‘Right now I’m serving my time, learning everything I can, growing a network, and waiting for the right moment to set up my own consultancy. I’m with a good solid firm; they make sure their staff are at the cutting edge of the modern architectural world, they send us around the globe to learn the latest advances in building technology and pick up best practice. And most importantly, they respect me and I respect them. I’m fairly confident when the time comes for me to go it alone, they’ll back me all the way and employ my services.’

Jensen’s blue eyes glittered determinedly; I was in no doubt he’d be successful.

‘Do you have a goal?’ he asked.

‘Not really.’ I wrinkled my nose. ‘Mine have all been short-term things. I’m not very ambitious; I’ve always been content to go with the flow.’

‘You do yourself a disservice,’ he said with a bark of laughter. ‘Within your first month at Butterworth Wines, you’d whipped the vineyard into shape, restored confidence in the team and organized the company’s first ever open day. We’ve sold more wine in the last two weeks than in the last six months. We’ve had press coverage, sales enquiries from all over the country and you somehow managed to get an old man with thirty years’ winemaking experience to finish off the 2016 vintage and blend the new one. On top of all that, you’ve made it possible for Gran to carry on living here. Lottie, those are not the result of being not very ambitious.’

‘Well, since you put it like that …’ My chest swelled with pride. ‘I guess my immediate priority is family. I’ve been so lucky. Two parents who loved me and my sister and loved each other. Family is important to me.’ I automatically reached for my bump and Jensen didn’t miss the gesture. ‘And that was what I wanted for myself. I thought by the time I brought a child into the world, I’d have a loving cushion of family to fall back on.’

‘And don’t you?’

I told him about my parents’ retirement plan to travel across Europe in a campervan and how my dad was now doing it solo. He already knew about the rift between Evie and me but I filled in the details of Darren’s visit yesterday.

‘Has your sister been in touch?’

I shook my head sadly as we crossed the yard and I opened the door to my cottage. ‘I’m going to attempt to sort things out today. But it’s not only Evie I’m missing; the baby’s father is no longer in my life, so the poor thing won’t have a dad, or paternal grandparents. My own mum passed away, and Dad has gone off travelling on his retirement gap year.’