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‘How was she?’ Aunt Marjorie said, looking up. ‘You look like you need a coffee, love.’

Jacob smiled. ‘I’d love one. Well, there was the reunion, but it didn’t go as Rita had hoped. Nora didn’t recognise her.’

‘It can take time for the medication to take effect,’ Daphne said.

‘That’s what the doctors are hoping for, but we’ll see. Not everyone gets better, do they?’

Aunt Marjorie lifted an eyebrow. ‘Where’s this negativity come from?’

Jacob shrugged. ‘Things are just hard. With Christmas coming up … it just seems so sad.’

‘Sad would be the old dear dying alone in her dingy little flat, unnoticed,’ Daphne said. ‘Instead, thanks to you, she’s got her daughter by her side.’

Jacob shook his head. ‘My involvement was just a bit of blind luck. It was the poor cleaning woman who had been looking after her. She was only supposed to be cleaning the communal areas, but instead she was doing the washing and cleaning for some of the residents, as well as taking them food. Now, thanks to the building being shut down, she’s unemployed.’

‘Huh.’ Aunt Marjorie looked at Daphne. ‘I was just telling Daphne here that Claire quit this morning. Her husband got a job at some tech firm in the US, and they’re moving just before Christmas. Do you think this cleaning lady knows how to cook?’

Jacob smiled. ‘I don’t know, but I’m quite sure she could learn.’

‘It sounds like she has the right kind of attitude I’d like here in the tearoom. If you can get in touch with her, ask her to come in for a chat.’

Even with a memorable name like Clarice Toad, tracking her down proved a challenge. Jacob searched the phonebook, searched online, but nothing. Eventually he even got a number for the nursing home parent company, but found it had been shut down. He tried to remember anything about her, clinging to the sliver of information that she had had a young son called Billy. “Young” suggested primary school age. Maybe Lisa Cole at the children’s home knew him. On Friday night, he stopped by after work, pausing in the entrance to fiddle with his coat, pretending he wasn’t checking to see if Charlotte’s pretty pixie boots were sitting on the mat. Seeing that they weren’t, he was both disappointed and relieved, but at least it meant he could continue with his primary mission without distraction.

Lisa was as pleased as always to see him. She pointed to a couple of the boys leaning over a chess set in the common room, while a couple of others watched over their shoulders.

‘I’ve never seen Danny concentrate so much on anything,’ she said. ‘It’s even changing his behaviour. You know, he offered to set the table last night? Do you know how many times I would usually have to ask?’

‘That’s good,’ Jacob said.

‘The only problem is that he’s quickly becoming unbeatable,’ Lisa said. ‘I heard him banging on about something called the Sicilian Defence.’

‘A tricky one, that,’ Jacob said with a grin. ‘Charlotte … Ms. Harding knows it. Maybe you can ask her to teach him.’

Lisa sighed. ‘I’ve not heard from her since Wednesday. I hope she didn’t get scared off.’

‘She’s probably just busy.’

Lisa patted him on the shoulder. ‘You sound so disappointed.’

‘The children liked her.’

‘You give up too easily. Look, I know it’s a bit dodgy, but I have her number. You could pretend that you were trying to call for pizza or something and by total random chance put in her number instead.’

‘You think she’d fall for it?’

Lisa sighed. ‘If she did, I don’t think she’d be worth dating. She might see the funny side, though.’

‘You think?’

‘Or she might not. We might both be arrested. You could just tell her you begged me for it.’

‘What if she doesn’t like me? I mean, she’s way out of my league.’

‘Ah, I think you’re pushing pretty hard for promotion.’ Lisa pulled out her phone. ‘Here it is. Just pretend I randomly had it up on the screen.’

Jacob glanced at the line of figures, then quickly looked away. ‘I can’t,’ he said.

‘Well, perhaps Father Christmas will put a bit of luck in your stocking this year.’