‘Joe!’ Prue’s voice wobbled, the single word coming out in a strangled kind of croak.

‘Sorry if I startled you. Just on my way back from the pub.’ Madi had left the porch light on when she’d left earlier, so she would be able to see her way up the garden path and find the lock for her key, and the glow just about reached far enough now for her to get an impression of Joe Barton’s pale face as he hovered a couple of feet away, as if unsure of whether to make conversation or hurry on by.

‘We’ve been up at Orchard House for dinner.’ Prue had lifted her head and was staring at him in the dim light. Madi could see she was struggling for something to say. Well, how was a girl meant to talk to the man she had hoped to marry, knowing now that that was never going to happen?

‘That’s nice. Always did put on a good spread, your mum.’

‘Yes.’ Prue hesitated. ‘So, how are you?’

‘Good. You?’

‘Yes, okay, thanks. I’ve been away.’

‘I noticed.’

‘Sorry, Joe. I need to get on. I have to visit Flo.’

‘Yes, I heard about that. Is she all right?’

‘She will be. Thanks to my dad, and Ralph, of course.’

‘Ah, yes. My brother, the miracle worker.’

‘Yes, he is actually. And there’s you, as jealous as ever.’

‘Not jealous, Prue. It was never about jealousy. Just about fairness, that’s all. It’s always been about clever old Ralph and his big career and his wedding plans. But I needed to find my own way, and branch out on my own, just as much as my brother ever did …’

‘Right, well, you’ve certainly done that now, haven’t you?’

‘I’m sorry, Prue, for letting you down. We’ve been friends for such a long time, and I miss that. I never meant for you to get hurt.’

‘I know. My own stupid fault for assuming too much. But, as I said, I’m in a hurry, so …’

‘Ah, okay. Bye then.’ He hesitated for a moment before walking on. ‘See you around, I expect.’

‘Not if I see you first,’ Prue muttered under her breath as he walked away.

‘Well, that felt a bit awkward,’ Madi said. ‘He does seem to have a chip on his shoulder, doesn’t he? A troubled soul, I’d say. But at least he apologised. Are you okay, Prue? Like to come in for a coffee, or to talk about it?’

‘Thank you, Madi, but I really do want to see Flo before Ralph locks up for the night, and I’m a bit shaky but I’ll live. It had to happen sooner or later, didn’t it? The difficult first meeting. Hopefully it will be easier next time, now that’s over with. One thing it has done though is prove what a lucky escape I’ve had. He’s never going to let it go, about Ralph, his dad’s so-called favourite. And it’s so untrue. There’s a bitterness about Joe that I was too blind or too stupid or too love-struck to see clearly before. And he doesn’t make me laugh, Madi. I need more laughter in my life, more fun, and to widen my horizons beyond this tiny village and stop clinging so tightly to the things that feel safe. Meeting Aaron’s shown me that.’