fiona snatched the phone, scowling at her son. ‘Mum, me again, sorry, we’ve got to go now, love to you and Dad. Bye!’ She clunked the phone down and looked at Jamie, who had a puzzled look.

‘Jamie, it’s fine for you to tell me these things, but you mustn’t share them with Granny and Pa. They wouldn’t understand.’

‘Understand what?’

Fiona sighed. ‘The fact that you and I miss Pete so much we really believe we’re seeing him, dreaming of him and…’

‘But I did see him, Mum. Then he went away. He’ll be back to see us soon.’

Fiona leant over and gave Jamie a hug. ‘Why don’t I get out some old photos and you can draw me a picture of him on your new drawing pad?’

‘Okay.’ Jamie shrugged. ‘But Mum, he wasn’t a ghost like Ben’s Nonna’s ghost. It was a real man!’

CHAPTER 31

Chapter 31

Monday 5 January 1880