In the time we had been chatting, the pub had started to fill. No one looked too soaked, but it was obviously still raining and getting darker by the second. I helped Sam light the candles while everyone settled down to enjoy some fine food and, later, George’s tall tales.

I had just finished my bowl of curried veg and was mopping up with a hunk of crusty bread, when my chair was almost knocked out from beneath me and my lap was full of a familiar-looking Labrador.

‘Hello, you,’ I said, rubbing the top of the dog’s damp head before pushing him and his wet paws away.

‘Bloody hell, Bruce,’ said a breathless voice. ‘I said you could say hello, not leap all over her.’

I twisted round to find Joe standing behind me.

‘Still not dried out from Monday?’ I chuckled, taking in his damp hair and the rain flecked shoulders of his jacket.

‘Something like that,’ he nodded. ‘Have you finished eating?’

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘are you going to have something? It’s all absolutely delicious.’

‘No, I ate at home,’ he told me, ‘but I wouldn’t mind a pint of bitter. Would you like to join us in the snug? It’s a bit quieter in there.’

I still wasn’t sure I had forgiven him for forgetting me, but in the spirit of making an effort and banishing my low mood, I accepted his offer.

‘Love to,’ I smiled, as the pooch I now knew as Bruce nudged his way under the table, scouting for crumbs.

‘Will you keep an eye on him while I go to the bar?’ Joe asked.

I looked over and saw Sam frowning at the fuss being made because of the energetic hound. Bruce was nowhere near as calm as Skipper who generally just wandered in and made himself at home. That said, when I looked closer, I thought the expression on Sam’s face was directed more at Joe than his dog.

‘I’m not sure Bruce will behave for me,’ I said to Joe. ‘You go and find a seat and I’ll get this round in.’

Joe didn’t respond and when I looked up from checking I had enough cash, I found he was staring at Hope, who was now also behind the bar. I watched as Sam closed the gap between them and bent his head to whisper something in her ear. She gave Joe a fleeting glance, her eyes wide and full of surprise, and disappeared back into the kitchen.

‘Bloody hell,’ Joe groaned.

‘You all right?’ I asked.

All of the colour had drained from his face.

‘I’m okay,’ he nodded.

‘Do you know Hope?’

‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘yeah, I know Hope.’

Bruce’s deep-chested bark suddenly rang out and he lunged towards the bar, cutting off my next question. Joe gave chase and quickly grabbed the dog by the collar and clipped his lead back on.