‘But then real life called and the plan was abandoned.’

‘Something like that.’

‘Well,’ she said, pouring us both tea, ‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out and I’m also sorry to say that there was no post for you yesterday. I’m beginning to think I should never have nagged you about trying to get back in touch with your parents. I hope their silence hasn’t upset you too much, my dear.’

Knowing how bad she felt, I couldn’t lie about that as well as the real reason behind my early return, but I would have to hold back certain details, for now at least.

‘Actually,’ I told her. ‘I did receive mail yesterday. Just not the sort that comes via the postman.’

‘An email?’ she asked, her face lighting up. ‘From your parents?’

‘From Mum,’ I elaborated.

‘And,’ she carried on, ‘what did she say?’

‘Amongst other things, that she and Dad were happy to hear from me.’

‘Oh Hattie,’ she cried, clapping her hands together and almost making Tiddles stir. ‘That’s wonderful news! You’ll be able to go to Abu Dhabi reconciled.’

‘Perhaps,’ I said, thinking more of Abu Dhabi than the family disharmony.

‘You will,’ she enthused, ‘you’ll be able to leave knowing that everything here is as it should be. I can’t for one second imagine that you really intended to banish your parents for ever,’ she rambled on. ‘In fact, I can’t help wondering . . .’

‘What?’

‘Oh nothing,’ she said. ‘Ignore me. You will tell Beamish, won’t you?’ She went on, sounding excited again. ‘You must tell him. The poor chap has been feeling so bad about being the one who posted the card.’

‘But it wasn’t his fault,’ I reminded her. ‘It was just a mistake. We told him that.’

‘I know,’ she said, ‘I know, but he also knows how upset you’ve been about it. Not a day’s gone by when he hasn’t mentioned it.’

I was sorry that he had been worrying so much. I hadn’t realised it had weighed so heavy on his mind.

‘In that case,’ I said, ‘I’ll definitely make a point of telling him.’

‘I’m sure he would appreciate that,’ she said, her tone changing from excitement to sadness. ‘Dear Beamish.’

I knew that Dolly was extremely fond of her friend, as was everyone who knew him. He really was a gentle giant in the truest sense of the word and with a heart of pure gold to boot. I was fond of him myself, perhaps fonder than I should have been and, even though he didn’t know it of course, grateful that our timely friendship had highlighted so many of the things that were wrong with my relationship with Jonathan.

I looked up and found Dolly staring at me. A shadow had fallen across her face and she looked anxious.

‘What is it?’ I asked, caught off guard.