Chapter 28

“Have you thought about—”

“No offence, Stel,” Stephen said, “but we’d rather know the result before we get ahead of ourselves.”

“Oh, of course, love,” she said quickly. “Best way, I say. Don’t want to get your hopes up.”

“Mm.”

“Mushrooms, either of you?”

“Aye, go on then.”

“No, ta.”

Footsteps shuffled. Boards creaked above their heads, and then a heavy tread sounded on the stairs.

“Good Lord, more mouths,” Mike’s mam grumbled—then smiled and said, “Morning, love!” as Mike’s stepfather came into the kitchen. Leonard Avery was a tall, thin man in his fifties, who had a bolt-upright posture from military service but a slow shuffle from the brain injury that had ended saidservice. He was completely bald, his hair having fallen out during chemotherapy treatment nearly ten years ago that was responsible for the long engagement, but his eyebrows had grown back bushier than ever, two enormous brown caterpillars snoozing above his face.