‘Not much different, I don’t think; we already share a home and have a joint loan on the van. I reckon she’ll like being the only married Kellow daughter, though, like it’s an achievement.’ He breathed out. ‘There’s more than a bit of sisterly rivalry there, and Ruby will like the win.’

‘Why is there rivalry?’

‘God knows.’ Jarvis took a swig of his drink. ‘Sisters!’ He shook his head.

‘Where did you propose? Was it the grand gesture, rose petals, champagne on ice? The whole nine yards?’ Miguel tried to picture the big man on one knee.

‘Not quite.’ Jarvis laughed. ‘I asked her in the queue at the chip shop in Mevagissey. We’d stopped off to pick up supper and it was raining hard and I looked at her with her little hood up, the string drawn around her face so she was all squished, and I knew it was the right time and so I said, “Will you marry me, Rubes?” And she said, “Do you want your sausage battered or plain?” I told her, “Plain, obviously, I’m not too fond of batter,” and then she said, “And yes, I’ll marry you, Jarv!” And that was that.’

‘Wow!’ Miguel, encouraged by the beer that swilled in his blood, found his story strangely moving. ‘I’ve got to be honest, Jarv, I get why you want to be a part of this family. They are good people.’

‘They are that.’ Jarvis took a deep breath. ‘My own dad is worse than useless and Ben . . . he’s been good to me.’

‘And now he’s going to be your father-in-law.’

‘I am indeed!’ Ben hollered from the chair. ‘And thank God you was only saying nice things, cos I’d have your innards for fish bait! You’re good lads, both of you,’ he announced, before falling straight back to sleep.

He and Jarvis laughed quietly.

‘My dad’s great, I just, I just don’t really know him.’ Miguel whispered this truth. ‘He was always working when I was a kid and, now I’m an adult, he’s still always working.’

‘No shame in a man grafting to earn an honest living.’

‘No, none at all,’ Miguel agreed. ‘But I think if I ever have kids I’ll do it differently. I want more balance; I want to have a relationship with them.’

‘I can’t wait to be a dad. I’ll make sure I’m always around and give them the best I can.’

Miguel felt the embarrassing sting of emotion at the back of his nose, which quickly turned to laughter, as Jarvis swiped his own tears and the two chuckled. He realised for the first time that day that he might be a whole lot drunker than he had thought.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN MERRIN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

MERRIN