As they all stood up to go, Esther’s father nudged her elbow. ‘You’re off on holiday, Mum said. That’s nice.’

‘Yes, thanks, Dad. Tomorrow evening. I can’t wait.’ Out of the corner of her eye she was aware of Lucas pausing before leading the way out of the restaurant.

‘Give our love to Viv, won’t you?’ Patrick went on fondly. ‘It seems like only yesterday that you two were doing your homework together.’

‘Doesn’t it, just?’

He held out his arm and Esther looped hers through it. He had been typically quiet and sweet all day, waiting his turn to congratulate Lily, and seeking Dylan out for a few grandfatherly words on the walk to the lunch. The day was starting to take its toll though, Esther could tell, noting the post-lunch heaviness of his eyelids and guessing that as soon as their taxi had dropped them back at their Cambridge hotel he would be flat out having his afternoon snooze.

‘What holiday?’ said Lucas the moment they were all regrouping in the street.

‘Just a few days in France.’

‘Who with?’

Esther hesitated. He obviously hadn’t heard the full exchange with her father. For a moment she was half tempted to hint at something more glamorous than falling back on the charity of her oldest friend. But the day had gone so well. ‘I’m joining Viv and Brian for a few days. They’ve rented a place near Nice.’

‘Well, I’ll hold the fort with Dylan in that case.’

‘Yes, you do that.’ Esther almost laughed at the hint of self-sacrifice in his tone when Dylan was in his care anyway. It was a small reminder of how little he had changed, and, after the charm offensive of the day, she was grateful for it. Lucas cared about Lucas. End of.

Lily and Matteo were clearly eager to be gone. They had a party to get to – one to which they had invited Dylan – but all goodbyes stalled because of there being no sign of Astrid and Patrick’s Uber despite its claim to have arrived. A glorious August Saturday afternoon, and the high street was a hive of shoppers, cyclists, and flocks of tourists following guides. Buffeted by one especially boisterous group, Lucas herded them all nearer the pavement edge as the hunt for the taxi continued. In the same instant, a woman, the last in a string of passing cyclists, hopped off a sleek silver bike and onto the pavement, hoicking the bike with her.