Finding them both still sleeping, he put some food down, closed the door behind him and went down the stairs and into the bar. He switched on the lights, checked there were clean glasses under the counter, and enough crates to see them through the next couple of hours.

He fetched a pint glass and pumped some of the new beer into it, giving it a good inspection before he threw it away and pumped some more until it ran clear. The first pouring from a new barrel was always cloudy – especially if it hadn’t had time to settle – but this looked the business, and as he was feeling quite thirsty, he refilled the glass and drank deeply.

He savoured the pint as he regarded the room, noting how neat and clean it looked, with the chairs and tables tidied away, the cobwebs dusted from the inglenook, and the floor swept. Brenda was worth her weight in gold, he decided, for she did the things he hadn’t thought to do, and remembered things he should have.

He finished the beer and rinsed out the glass, then took the tea towels off the pumps and gave the counter a quick wipe over – not that it needed it, for the wood gleamed richly from many years of Rosie’s loving polishing.

Satisfied that she would be pleased at how well they were managing, he headed for the door. There were a few minutes still before opening time, but there were letters on the mat and hope sprang eternal that at last there might be something from Rosie.

He gathered everything up and sifted through the bills and private letters until he came to the envelope with his name on it in Rosie’s handwriting. Frowning at the fact it bore no stamp, and had clearly been opened and much handled, he tossed the rest of the post on top of the dilapidated piano and sat on the stool, eager to see what she had to say.

Ron,

I’m writing this in haste, for I don’t have much time before I have to leave. I hope Sergeant Williams returned Flora and Dora safely, and I’m sorry I couldn’t deliver them myself, but it was very late when I found them and I didn’t want to disturb the household.

I received some sad news by telegram this mid-morning, and having spent the rest of the day trying desperately to find a way of sorting things out, I was unable to get hold of you or anyone at Beach View – which is why I must leave so swiftly and without warning.