The Second Chance Café in Carlton Square. Michele Gorman

you okay, Lou? You look a bit–’

      She rushes from the café.

      Frantic.

      ‘I hope she’s not going to do that all the time,’ says Joseph. ‘It’s hard to keep good help these days. But I can still get my coffee, yeah boss?’ He nods towards the Gaggia, sending me off to make my trainee’s half-caff no-foam fat-free not-too-hot triple-shot latte.