But being a free spirit has led her to having lovers who won’t commit, and several jobs. Perhaps inspiring others to rebel makes her feel less lonely. She thinks about Amy and Cosmo. Personally, she can’t see what all the fuss is about. Just because he lives and works in London doesn’t mean that he’s off-limits. Seize the day and let the future take care of itself, is her motto. Now that Simon has got this temporary job upcountry, she’s feeling restless. She needs a new challenge: a new man.

The café radio is playing ‘Holding out for a Hero’. Charley smiles at the irony, finishes her breakfast, has a chat with Andy and Rob, and then heads off to the Potting Shed.

As he strides up the High Street towards the ironmonger’s, Sam is trying to make sense of his confusion; that continual pull back to Shanghai, Ying-Yue, the children he taught. He knows that he’s being entirely irrational. Charley has put his feelings into words. She saw this unlikely vision of his future in a positive and exciting light, and yet his reaction was negative. He’s spent weeks hiding the possibility of exploring this new career from the people around him lest they should rubbish it and yet, when someone finds it praiseworthy, he immediately backs off.

‘What is the matter with you?’ he mutters to himself. ‘For God’s sake, get a grip.’

He knows that he should talk to Fliss and Hal about it but there never seems to be the right moment to introduce the subject. And, anyway, the trouble is, the only advice anyone ever really wants is the sort that confirms them in their own decisions. And, since he hasn’t made a decision, that’s not going to happen. He hoped that he might be able to broach the subject with Max but he can see that, even if Cara hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have known how to start.

He finishes his shopping and heads back towards the car park. As he passes the Potting Shed, Charley is outside, tidying the racks of garden equipment and potted plants. She straightens up and smiles at him and he is once again aware of her attraction; her magnetism.

‘Shopping done?’ she asks.

She looks amused, as if she is aware that he was escaping from her earlier, avoiding answering her awkward questions. He feels uncomfortable but he nods.

‘Yes, thanks. All done.’

‘And thanks for my coffee,’ she says, as he makes to go. ‘You must let me return the favour.’

‘That would be good,’ he says, embarrassed. ‘See you around then.’

And he hurries away before she can suggest a date. He suspects that she is watching him go, laughing at him, and it’s a relief to get into the car and drive away towards Staverton.