‘Yes. Except we had to change in Paris. I got lost. It’s awful there, circular. All electric stairs and things.’ She followed him across the mall and lost him for a moment in an anxiety of nuns. We meet like strangers, she thought. How strange it is. The automatic small-talk of arrivals. Catching him up, she said: ‘The exit is over there. It says so. Taxis.’

‘We’re going to the bar, that all right?’

‘Very. Some tea or a beer. Are you pleased to see me?’

He stopped immediately, pulled her towards him with one arm and kissed her hard. ‘I’m very pleased. Very pleased. It has seemed years ago …’

‘I know. Years. I feel quite shy.’

‘It’s the crowds: come on.’ He led her across to the elevator which arrived as they reached it, delivering two elderly women with Yorkshire terriers. He pushed her inside and pressed the button; they rode up alone in each other’s arms for thirty seconds.

‘You said a bar.’ She settled uncertainly into a deep leather couch.

‘It is a bar. A grand bar.’

‘Can we afford it?’

‘I’ve only ordered beer.’

‘You’re wearing your best jeans. And your new T-shirt.’

‘A celebration, seeing you again.’

‘Only four days.’

‘Eternity. You look nice, that new?’

‘Yes.’ She pulled the sleeves of her blouse down to her wrists. ‘It’s Hungarian, all hand-embroidered, I thought it would be cool.’

‘Everything all right. In Hamburg then?’

‘Yes. Everything very well. My Granny is much better now.’ I must keep the lies to a minimum, she thought, lies catch you out. ‘But I’m not happy there.’ That’s true. ‘It is so … so very German there. They live all in the past.’ True. ‘I felt quite homesick and strange. I have to be a different person with them, you would be very surprised.’ Absolutely true. ‘My Granny was so happy to see me, she is really my “mother”, you see.’ And that’s true too.

The beer arrived on a silver salver with dishes of nuts and olives.

He raised his glass. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you. Oh, I’m so happy, so happy, to be back. It’s very exciting! And you, when did you get here, are you already French? Was it a good ride?’

‘Yesterday afternoon … a good ride, no problems: it’s a bit nice here.’

‘I’m sure. I saw from the ‘plane, all the hills, the sea so blue … palm trees and things. And it’s hot!’

He pushed the dish of nuts towards her. ‘Are you hungry … would you like something to eat?’