She blinked. A favour? She’d thought the favours he’d previously alluded to were like interest payments on the debt she owed him – something she had to do before she found the cash to pay him back – but now she wondered if there was another possibility, a way to get rid of the debt faster. Was it going to sound cheeky? She cleared her throat, urged herself on. ‘Can I ask if you’d consider this favour as part repayment for the debt?’

She held her breath, waiting for his answer.

He took a sip of his tea. Considered for a moment before he spoke. ‘Well, if you want it to be, I suppose we could take it into account. But I’d still need you to come to events with me.’

He was being obtuse. She frowned. ‘But you’d take a favour instead of money? I mean, by doing this, I’d reduce my debt to you?’

He pursed his lips, nodded. ‘Yes, why not. If it makes you feel better and it gives us both what we need, then yes.’

They sat in silence for a moment while she thought it through, relieved by his answer but slightly annoyed with Fiona for making assumptions without speaking to her first. Still, she had asked Fiona for the extra hours and hadn’t really spoken to her since, assuming that she’d know she would want to stop for school holidays, same as she’d done at Easter.

Christ, life’s got complicated!

She sighed. James was right, she didn’t have a choice.

‘It’s okay, I’ll work over half-term. And keep doing full-time over the summer.’ She wondered how she’d tell the kids. But at least Matt would be happy now, and as James had said, if they’d swapped roles, then sorting out childcare was as much Matt’s responsibility as hers.

‘Excellent.’ James smiled at her and picked up another cookie, but hesitated before taking a bite. ‘Talking about our deal… I have a networking meeting next week. In Harrogate. There’s a dinner on the Thursday night if you’re free? It’s a new thing, organised by a local business group I’ve just been introduced to, where suppliers and buyers get together. Apparently, there’s a lot of potential to strike good deals, so I really could do with your help. Getting the right price on stock can save us thousands.’

Thursday. Why did that ring a bell? Football practice. The girls would be livid if she missed it after promising she’d go and support them.

She shook her head. ‘I can’t make next Thursday.’

‘Oh, I think you can,’ he said.

Chapter Fifteen