Mum gave me a weak smile. ‘That makes two of us. I know you’re not trying to push me out but the truth hurt earlier. Things are slipping. I’m behind with the accounts, I’m making a mess of the ordering and I double-booked a workshop last week. I had five people turn up to learn how to make bears and another four for a basic sewing class half an hour later. Neither of the workshops were in the diary. I’m making a Ju-Sea Bear at the moment but I don’t know who it’s for. I’ve got the brief written down in the order pad but no customer name or phone number. I’m going to have to hope that the customer phones up to ask if the bear’s ready. I still want to work in the shop. I need to work in the shop. If you’re willing, though, I’d like you to take on the management side by which I mean the accounts, orders, bills, marketing, workshops, events, and so on. I’ll still manage the team but I’ll step away from the behind the scenes stuff which I’m messing up. You can work in the shop too if you want. I never got around to replacing Gillian after she left in May. Liv’s been covering those hours but she’s more than happy for you to take them. With those shop hours and the behind-the-scenes responsibilities, I reckon you could have a reasonably full-time job, but you might want to take on one or both valuation roles for a bit more excitement.’

‘Thanks, Mum. It sounds perfect.’ I felt quite tearful with relief and so grateful to Rachel for whatever she’d said to help Mum reach this conclusion. The combination of roles actually sounded really exciting but the main thing was that I had a role and I could stay.

‘Not as good as being a museum curator, I’m afraid,’ Mum said.

‘Being here for you and Logan is more important than that.’

Mum nodded. ‘I know I told you to leave earlier but I didn’t mean that. You’ve made a big sacrifice for Logan and me and I really do appreciate it. It’s going to make a massive difference to us both and to the business having you around. It’s not going to be easy, though. I’m going to get counselling and hopefully a second diagnosis if your friend can do that but the anger and frustration isn’t going to go away overnight. We’ve got some tough times ahead. You do know that, don’t you?’

‘I do.’

‘Your mum’s going to get a cleaner in too,’ Rachel said.

‘You don’t have to do that. I can do it.’