18

"Come on, dad, let's go!" Annie ran into her father's room and began tugging on his wrist.

"I'm coming," he said, swinging her up onto his shoulders. "I'm just fixing my tie. I've got to go to work as soon as I drop you off."

"Do you remember your first day at school?" Annie asked him as they clambered into the car and set off.

"It was the first day of the miners' strike." Harry replied. "That's all I can really remember. We didn't do much on my first day."

"Miss Fairfax says we get to paint a mug today."

"Well, that'll be something nice to remember your first day by."

They pulled into the school car park and Harry took Annie up to the reception.

A little girl with a short brown bob came up to them after Harry had filled out one last form in the reception.

"Are you Annie?" She asked.

Annie nodded shyly, her arm wound around Harry's leg.

"I'm Lily, your buddy for today."

"What?" Annie asked.

"Every new kid in your year gets a buddy for the day. I'll show you around, and take you to your teacher."

Harry smiled at Annie.

"There, you see. No need to be scared."

Harry knelt down and kissed his daughter, before pushed her gently towards her buddy.

"I'll pick you up later, and we can go out for ice cream."

Annie nodded slowly, still looking a little lost.

"Thank you, Lily, right?"

Annie's buddy nodded.

"Lily King." She smiled at him and looped her arm through Annie's. "Come on. I'll take you to Miss Fairfax."

Harry waved goodbye, and went back out to his car.

As he revved the engine, a thought occurred to him.

King.

The man who'd hung up on him a few weeks ago, after hearing about his husband's empty grave.

It's just a coincidence. Harry told himself firmly. There are lots of people called 'King'.

All the same, Harry made up his mind to look up King, and his husband's obituary, when he got to work.