‘Rob and I went there. It’s always been lovely.’ As he’d been speaking Hannah had noticed how relaxed he was and the smoothing out of lines around his mouth. He wasn’t gaunt now but he could still do with ten extra pounds, she thought critically.

‘So what are you doing back in the village?’ he said, watching her as she drained her coffee cup.

‘Nan’s broken her arm,’ she said, placing her empty cup in the sink. ‘I came to stay so Mum and Dad could go on their trip. It’s hard to look after yourself one-handed at any age, let alone ninety.’

‘I’m sorry to hear Nan Heather’s hurt herself. Please give her my best wishes.’ His expression of concern became a frown. ‘You’ve left your assistant to run Hannah Anna Butik?’

Sudden heat seared her cheeks at the memory of Albin’s amused contempt as he comprehensively manoeuvred her out of her own business. That last time in Stockholm she’d hoped to pour the story into Nico’s ears but he’d been so remote compared to his heated attention at the wedding – right before he’d snuggled up to Amanda Louise. In fact, he’d blown hot and cold from the first moment their paths had crossed again six weeks ago. The idea of exposing her naivety and hurt feelings to him now, just because he’d popped up in her home village with a smile, made her stomach shrink. Instead, she pasted on a grin and answered evasively. ‘Julia’s perfectly capable. Thanks for coffee. Welcome to Middledip. Say goodbye to the girls for me.’

She hurried off, pulling up her hood against the sleet as she crossed The Cross to Rotten Row, clutching Nan’s teabags and telling herself it didn’t matter that Nico was so unexpectedly living in Middledip. Nan’s arm would heal in a few weeks. The Carlysle Courtyard Christmas Opening would have been achieved.

Hannah wouldn’t be around to see what Nico did next.

Chapter Fifteen

Nico’s first job on Wednesday morning was to visit Middledip Primary School, a one-storey brown-brick building up Port Road. He had fingers and toes crossed that there was a place in Josie’s year group he could apply for. The alternative was to find a school in Bettsbrough but she needed friends who lived in the village.

They set off on the ten-minute walk from Honeybun Cottage with their breath hanging white in the freezing air. From the buggy Maria yelled, ‘Walk! Walk! I wanna walk wiz Yozee!’ face screwed up in frustration.