Hannah groaned, heart squeezing at her lovely mum’s disappointment. ‘Poor you and Dad!’ Their retirement trip had been planned and saved for for so long. Hannah could imagine her dad trying nobly not to show what Nan’s hastiness had cost him. Her mum feeling bad for both of them.

Mo was still talking. ‘Rob and Leesa are on honeymoon for another two weeks, though I’m not sure what they could have done, with them both working during the day. We’ll have to make the best of it and—’

There’s nothing left for you in Stockholm …

‘I’ll come home,’ Hannah blurted. Then, at Mo’s open-mouthed stare, poured out everything about the break-up and how Albin had coated himself with Teflon from the start. ‘He says there’s nothing left for me in Stockholm and I’m beginning to think he’s right,’ she wound up.

‘Oh, Hannah!’ Mo wailed, tears for her daughter spilling easily when she hadn’t allowed them to fall on her own account. ‘How shitty of him, darling. How monstrously crap. But don’t let him drive you away if you want to stay. Dad and me could lend you some money—’

‘No,’ Hannah heard herself declaring. ‘Thank you but Middledip will be good for me. It’s as if Albin’s shaken my life like a snow globe and I’m one of the snowflakes, floating aimlessly. I can look after Nan while I decide what to do next.’

The making of the decision made her feel lighter. When the call ended she found Albin still in the kitchen watching TV. Wondering that they were apparently able to switch from partners to exes so swiftly and completely, she said, ‘I’m going to the basement for my packing boxes. I’m moving out tomorrow and whatever I can’t squeeze into my suitcases, I’ll ship.’

Albin flipped his attention from the international markets, frowning. ‘Where are you going?’

‘What does it matter?’

He shrugged. ‘I might need you.’

‘You’ve made it plain you don’t,’ Hannah retorted. But added, ‘I’m going home.’

He smiled as he turned back to the TV. ‘I think that’s best.’

Chapter Nine

Nico flew back to the UK on Friday, touching down at Heathrow at nine-twenty p.m.

Hannah was on his mind. Yesterday evening had been bloody. Her shining eyes when she’d first seen him had made him withdraw. If he’d responded, let her within his defences … he would have started something.