Lucas walked slowly downstairs and into the lounge. His department had been under significant pressure for the last ten days, and Lucas had been at the forefront of the work. Through no fault of his department there had been a couple of setbacks, which meant the stress had mounted and by the time they had been able to hand everything onto the next department Lucas could tell the pressure was getting to him. Nevertheless, he hadn’t been keen when his boss told him to take two days off, protesting loudly that he could cope. At that point Lucas had realised that his protests indicated how much he needed the break and reluctantly he had agreed. Adam told him it was simply time off in lieu, considering the number of hours Lucas had worked, but it didn’t make it any easier.

Lucas could hear Pamela moving around in the kitchen, as she was staying with them for a few days. He ought to try to be polite to her, but he suspected one look at his expression, and she’d simply stay away from him.

He looked up as she came in, bearing two mugs. She put one down in front of him and said, “I’ve made you some hot chocolate.”

“Thank you!” He’d have preferred coffee, but he wouldn’t complain. He took a sip. “Ah,” he said, “with addition.”

“Yes, and my hand may have shaken slightly when I was adding it.”

Lucas smiled. “You have some as well?”

“Definitely. I don’t like to think of you drinking on your own.”

Lucas took a longer gulp of the hot chocolate and whisky and settled more comfortably on the sofa.

Pamela sat in one of the armchairs and took a good look at him. “After George died,” she said, “it felt as if my life was falling apart. Not my world, because the world kept on as before, just my life. And, as you know, I really struggled with that. But I came to understand that although I could do nothing about the world, I could do something about my life and that was thanks to you. Does that make sense?”

Lucas slowly nodded. “The trouble is that it’s hard to separate the world and one’s life, when one’s in the middle of falling apart.”

“Oh, quite. I like to think of it as being a small ball, inside a rather larger ball. And as my small ball is spinning around rapidly it’s very hard to cope with the larger exterior ball moving at a slower rate.”

“You should be a counsellor!”

“I’d never have the patience.”

“You’re quite right though.” Lucas stretched. “And please don’t let me stop you doing whatever you’d planned to do.”

“I might get the bus into the shopping centre this afternoon. I haven’t yet decided.”

“I can give you a lift. We can go now if you want.”

“We most certainly cannot! I know how much whisky I put in the hot chocolate, and you are not driving anywhere!”

“Tomorrow then.”

“That would be good. There’s a new café I’ve discovered, which serves excellent soup and sandwiches. I could treat you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“And then you can help me by carrying the soft furnishings I’m hoping to buy.”

Lucas grinned. “It’s a deal.”

He wondered whether Adam had asked Pamela to distract him, but decided this was unlikely. The old lady was much more likely to have simply seen an opportunity and made use of it.