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She had a point. There were people who Mary was happy to have wander in and say hello. The difference was that was all they wanted: a quick hello, a chat, maybe a coffee, and if you had something else to do you could say so. With Rona it was much more intense. She brought with her many expectations: of friendship, of a big day out, of a heart-to-heart.

So yes, normally she would have found an excuse, but at that moment she was glad it wasn’t Trent or Carl or some other crazy stalker, so she accepted.

Sure. What time?

Wally padded over to her, nudging her with his nose, wet against her calf. She looked down at him.

‘You want to go out? Do your business?’

He looked back, his brown eyes expectant. She went to open the back door, then paused. What if there was someone out there, hiding in some corner of the yard?

She peered through the glass, searching for any movement in the corners of the yard, any sign someone was there. Wally nudged her again.

She took a deep breath and opened the door. Wally padded past her into the back yard. She waited for him to spring forward, barking at the intruder.

But Wally didn’t make a sound.

Table for One, Now?

Rona was at the table when Mary arrived. It had been a tough morning at work; Mary was exhausted and had found it hard to concentrate, so she was glad of a lunch break. The restaurant – Maine Street Bistro – was in a grand old building. It had housed a succession of businesses until a couple of years ago, when two chefs from Portland had bought it, and turned it into a modern, bistro-style, wooden-floored restaurant. The food was excellent, and Mary found any excuse to eat there.

‘Hi,’ Mary said.

Rona looked up from her phone.

‘Mary. Take a seat.’ It was an oddly formal greeting; Rona seemed on edge. ‘How’ve you been?’

‘Fine,’ Mary said. ‘You?’

‘Great. Busy at work.’

‘Same.’ There was an awkward silence. ‘I’m having a tough time with Sally.’

‘Really? Why?’

‘Boyfriend trouble.’

‘What kind of trouble?’

‘The usual,’ Mary said. ‘He’s older, a bad boy – and I think he really is a bad boy, not just a wannabe – she thinks, or thought, they were the real deal.’ Mary did not feel like going into details of her daughter’s life. ‘But she’s learning they aren’t, and that’s a painful experience. A bit of heartbreak. I feel for her, but it’s for the best.’

Rona nodded. ‘It’s tough at that age. They’re so vulnerable.’

‘At least we don’t have that problem – yet, anyway – with Otis. It turns out he has a girlfriend. He brought her home yesterday.’

Rona flinched. For a moment there was an odd, almost nervous expression on her face.

‘Really?’ she said. Her lips were pressed together in a thin line. ‘Is she nice?’

‘Very,’ Mary said. ‘She’s lovely.’

Rona nodded, blinking slowly. She picked up the menu, read it, then put it down. Mary caught her eye.

‘Rona,’ she said. ‘Is everything OK?’

Rona shifted uncomfortably. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘More or less.’

‘More?’ Mary said. ‘Or less?’