‘There are a couple of possibilities,’ Sam said. ‘One is that there’s something else going on that we can only detect with a CT or MRI scan. Have you had either of those, Julie?’

‘No.’

‘Obviously that’s not something I can arrange for you but you can insist that Dr Steadman does. However, my personal opinion is that it’s the other possibility. Stress.’

Mum frowned. ‘Stress? Are you being serious?’

‘Very serious. Look at you, Julie. You’re a single mother running your own business, which is open seven days a week for a significant part of the year. In addition to that, you make bears, you run workshops, and you value bears for two different companies – a role which sees you travelling extensively. That’s an enormous workload that a normal person would struggle to maintain for a few months. You’ve been doing it for years and it’s bound to have taken its toll. Although you were divorced, the death of your husband will have affected you, even if you didn’t realise it at the time. Throw in a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and I think that’s tipped you over the edge.’

I looked at Mum and she shrugged. ‘I’ve always been busy at work. I’m used to it.’

‘She has,’ I agreed.

‘And I’d suggest that it’s now caught up with you,’ Sam said. ‘I can tell that neither of you are convinced. Stress, unfortunately, is one of those words that gets overused. People who are a bit busy say they’re stressed and there have been loads of cases of employees claiming to be off sick with work-related stress who are really trying it on. Stress – proper stress – is a very serious condition with dangerous repercussions.’

Sam went on to explain that some people under severe stress could have cognitive symptoms such as memory problems and difficulty in concentrating, emotional symptoms such as agitation, moodiness and anger, physical symptoms such as aches and pains, nausea, rapid heart rate, and behavioural problems such as eating more or less, sleeping more or less and neglecting responsibilities. We could put a tick against most of the symptoms under each of those four areas.

‘So you’re saying that all of those incidents could have been reactions to stress?’ Mum asked.

‘Yes.’

‘And turning up at Fountain Street? I mean, that’s a huge thing.’

‘That as well, although I’d suspect that something happened that day to trigger it. Did anything unusual happen?’

‘Typical day in the world of retail,’ Mum said. ‘Let me think. Lots of lovely customers, an argumentative woman who didn’t get why collectible bears are expensive. And I found out—’ She stopped and looked at me, eyes wide.

My stomach churned. ‘You found out what?’

‘Oh, Jemma, I’d completely forgotten.’ She pressed her fingers to her lips. ‘I promise I wasn’t keeping secrets.’

My heart started racing. ‘What?’