Tom knew all too well just how comfortable Naomi was, but he suspected that Ellis might be equally well-placed. ‘What did your mother say to that?’ he asked.

‘Apparently Ellis has already made the same suggestion.’

‘I hate to say it, but that puts him in an even better light, doesn’t it?’

Without answering his question, Martha drove on in silence. Then just as Tom’s eyes grew heavy and began to close, she served a curve ball and changed the subject completely.

‘After a weekend spent with him, what do you think of Rick?’ she asked.

‘Well, he’s a bit smooth at times for my liking, but he’s clearly devoted to your sister. He can never do enough for her. And he certainly makes himself useful in helping your mother. Can you recall any of Willow’s previous boyfriends being so thoughtful?’

A more honest answer from him would have been to say that there had been times over the weekend when he’d had to guard against an unexpected feeling of jealous resentment towards Rick. But he wasn’t prepared to admit to something so petty, not when he was ashamed of his reaction. Since Colin died, and on the few times Naomi had sought Tom out for help and advice, he had been only too willing to offer whatever assistance he could. He had done so because he had wanted to be of use to her and had consequently enjoyed Naomi’s trust of him. Would that now change with Rick on the scene? Would Tom have to adjust to somebody else sharing that role that had been his following Colin’s death?

‘You don’t think Rick overdoes the protective concern, do you?’ asked Martha, stemming the flow of his thoughts.

‘In what way?’

‘His constant fussing of her. Didn’t you find that irritating?’

‘Most men would be criticised for not fussing enough. But you know your sister, if she doesn’t like something, she simply walks away.’

‘Pregnancy won’t make that so easy, will it?’

Tom turned his head to look at Martha. ‘Are you worried she might feel she’s trapped now?’

‘Yes, I think I am. Willow’s a free spirit and much as it surprises me to say this, I’d hate for her to have her wings clipped. It would change her too much.’

‘You don’t think this is her time to emerge from her chrysalis and be the beautiful butterfly she was always meant to be?’

Martha smiled. ‘How very sweetly put.’

‘Less generous of me would be to say that maybe this is simply her time to grow up. She is going to be a mother, after all.’

At home, and while Tom was in the garden cutting the grass, Martha tackled the ironing which she’d been putting off for some days. While she worked her way through Tom’s work shirts, she thought about her sister and Rick. She knew that she should be happy that Willow had found somebody who was so caring and so utterly determined to protect her and their unborn child. But …