“Colin–” his granddaughter complained as he won the second game.
“It’s no good–” he stood up and rooted about in the locker. With jumbled hands he filled the saucepan from the water bottle and went steaming off down the quay. There were three or four boats spread out between the Dragonfly and the bridge and each one of them was locked up, their owners off exploring the town.
Well, good luck to ’em.
He stalked back and set the saucepan down beside the uneven rows of Delphine’s beads: two key rings, a bracelet, a pendant and a necklace, together with a small heap that she had lost interest in. Their imperfections pinked at his heart and for a little while he managed not to simmer or thirst. He taught her Damn It (like whist but with betting) and made a game of stealing her Coke when she w
