Jack was asleep in the armchair when Mandy came in at about nine; is this prophetic she thought? So what if it was, the butterflies were fluttering, and in that she trusted. He opened his eye, she was on her knees, between his legs and looking straight at him.
‘How’d you get in?’
‘I cut myself a key.’
‘Should I be alarmed?’
‘Not unless you have someone else in your bed?’
‘You’re all I need sweet’art.’
She leaned over and they kissed, ‘Right answer,’ and they went up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire. Jack was out of practice on the bra strap, but there was time she thought, and he still had his pink hand.
* * *
The next day was Biscuit’s funeral. Mandy stayed home with Jack, they cuddled and talked, Mandy about Liz and Carly, her feelings and asked how he knew, similarly with Frankie
