‘And you’ve saved me and Nina a few times, so thank you all. Cheers!’ Eddie raised his glass, the other guests following suit. ‘Now, enjoy the food. Should be good – it’s costing enough!’

Everyone laughed.

‘Yorkshiremen never change,’ said Julie to Nina as Eddie sat. ‘Short arms and long pockets, that’s the saying, isn’t it? At least that’s what his father says about them.’

Larry, originally from Buckinghamshire in southern England, gave his northern-born son a mocking smile.

Nina grinned. ‘Tell me about it.’

‘I’m not wrong, though, am I?’ said Eddie. He picked up a menu. ‘I mean, ’ow much just for garlic bread . . . Oh, bloody hell.’ He frowned, having to hold it almost at arm’s length to read the words. ‘See what I mean about getting old? Everything either stops working or starts hurting. Pain in the arse. Sometimes literally.’

Nina’s grandmother, Olivia Wilde, tutted. ‘Really, Eddie. Of all the things you might be, I’ve never thought of you as a whiner. I’m almost twice your age, and do you know what I’ve learned?’

‘Never eat prunes after a curry?’ suggested Eddie with a smirk.

‘Something else I’ve never thought of you as is a comedian,’ Olivia replied, unfazed. ‘But age isn’t important – it’s attitude. How well you live matters more than simply how long. I spent the prime of my life focused on entirely the wrong things, and it wasn’t until I met Nina and reconnected with my family a few years ago that I realised how empty that was. Now? I’m ninety-six, and certainly not expecting to make it to a hundred—’

‘Don’t say that, Grams,’ Macy cut in.

‘Well, it’s true. But I’m happier than I was before, frailties be damned, and it’s not as if I’m sitting around waiting to die. I don’t worry that I’ve done everything I ever will; I look forward to what I’m still going to do. You should do the same.’

‘She’s right,’ said Nina. ‘You’ve done so much already; like Matt said, you’ve saved the world. Several times! But just because you’ve got nothing left to prove doesn’t mean you’ve got nothing left to achieve.’

‘You’ve certainly achieved a lot, Nina,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Congratulations on your professorship, if that’s the right word.’

‘Thanks. Yeah, I went full circle and ended up back at my alma mater.’

‘It must be a change teaching instead of being out in the field.’

‘It is. I don’t know which is more scary – facing a bad guy with a gun, or fifty new students all staring at you!’ Chuckles from around the table. ‘I do prefer the quiet life, though.’

‘You’re not tempted to go back out on one last big adventure?’ asked the Israeli Jared Zane.