He stroked her hand. ‘Carola drives, doesn’t she?’

‘Not on the “wrong” side of the road. Has panic attacks. And Neil lost his licence a few months ago so he’s out too. The teens are too young to meet the conditions of the insurance.’

‘So where are you going to find this other driver?’ he asked gently.

Her lip quivered, sending pain darting through his chest. ‘I don’t know, but I’ll have to. It’s too late to try and fly. Skiable snow has come early so loads of people will have snapped up flights to hit the slopes and we’d still have to get to and from the airports. More importantly, what would we do for transport once we’re there? How would we shift the guitar, the keyboard and the PA around? I have to make it work.’

He made his voice gentler than ever. ‘Lily, it may not be possible. You’re hurt.’

Slowly, her head turned towards him. Her skin was almost luminously pale. ‘I’m going,’ she said simply. ‘It’s not just the Middletones and the trade show and the Christmas market. You know the half-brothers I told you about? Well—’ she let out a long, slow breath ‘—they’re Tubb and Garrick.’

Surprise washed through Isaac. ‘Wow,’ he murmured, trying to reorder his thoughts. Being so new to the village it had never occurred to him to even wonder if he knew either of Lily’s brothers. ‘That makes sense of you working at the pub, working with such a remote client as the company in Switzerland – everything.’

She let her head fall back on the cushions of the sofa. ‘Even though Mum insists it isn’t my meeting my brothers that has split up Patsie and her, it’s obvious my sticking it out in Middledip added fuel to Zinnia’s rage.’

She looked so exhausted, so miserable that Isaac’s anger glowed. ‘Zinnia at least has no right to guilt you, especially after the stunt she pulled today!’

Her fingers tightened around his. ‘But it’s how she feels. Feelings don’t always take account of right or logic or justice. They come from inside and sometimes they’re all that matter. She didn’t mean to hurt me. But I’m not leaving before I’ve met Garrick and had the chance to assure myself that Tubb’s heart failure’s under control. It’s so hard to tell from the occasional Skype session because he always just smiles and says he’s fine.’