‘Well you’d better believe it.’ He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in closer. ‘I need you to get on board with this, love, because I’m never letting you go. This is it. You guys have endured more shit than anyone else I know, but that’s all over now. This is going to be the phase that makes all the other crap feel worthwhile.’

I nod tearfully, twisting my head so I can bury my face in the crook of his neck. This is my favourite way to be: in Brendan’s arms, his immense physicality the most effective reminder that I’ve found a safe place to land. That I don’t have to do it all by myself anymore. That I have a true partner in every sense I’ve ever wished for and many, many more. I’m still working for him, mainly because we hate being apart from each other all day.

There are a lot of happy endings for both of us in the office.

‘I love you,’ I say, because it’s easier than launching into a tearful monologue about the million ways in which he’s touched my and Tabby’s lives.

‘I love you. So much.’ He pauses. ‘So… we can go visit the school any time we want, and we could look around the house this weekend. Or we can look at any houses you choose. It’s just that this one jumped out at me. I could see it fitting us.’

I sniff back my tears. ‘Why’s that?’

‘There’s a hollow at the end of the garden,’ he says slowly, ‘that I think would make the most amazing spot for an adventure playground. Also, there’s a pool. From what I can see online, the main drawing room has a big south-facing bay window where you could play the piano. And the basement is vast. It could easily accommodate a recording studio for you, if you wanted one.’ He pauses. ‘If we got our skates on, we could be in before Christmas and then Tabs could start at Chancery in January.’

‘That all sounds amazing, honey,’ I tell him. ‘I can’t wait to see it.’

‘There’s also a smaller investment property nearby that I was thinking of buying,’ he says casually. ‘It’s a good price, but it’s a lot of upkeep. Huge kitchen garden. I thought your folks might like to live in it for me, and I could pay them to maintain it.’

I stare at him, my eyes filling. He doesn’t fool me for a second. He’s been plotting for a way to get my parents’ futures secured without making it feel like charity, and he’s all too aware of how much they love growing fruit and vegetables. ‘I don’t know what to say.’