‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean to, not really. I just felt under a lot of pressure to come up with a new book and I didn’t think. I would’ve told you, you know.’

‘Really? When? Before or after I sent it out for submission? Before or after you published it?’

There was a pause. ‘You wouldn’t have missed out. I’d have made sure you were financially rewarded. And with my name on the book, you know it would have sold well…’

She felt her temper flare a little but forced herself to think zen thoughts. ‘It isn’t about the money. It was never about money. It was about my dream, and you tried to steal that from me. And if Libby hadn’t already sent my book to Graham Westbury, you’d probably have done it. Was that why your mood changed so rapidly at breakfast? As soon as I told you about the email, you shut me off.’

‘I’ve said I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘My career is over, Jo. Is that not enough for you? You’ve got what you wanted.’

‘This is not what I wanted, Ewan. Not at all. And I’m not responsible for your career going south. You did that to yourself. Were any of your books genuinely your own or did you steal all your ideas?’

‘I don’t think we should talk any more,’ Ewan said.

She couldn’t help but agree. With the press of her finger on the ‘end call’ button, she did just that.

Ewan McLachlan was gone from her life as quickly as he had entered it, and a wave of relief washed over her.

37

Star Wars: A New Hope

Jo felt lighter in every way as she walked downstairs, the slam of the front door and a shout from Clara having pulled her back into the moment.

‘We have a secret!’ Clara bellowed as soon as she saw Jo.

‘Now, Clara, the point of a secret is that it’s supposed to stay a secret!’ Jo watched her mum tenderly help Clara take off her coat and hang it at the bottom of the stairs.

‘But it’s a good secret and it will make Jojo happy,’ Clara said. It made perfect sense to her, of course.

‘I do like secrets which make me happy,’ Jo said, pulling Clara into a tight hug.

‘Oh, okay then, Clara. You can tell Jo our news!’ her mum said.

With bright eyes and a huge smile across her face, Clara announced: ‘Daddy’s coming home tomorrow early as a surprise.’

‘Really?’ Jo asked as she looked from Clara to her mum and back again.