‘I slowed down over the winter,’ he said, ‘but I’ve got loads of ideas. I need to find a contractor. I could make it a private members’ club, what do you think?’

‘But –’ Bea began.

‘May last year was seriously busy.’

‘Really?’

‘Honestly, sis, it was mad. People saw it online and they kept calling and calling. I was the only one here. You should have seen it, it was hilarious.’ He poured himself more wine. ‘So I changed the name. You’ll have to come back, when I have the grand opening.’

‘When will it be?’

Alex ignored the question. ‘So, tell me, Dan. What’s the story?’

Seeing his expression, Bea willed Dan to be kind.

‘The story?’ said Dan.

‘Yes. What’s going on? Road trip? Odyssey?’

Dan shrugged. ‘Kind of.’

‘We thought we’d take a break,’ said Bea. ‘I told you. Hunt out my emails.’

‘It’s brilliant having you,’ said Alex eagerly.

‘Yeah, well, thanks, but we can’t stay long,’ said Dan.

‘Really?’ Dismayed, Alex put down his glass.

‘We could stop by again, on our way back,’ said Bea.

‘We’ve got a load of places to see,’ said Dan. ‘It’s not cheap.’

‘Shit, don’t worry about that,’ Alex laughed, dismissing finances, all finances, with contempt.

‘Right,’ said Dan.

Alex turned to Bea. ‘You still holding out against Dad?’

‘I think he’s given up on me,’ Bea said. She smiled at Dan.

‘OK, so you’re broke,’ said Alex. ‘Don’t worry about it. I don’t want your pennies.’

‘Thanks,’ said Bea.

‘Stay as long as you like.’

‘We’ve only got three months before Bea needs to get back to work,’ said Dan. ‘And I need to find a new job.’

‘But you could stay a couple of weeks,’ Alex pressed. ‘Couldn’t you?’

‘Let’s talk about it tomorrow,’ said Bea.

‘Don’t you want to?’ said Alex, looking from one to the other.

‘Yes,’ said Bea, ignoring Dan’s look. ‘It’s just –’

‘You can’t afford it – Bea, I keep saying, don’t worry.’

‘I don’t,’ said Bea.

‘It’s because of our father,’ he said. He lit a cigarette. ‘You don’t want to stay because he pays.’

‘No,’ said Bea. ‘Of course it’s not.’

She felt herself getting warm, and Dan scrutinising her. She didn’t want to talk about her parents in front of him. She didn’t want to talk about them at all. And she didn’t want Alex to.

‘Look, OK,’ said Alex, tapping his heel on the ground, rapidly. ‘Griff gives me his money, and I give you, what? Fucking – croissants. They’re still my fucking croissants, right? I mean, what the hell, right?’

‘Al, it’s fine,’ said Bea. ‘It’s not that. I’m so happy to see you, and I’m so glad we’re here.’

‘Fuck principles,’ said Alex, blinking like there was something in his eye, either not knowing he was doing it, or not able to stop. ‘I mean, fuck it. He owns us anyway, Bea.’

She shook her head. Dan looked down at the table, and did not look up again.