Arthur felt the imprint of Verity’s mouth on his, still tingling, as he rolled his bike back along the path, the sea a roar, black in the twilight. He could barely see the trees in the dark and was too stunned to cycle but clung to the line of the woods to make his way back. The night was closing in on him. He should have left earlier and he felt a physical relief when he reached the end of the path and pushed the bike up the slipway to the West Bank where he could see the lights of the village. The night was coming and Mother would expect him for his tea.

Behind him, the moon shone through the clouds, casting a silvery light on the boats in the harbour. There was the same strange yellow tinge to the twilight. The water in the harbour looked oily and black. With the wind up, Arthur could see the boats swaying on the water. His mac flapping and his cap pulled low over his ears, he rode hard for home.

As he neared the shop, a solitary old man in a peaked cap called out, ‘Best watch out on that there bike, there’s a foul old sou’wester coming.’

Arthur said he certainly would. But the old man stood motionless, staring out at the boats in the East Fleet as if he was waiting for them to give him the sign to do something.

‘Tide’s not ebbing,’ said the man. ‘Fair rummen.’

Mother was still in the shop, stock-taking, marking it all out in her blue notebook.

‘I’m back,’ Arthur said, poking his head round the door.

She looked up briefly, nodded. ‘Set the table,’ she said, and continued noting down stock.

He went back up to their quarters and laid the table for two, put on a pot of water for tea and buttered bread for their bread and jam. His mind was full of Verity.

‘You look a mess,’ said his mother. She switched on the radio and the Saturday big band concert was just coming to an end.

‘Windy out,’ he said.

‘You’re stopping in now, though.’

‘Still got a couple of deliveries.’ He couldn’t stay in with Mother, just the two of them on a Saturday night. Other people were out, having fun, going to dances, that sort of thing. He had to get out.

‘On a night like this? Don’t be silly.’

‘It’s fine, Mother, I just need to do two more.’

‘There was a ship went down near Ireland. I heard it on the wireless at the four o’clock bulletin. Nearly all of them drowned.’

‘That’s terrible,’ he said. He wished she wouldn’t do this.