‘I’m so sorry. You know how much I love this place and working for you, but I don’t see that I have a choice. Mum needs me, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. Logan needs me and he has admitted it. He’s scared and confused which is hardly surprising. I’m twenty-eight and I’m finding it hard. The poor kid’s only ten.’

‘It won’t be the same around here without you.’ Owen gently placed his hand over mine.

‘I’m scared,’ I admitted, blinking back the tears. I was determined not to cry yet again. I felt like that’s all I’d done lately. ‘What if I’m not strong enough for them both?’

Owen patted my hand. ‘You are. I know you are. You need to believe in yourself more. Do you want to leave immediately?’

‘No.’ I shook my head vigorously. ‘That’s not fair on you and it’s not necessary either. I’ve got my stuff to pack and things to sort out. Plus, it’s half-term and I’m certainly not going to leave you short this week. My contract says four weeks’ notice but I’m still owed some holiday. If there’s any chance I could do two weeks’ notice, or even three, I’d be so grateful.’

He picked up a desk calendar and flicked between October and November, making funny shapes with his mouth. ‘What about working until 29th October?’

‘But that’s the end of the week. Are you sure?’

‘Jemma Browne, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to the Past Lives Museum, and I’m devastated about losing you, but members of staff – even ones as amazing as you – can be replaced. Family can’t be. Your family need you and you should be with them. Selfishly I also need you for half-term so I’d appreciate you doing this week but I’m only asking that because you said you have things to do and can’t go home immediately anyway. If you’d needed to, we’d have managed somehow.’

‘Thank you, Owen. That’s so good of you. I’ll stay late all week to finish off anything you need me to.’

‘You’ll do no such thing. This letting you off with only one week’s notice comes with conditions.’ He counted them off on his fingers. ‘One: You’ll work your normal hours and get your stuff packed and your life in order on the evenings. Two: You’ll stay in touch. Three: You’ll invite me to Whitsborough Bay to check out Bear With Me. I’ve heard loads about the place and I need to see it for myself and I would, of course, love to meet your mum. Four: You come to visit us if you’re ever in London. Do we have a deal?’

‘Yes, Boss. We have a deal.’