‘That’s because we didn’t. The driver got stuck on Stippy Stappy Corner, so I took the scenic route behind the garages. I expect he and Gabe are wondering how they’re going to get back out right now.’

Zennor gasped. ‘You’re wicked,’ she said, but her eyes were gleaming. ‘Bet the van is stuck forever.’ She sighed. ‘Oh God, I can’t stand the idea of Gabe living next door to us.’

Sam affected a shrug. ‘I really don’t care.’

‘You do care, Sam. No matter what you say about Gabe.’ Zennor sat next to Sam and Gareth ran into her lap and let out a series of high-pitched squeaks. ‘Oh my God, Gareth is chirping! That means he’s excited and happy.’ She nuzzled Gareth’s fur.

‘I’m glad someone is … and you’re right. I care very much about Gabe coming back here. I thought I’d prepared myself for seeing him again, but I obviously haven’t.’

Zennor stroked the pig as she searched Sam’s face. ‘How did he look? Like he does on the telly?’

Sam stopped. How had Gabe looked? Gorgeous, sexy. That dark black hair, his olive skin. He was carrying a little more weight than when she’d last seen him, but so was she. He’d been lean to the point of skinny even in his early twenties, probably because he’d shot up to over six feet in his late teens. His shoulders and chest had broadened and the grey T-shirt he’d been wearing had showed off his upper arms perfectly. Cooking could be hard physical work, as she well knew, and Gabe clearly hadn’t let himself over indulge despite being surrounded by gourmet food.

She shrugged. ‘I didn’t take too much notice. I was driving the van.’

Zennor frowned. She probably didn’t believe a word. She started to interrogate Sam: ‘So, you didn’t notice him or speak to him?’

‘Not much. I had no reason to once I’d parked the van outside the gates.’

‘So, you just said “hi” and “bye” and left?’

‘I said I’d see him at the next committee meeting. What else could I say?’

‘Oh, I dunno. How about “why did you shop our brother to the police and ruin his life?” That would have been a start.’

‘I could have said that, I guess, but the van driver was there. Zen, I … have so much I could say to him that actually I’m not going to say any of it. I’m going to be professional and polite and have the absolute minimum possible to do with him. Chloe knows we were a thing once and you know how helpful she is: she’s already offered to deal with him on a day-to-day basis. She fancies him anyway.’

‘Urgh.’ Zennor wrinkled her nose. ‘She obviously doesn’t know him!’