He shook his head in disbelief. ‘Jesus, Sam. You’ve got me so wrong.’

Sam was fired up now, her emotions bubbling dangerously close to the surface. ‘What exactly have I got wrong? Was I wrong or did you turn in my vulnerable brother to the police when he desperately needed help? I know he did wrong but surely you could have turned a blind eye, if not for Ryan then for me. I thought you loved me?’

‘I did love you! How can you not understand that?’ he said, his voice raised – which was a mistake. Her blue touchpaper was well and truly lit.

‘Actually, I did get you wrong. I was wrong to trust you and to love you. Wrong to think you felt the same way about me. Wrong to even waste a moment of my time talking to you now. I’m very grateful you stepped in to help the festival. I would never have asked you, but you know that. For the sake of the town and all the people who’ve worked hard to make the place a success while you’ve been away, I’ll be civil and polite and smile. But don’t think for a moment I’ve forgotten that your – I don’t know – misplaced sense of duty, of loyalty, of fuck knows what, made you report my brother to the police and ruined his life. I haven’t seen him since he left prison. That’s been over eleven years. I know he’s alive somewhere, but that’s all I know. He won’t speak to me, he doesn’t want anything to do with the family and it’s all your fault!’

She was trembling. She hadn’t meant to unleash so much anger on him, but it had been bottled up for so many years.

‘Have you finished?’ His tone had plunged from warm to glacial.

‘I … I … I’ve said more than I ever meant to,’ Sam stuttered.

‘I can see that.’ His eyes blazed with annoyance.

She cursed herself. She’d really let him have it with both barrels and now she regretted it. ‘Look. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lashed out like I did, but it’s been tough over the past few years and I never expected to see you again.’

‘Me neither, but now we are here and you’ve raised the subject, I wish I could make you understand.’ His voice brimmed with indignation. ‘I thought I was doing the right thing for you, for the town and for Ryan. I haven’t changed that view and if that upsets you, I’m not going to lie to you. You don’t deserve it.’

‘Gabe. This isn’t a great idea. We’re not going to get anywhere with this conversation and you know what? I’m knackered. I just want to go home.’