I wished with all my heart that I had told my new friend about the details surrounding my fresh start in the sun. How I wasn’t some strong and independent young woman jetting off to begin a new life on her own, but that in truth, I was going to be flying off on the coat-tails of a man I now realised I couldn’t trust.

I had grabbed the easy option Jonathan had laid temptingly out before me and now I had a whole heap of mess to untangle. Dolly had been right to be concerned when I went back to him and I had been ridiculously naïve to accept his miracle personality change and version of events with regards to my parents.

I felt more tears beginning to build and wiped my eyes again.

‘I’m sure that’s only natural,’ Beamish told me. ‘If I were in your situation, I’d no doubt be feeling nervous too and I’m sure your parents are, so you’re all in the same boat really.’

‘I guess,’ I agreed.

‘But at least you aren’t going to end up like me, Hattie,’ he carried on. ‘You know the guilt and regret I carry.’

I nodded.

‘So, have you decided when you’re going to meet?’

‘Not yet,’ I sniffed. ‘I haven’t had a chance to email them back yet, but I’ve sent a text. I had been thinking about emailing from school but it’s so busy.’

‘Then you must make the time,’ he said, reaching for my free hand as light began to pour out of the church and everyone streamed out, ‘and you know, if you’ve changed your mind about moving, it’s not too late. There’d be no harm in you not going if you aren’t one hundred per cent sure that it’s the right thing to do. I happen to know that there are plenty of folk around here who would be more than happy if you decided that Wynbridge was your fresh start, rather than Abu Dhabi.’

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

When Dolly and I sat down to breakfast that Wednesday morning you could have heard a pin drop. I wanted to ask if she was all right, but it was obvious that she wasn’t.

‘It isn’t too late to change your mind, you know,’ I said instead, echoing Beamish’s words to me in the churchyard as I reached across the table for her hand.

She looked back at me and smiled and I noticed how tired she looked. Perhaps retirement, proper retirement was the right idea after all.

‘I could say the same to you,’ she said, squeezing my fingers. ‘I think out of the two of us, you might end up being the one more likely to have a change of heart about their future . . .’