As I watched for Kathryn from my bedroom window, the glass became wet with my breath.

Eventually she came into view. She was wearing a yellow dress and cardigan. She’d come out without her coat, but was carrying a yellow umbrella. She frowned as she walked; the little nick in the centre of her forehead deepened as she examined each of the houses along our road. It was as if she’d never seen them before, although she’d lived here all her life.

I thought about opening the window, leaning out and snapping her right there and then, framing her little frown in my central square. Click.

‘Howard. She’s coming.’

Mum must have been watching, too, from the living room window.

‘I’ll get the door,’ she called, before I could make it halfway down the stairs. I ducked into the living room so that I wouldn’t be waiting behind Mum when Kathryn came in.

Then I realised I still had the camera around my neck, so I took it off and placed it on the nest of tables. I clicked the case shut and arranged the strap so it curled around the case.

I stood by the fireplace. Placing one hand on the chimney-breast, I attempted to lean against it in a relaxed manner. I wished Mum didn’t have that photograph of me in my school blazer on the mantelpiece. ‘You loved that school, Howard. I couldn’t drag you away from the place,’ she always said when she caught me scowling at it. ‘I loved the blazer,’ was what I wanted to reply. The feel of the silk embroidered badge on the breast pocket. The shiny buttons on the cuffs.

‘Do come in, dear.’

I took my hand away from the chimney-breast and put it in my pocket.

Kathryn stood in the doorway, her shoulders slightly hunched. She looked all round the room, that nick still in her forehead, before she looked at me.

‘Go on in, dear. Howard’s been waiting for you.’

Kathryn stepped forward. Mum edged past her into the room. ‘Well, this is nice,’ she said, standing by me, pulling her face into a smile.

‘What a lovely photo,’ said Kathryn, gesturing towards the fireplace.

‘Howard loved that school.’

Kathryn raised her eyebrows.

‘Have you got the camera all ready, son?’ Mum asked.

Kathryn looked at me. I nodded towards the nest of tables. ‘I bought it. Yesterday.’

‘I expect he’ll want to take some snaps of you, dear. All dressed up in your nice clothes.’ Mum’s smile didn’t move as we stood in silence, staring at the camera.

‘Shall we go?’ I suggested.

‘We can’t drive on a day like this,’ said Kathryn, looking up at the sky.

The front path glowed in the sunshine. I decided to sling my jacket over my arm.

Kathryn stopped and stood at the gate. A tulip brushed her leg as she swung round to face me. ‘We should just walk, don’t you think?’

I had put a new blanket on the back seat of the car.