‘Sam! You have to. Call them a thank you for advice, the help with my packing, and the removals service. Please.’

Sam picked up the purple bear. ‘What do you think, young Ju-Sea Jem Bear, should we accept her offer?’ He held the bear up to his ear and nodded his head, then turned to me. ‘Mr Purple Bear says okay as long as you let me take you out for a meal next time I’m back in Whitsborough Bay. Not this weekend as you’ll have loads on and I don’t think my family will let me out their sight after a very prolonged absence, but next time.’

I smiled. ‘It’s a deal. Now stop playing with my bears and help me pack.’

Sam had been right: two pairs of hands did make light work of it and, within a couple of hours, we’d packed away all of my books, CDs, DVDs, the hug, and various other bits and bobs, leaving me with mainly clothes and toiletries for tomorrow night.

As we worked, we chatted about growing up in Whitsborough Bay: favourite places, the schools we’d attended, people we knew, whether we preferred North or South Bay, whether we still visited the tourist attractions. It was lovely being able to chat and laugh about trivial things and I was pretty sure it was a relief to Sam too.

There was no avoiding the tough stuff, though, because the places we talked about were places he’d visited with Nikki, some were ones I’d visited with Scott, and all held memories of happy times with Mum.

Sam paused momentarily every time he mentioned Nikki and, if I stole a glance at him, he’d have stopped packing and have a distant look in his eyes. Then he’d smile and resume his story. It was heartbreaking to think about what he’d been through. I wished there was something I could say or do to take the pain away for Sam but what would help? Perhaps just being there and listening to him would make a difference, like it was doing for me.

A couple of hours later, I decided we’d done enough for now and grabbed us another couple of drinks. We sat together on my bed, leaning against the headboard, surrounded by boxes and crates.

‘Thanks for helping.’ I clinked my bottle against his.

‘You’re welcome.’ He took a swig. ‘Are you ready to tell me about Scott?’

‘Okay. As ready as I’ll ever be…’