‘I wasn’t really conscious of what I was saying at the time. I just wanted it all to stop. But since then I’ve come to realize it’s the only way, if I’m not going to waste the rest of my life wrangling with him about it.’ She sighed. ‘Otherwise, it’s stalemate. As I told him the other night, I just can’t do it any more.’

Neil frowned. ‘Me and Brooks thought you were back on track, what with the anniversary dinner and Devan telling us how good things are between you now.’

‘Yes, and he’s been trying really hard, I’ll admit. It’s just he’s rushing me, Neil. He thinks because he’s back onboard with our marriage, I should be too. It’s what I want, of course, but I’m not finding it easy.’

Neil didn’t speak for a moment, just sat staring out of the window. Then he said, ‘You can’t let him railroad you, Con.’

‘I know. But maybe he’s right. Maybe I am being unfair to him.’ She took another sip of lukewarm coffee. ‘I really want us to be OK again. All this sniping and bickering is exhausting.’

Another silence.

‘Yeah, but next spring comes around, and you have no tours, no work.’ He turned his kind blue eyes on her. ‘How are you going to feel?’

Connie shrugged. She’d done the same projection. ‘I’ll feel bereft,’ she admitted. ‘But I’d feel even more so if my marriage fell apart because I was being “stubborn”, as Devan puts it.’

Neil laughed. ‘Men, eh? Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.’ He rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin as if considering something. ‘Could you perhaps cut down next year, see how it feels?’

‘I’ve thought of that. Part-timers tend not to get the tours they want. Those go to the keen beans, for obvious reasons. But I’ve proved my worth over the years …’ She paused. ‘I could try.’

Neil picked up his phone, checked the time, pulled a face. ‘Sorry, I should get going. Have to be in Bristol by twelve and I need to clean up.’