‘Hi.’ Lee followed Nelson over. He looked worn out.

‘Hello. Hello, Daisy,’ Clancy greeted them.

Daisy was looking unusually glum. ‘I’m sulking at the moment,’ she advised Clancy. ‘I’m going to be a good girl later.’

‘Right. Good to know.’ Even feeling as low as she did, Clancy had to smother a grin.

Lee rolled his eyes. ‘I’ve taken the day off to move from Granny and Grandad’s house to Uncle Aaron’s and I’m afraid Daisy’s not keen on the change.’

While Clancy gazed at him in astonishment, he went on, explaining in the awkward way parents did when they were conscious of childish ears listening, that Daisy was still going to see lots of Granny and Grandad because she’d go to their house each day while he was at work until she started school in September, but Aaron had very kindly said Lee and Daisy could live with him and Nelson for a while.

Clancy nodded along, trying to hide her dismay. Despite her resolution not to expect to move in with Aaron, utilising his Wi-Fi to create the village website had provided her with a refuge. She’d been at his place a lot. It would be completely different with a brother and a four-year-old niece in residence. The tops of her ears felt hot just to think about people being elsewhere in the house when she and Aaron …

Lee looked uncomfortable, as if reading her thoughts. ‘I hope we won’t cramp yours and Aaron’s style—’

Daisy tugged his hand, evidently tiring of adult conversation. ‘Come on, Daddy, we promised to take Nelson down onto Zig-zag Beach.’

Lee murmured a gentle reproach about interrupting when he was talking, but Daisy was already turning away. ‘Bye, Clancy. Can I hold Nelson’s lead, Daddy?’

Clancy pinned on a smile as she waved. ‘Bye, Daisy. Have a lovely time on the beach.’

When she got up to go a few minutes later, she left four pounds on the table for the cappuccino. She found she didn’t want it on the house.

Despondent, she drifted across the clifftop grass, gazing at all the different houses and cottages of the village like a cutesy picture on a jigsaw puzzle. She turned in to Long Lane, wandering into Aaron’s garden to hook up with his Wi-Fi and check her email. She wasn’t sure whether it was reasonable to hope he’d sent her a message explaining the Lee and Daisy situation, but somehow she’d feel better if he had.

He hadn’t.

Clancy gazed at the garden he’d made between his back door and the sea. The plants he’d called ‘architectural’ in geometric-shaped beds amongst the paving. The bench that he’d made from the back doorstep of a falling-down cottage. The bank of wildflowers he’d grown to blend his garden in with the wildness of the clifftop. She had to swallow very hard. She thought about taking advantage of being on his Wi-Fi to ring him. Hearing his voice might make her feel better.

But, no, he’d be working. She was not going to make her happiness and wellbeing his responsibility.