Prue gave her friend a quick rundown of the flat, the area, how she’d agreed to swap homes with Madi, and her plans to chill out for a few more weeks and take lots of fantastic photos.

‘And your mum? Can I tell her any of this? You know I’m bloody hopeless at keeping secrets. She’ll see through me in a heartbeat if I try to lie to her.’

‘I’ll tell her myself if that makes it easier. Just the basics, mind. Not the actual address. I really do need to put a bit of space between me and Shelling at the moment. I need some time to think, and her turning up would ruin all that.’

‘To think about what?’

‘Oh, you know. Life, the universe and everything. Where I really want to be, what I really want to do. If I don’t have Joe tying me to the village, I can start looking at my own future now, instead of a joint one, can’t I? The world’s a big place, and I can’t see myself taking photos for the Gazette for ever.’

‘I’ve always said your talent is wasted there. Not that I want you to leave. The village wouldn’t be the same without you.’

‘Living just up the lane from Joe? Trying to just be friends? Watching him take up with someone else, as he’s bound to eventually? I might even get asked to photograph his wedding one day. It’ll be hard. Well, weird anyway.’

‘Oh, never mind him. You can’t let him drive you away from your lovely little cottage. And Shelling’s as much your home as his. Just grin and bear it, or totally ignore him if you need to. But, as for a job … your pictures are really great, Prue. You could be doing stuff for the glossy magazines or have an exhibition or something. Proper art, instead of Farmer Giles’s prize pig or Auntie Nelly’s golden wedding.’

Prue couldn’t help but laugh. ‘I actually quite like going out and taking photos of people’s special moments, giving them their fifteen minutes of fame. But I know what you mean. It would be good to do more, to stretch myself a bit. Maybe while I’m in London I might find some inspiration. There’s certainly a lot here to point my lens at!’

‘And men? Are there lots of them in London too? Have you met anyone … suitable? Or sexy? A little fling would do you a world of good.’

‘Sian, you are terrible! It’s less than two weeks since I split up with Joe. Give my battered heart a bit longer to recover, please! And I’m not sure men are what I need right now.’

‘Nonsense. It’s like falling off a horse. The sooner you get back on …’

‘Oh, stop it! Now tell me, how’s Flo? The only one in my life who I know really loves me just as I am. Have you seen her?’

‘No, I haven’t. Why would I, unless she gets sick? But loads of people love you, and don’t you forget it.’