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after Katie wrote and told me she’d married Mr Griffiths.’
    â€˜Believe me, I went through all the arguments with her at the time.’
    â€˜I would never have given my consent to their marriage.’
    â€˜I don’t remember Katie asking for it, or mine come to that.’
    â€˜You gave her away at her wedding. For Christ’s sake, Martin, he’s my father-in-law.’
    â€˜And brother-in-law.’
    â€˜Don’t remind me.’ Jack pulled an ashtray towards them.
    â€˜I can’t say I was happy about it at the time. It certainly wasn’t what I wanted for Katie, but she forced me to accept that it was what she wanted for herself, so I went along with it. And now I can honestly say that since she married Mr Griffiths, I’ve never seen her happier. Except …’
    â€˜What?’ Jack broke in eagerly, too eagerly for Martin’s liking.
    â€˜I don’t know what you wrote to her because she never showed me any of your letters.’
    â€˜I told her that he was old enough to be her father.’
    â€˜Hardly tactful when she was already married to him. And as I said, they are very happy.’
    â€˜You said “except”,’ Jack reminded.
    â€˜She’s worried about you and how you’ll react when you see them together. She doesn’t want anything to change between the two of you, but more than anything she wants you and John Griffiths to be friends.’
    â€˜That’s going to be difficult seeing as he’s my father-in-law and boss, as well as my brother-in-law.’ He looked at Martin. ‘Do I still have a job in the warehouse?’
    â€˜Do you still want one?’
    â€˜To be honest, I don’t know. I enjoyed learning to drive in the army and I gained a HGV licence as well as an ordinary one, but I’m not sure I want to carry on working as a driver in civvy street, especially if it means travelling long distances and being away from home for days at a time. I was hoping to use the next couple of weeks to get reacquainted with my wife and think about what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.’
    â€˜The warehouse might be boring after the army.’
    â€˜After the last couple of years I can live with boring.’ Jack sank half his pint.
    â€˜Was Cyprus as bloody as everyone says it is?’
    â€˜As I haven’t been here, I don’t know what they’re saying.’
    â€˜I’m sorry about what happened. Have your wounds –’
    â€˜I’m fit,’ Jack broke in tersely, ‘which is more than can be said for some of the poor buggers I was with.’
    â€˜I’m sorry.’
    â€˜Everyone was – at the time.’ Jack emptied his glass and stubbed out his cigarette. ‘Much as I’ve enjoyed our brotherly chat, I’ve a wife waiting.’
    Following Jack’s lead, Martin finished his beer and rose to his feet. ‘Do me a favour, call in on Katie and John.’
    â€˜Now?’
    â€˜You don’t have to go in the house. It will only take a minute to tell Katie that you’re happy for her and wish them well. Helen will understand.’
    â€˜You’re taking a lot upon yourself, speaking for my wife.’
    â€˜She’s spent a lot of time with Lily and me since you left, and it wasn’t easy for her either, Jack, seeing one of her closest friends marry her father.’
    â€˜So Helen and Katie …’
    â€˜Are still the best of friends.’ Martin held the door open for his brother. ‘Please, Jack, don’t say anything that will upset anyone, especially Katie in her condition.’ He pulled his keys from his pocket as he halted next to a green Hillman Minx parked in front of the Grand.
    â€˜This yours?’ Jack asked, as Martin unlocked the driver’s door.
    Martin failed to hide his pride. ‘I bought it second-hand.’
    â€˜How old?’
    â€˜Eighteen months,’ he grinned