“That’s not what I was dreaming.”

It was plain I wasn’t invited to enquire further. The silence this planted between us felt too cumbersome to shift, and the crunch of toast didn’t help, any more than the scrape of utensils on china. I was glad when my phone rang. “Father,” it said before he spoke. “Not interrupting, am I, Patrick?”

“I wouldn’t have said so. Why do you ask?”

“Just that you were so quick off the mark. Or were you wanting to be interrupted?”

“Not that either.” In a bid to leave this succession of verbal hurdles behind I said “Let’s talk.”

“Your mother and I thought we’d buy you lunch in Liverpool today if you’re free.”

“I ought to be, but Roy’s here too.”

“He’ll be just as welcome.”

“Thanks, grandad, but I was going to meet someone.”

“Would that be a lady friend?”

“Might.” When I prompted him with a pointed look Roy admitted “Yes.”

“Bring her by all means. Have you introduced her to your favourite cuisine?”

“We haven’t eaten yet.”

“Will noon suit everyone? We’ll see you at the Szechuan unless we hear to the contrary.”

Roy picked up his phone, and I saw he was making a video call. With unexpected directness he said “I like seeing her.”

Bella’s face appeared, only to vanish at once. It played the trick again before I grasped that shadows of leaves were swaying across it and then withdrawing their darkness. “Bell,” Roy said, “can you meet for lunch in Liverpool?”

“I’ll come to you wherever you like.”

“It’s Szechuan. Chinese with lots of chillies.”

“I’m always up for new experiences.”

“And it’s being bought for us.”

I gathered I was visible to Bella when she said “Thank you very much for including me, Patrick.”

“Happy you’ll be there, but I’m not the host. My parents are picking up the bill.”

Another swarm of darkness almost put her face out before she ducked her head. She looked up through the shadows to ask “Is the food very hot?”

“Some of it’s wicked,” Roy said.

“Don’t call me a weakling, but would you mind if I don’t come after all? It sounds as if it might be too fierce for me.”

“It isn’t all like that. There’s an ordinary menu as well.”

“Say I’m sorry just the same, could you? Maybe I’m as delicate as I look.”

“We can ring my grandad and we’ll all go somewhere else.”

“Don’t let me spoil the arrangements. You all go where you like and I’ll meet you afterwards. Call me when you’ve finished,” Bella said and passed her hand over her face as though to brush shadows away, but with the opposite effect. “And look, no need for video if it costs you more.”