‘We need to talk about Mum. About what happened, about what we do next.’

‘Oh, I know. Let’s. But let’s not now.’

‘That’s what you always say. Not now. Not here. Call me, OK? We should come up with a plan to do something to remember her in the autumn.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ I said. I was finding it harder to forget her, not the other way around.

‘Yeah, yeah? For fuck’s sake, Paul.’

She shook her head and walked away. I nearly watched her go but I was scared of not seeing her again for months and so I ran after her to apologise.

*

Emily was still talking to the big bear of a man when I got back to the shop. I approached her with my book open at the title page.

‘This is an old friend, Richard,’ she said, ‘from when I lived in Leeds; Richard, this is a new friend, Paul.’

‘Nice to meet you,’ he said.

‘You too. Do you live round here?’

‘No, no. In Leeds. Just down to surprise Emily and get my own signed copy.’

Emily signed her name in my book with five kisses, a girlish and endearingly out-of-character gesture, then she turned them into scissors by adding handles to them.

‘Very cute,’ I said. ‘Have you had a good time?’

‘Reasonably. He was a nice surprise,’ she said, putting her hand on Richard’s shoulder.

‘So how do you two know each other?’ I asked.

‘Emily used to come and see my band,’ he said. ‘Before I got a real job and became a teacher.’

‘They were a good band,’ said Emily.

‘We were OK,’ he said.

‘Are we going out afterwards?’ he asked, turning to Emily.

‘Yeah, yeah. Andrew has a plan. Food somewhere.’

They turned back to look at me and my invitation never arrived so I volunteered my own information. ‘I thought I might go for a drink with some women I just met. Rochi and her friend Sophie. Andrew’s Sophie, I think.’

‘Oh,’ said Emily. She looked up to where Sophie and Rochi were talking. Sophie saw her and waved. ‘Yes, that’s her,’ said Emily. ‘Well, good luck with that.’ She put her hand on Richard’s shoulder and leaned slightly into him.

‘We’re only having a drink.’

She nodded, then realised where her hand was and removed it from Richard. ‘I’d better talk to Andrew and see what’s happening. If I don’t see you, Paul, thanks for coming.’

She walked away, and I smiled at Richard. ‘So, how are you doing?’ I asked.

‘All right,’ he said. ‘You’re new friends, you and Emily?’

‘Yeah. And you two go way back,’ I said.

‘Way back.’

‘So, you’re a teacher? My parents were teachers.’

‘Were?’

‘Were.’