‘Nothing.’ She jarred the pedal against her leg and wanted to cry. ‘I’ll send Jackie in again now that you’re home.’

‘Don’t bother. I’m not intending to stop for long. Certainly not long enough for it to interfere with your roster.’

Oh, God. Maddy gripped the handlebars. Obviously the death of his father-in-law had depleted the family coffers. Caroline would want the money from Peapods to shore up the vineyard. He’d only come back to put the yard on the market.

‘I needed to reassure myself that Charlie could cope long term. Naturally, I don’t need to tell you that he can. There were just one or two things I had to sort out before I left,’ he said as he walked towards her.

‘Left? Are you going straight back to Jersey?’

‘No.’ He swallowed. He was close enough now for her to see the dark bruised shadows under his tan. ‘I’m not. Caroline is coping well with her mother. The vineyard is running smoothly. They no longer need me. Peapods no longer seems to require my residency. And you …’ He looked into her eyes. ‘I doubt if you ever needed me, Maddy.’

She wanted to cry in his arms. She jumped on to her bicycle. It wobbled unsteadily. She couldn’t see through the mist of her tears. ‘So where are you going?’

‘America.’

He might as well have said the moon. She’d never see him again. ‘For ever?’

‘No. Maddy, are you happy?’

Bloody, bloody stupid question. She glared at him. ‘I’m always happy. You don’t have to worry about me, Drew.’

‘I never did. Maddy –’

‘Don’t say anything.’ She pushed a wodge of J-cloths more firmly into the bicycle basket. ‘We both know, it was a mistake. That night, Caroline told me all of it. I know you won’t leave her. And I know why.’ She lifted her head and stared into his bleak eyes. ‘I wouldn’t even ask you to. I hope things work out well for you, Drew. And one day maybe we will be friends again.’

‘Friends?’ Drew spat the word like discarded bubblegum. ‘I’ve got all the friends I’ll ever need!’

‘Oh, good.’ Maddy wobbled unsteadily from the car park and on to the dusty curve of the main road. ‘I’m so glad.’ She turned her head only when she reached Bronwyn’s shop. Drew was still standing on the grey car park, the sun dazzling round him. Too sad to cry, Maddy cycled round the corner.

The summer stretched scorchingly ahead like a penance.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-eight

Kimberley and Barty had a glorious September day for their wedding. They’d chosen a Wednesday as it was less busy for the racing fraternity than a weekend, and with Suzy and John Hastings as witnesses had sailed off to Wantage Register Office in a cloud of good wishes and early confetti.