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Poor old guy. Probably for the best. No point in keeping him alive for six months.

No, there wasn’t, and as the ambulance had pulled away Mary had bitten back the tears as she remembered his evening walks. If he was anywhere, then he was with Gladys again, and she was happy for him.

The new neighbour was called Trent, and was in his late thirties. He had long hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Mary had met him briefly earlier in the week, when he had taken possession of the house.

Welcome, she had said. Are you the new owner?

He nodded. As of this morning.

Are you moving in? I’m Mary. I live next door.

Trent. We’re moving in on Friday. I just came to take a look. He had glanced at his watch. I’m late for something. But it was lovely to meet you.

She walked over to Ryan and Trent. Wally was first to notice her and strained at his leash. Ryan looked over his shoulder and let go; Wally bounded over, leash trailing, and jumped up on her, his joy limitless, as it was every time she came home, however recently she had left the house.

‘He’s glad to see you,’ Trent said. ‘What a greeting. If only we all had that in our lives.’

‘It’s because I feed him,’ Mary said. ‘Nothing more. Have you moved in?’

‘Started to.’ Trent nodded at the van. ‘Although we don’t have much stuff. Just this van load.’

Mary gestured to the house. ‘Is your partner inside? Getting organized?’

Trent nodded. ‘Yeah, my wife’s upstairs with our daughter, Cathy.’ He smiled. ‘Cathy is picking a room.’

‘She gets to pick?’ Mary said.

‘She thinks so.’

‘Can I help?’ Ryan asked.

‘We’re OK for now,’ Trent said. ‘We really don’t have all that much. But I might take you up on the offer later, if that works?’

‘Sure. No problem. I’ll be available. There’s not much going on in the evenings in Barrow.’ He smiled. ‘Or in the daytime.’

‘I’m sure it’s more exciting than that,’ Trent said.

Ryan shrugged. ‘Depends what you’re looking for, I guess.’

‘Anyway,’ Mary said. ‘It’s nice to see you again, Trent. I’m Mary in case you don’t remember.’

He smiled. ‘I remember. Mary Jordan. Nice to see you again, too.’

What Else Would It Be?

‘So,’ Ryan said, as he opened a can of beer. It was some kind of craft beer that Mary didn’t care for; they were too strong and too hoppy, but Ryan loved them and kept a record of the ones he drank, noting their characteristics as though they were fine wines. She suspected it was a way to legitimize the number of them he consumed, which was growing.

He took a long draught and let out a contented sigh.

‘Tough day, then?’

‘Yeah. That new partner, Ben Cox—’

‘The annoying one?’

‘He’s pretty annoying. But I’m surprised you know that.’

‘He coaches the soccer team Ephraim’s son plays on. He’s one of the run-up-the-score kind of coaches. Ephraim told me there was one game where he nearly came to blows with a parent from the other team because Ben’s guys – mainly his son – were scoring goal after goal and the other parent thought he was being unsporting.’