She had described to me, on many occasions, her first retirement assembly, and how much it had meant to her. Watching her from the other side of the hall, I knew there wouldn’t be a third such time and there was a lump in my throat when Beamish wandered over.

‘She’s genuinely surprised by all this, isn’t she?’ he smiled.

‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘She is.’

‘Everyone loves Dolly,’ he said, rocking back on his heels. ‘I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be that loved.’

‘Now you’ve surprised me,’ I gasped, looking at him.

‘Have I?’

‘Yes,’ I smiled.

It was funny to think that he had no idea of his own popularity amongst the great and good, the young and young at heart of Wynbridge.

‘You might not realise it,’ I told him, ‘but you’re pretty popular yourself, what with all your acts of kindness and gestures of goodwill.’

His expression said it all. He was every bit as selfless as Dolly. He genuinely didn’t have a clue what people thought and said about him.

‘I just like to help out,’ he shrugged.

‘I know you do, and that’s why folk love you too.’

‘Well,’ he said, looking embarrassed, ‘I don’t know about that. I better go and check the staffroom’s all set up,’ he stammered. ‘Are you coming in for the party?’

‘Of course.’

‘And have you checked your emails today?’ he asked. ‘Any word from your parents?’

I had made a point of finding the time as he had suggested to email Mum and Dad back.

‘I haven’t had a chance to look yet, but I will before we go home.’

It was very much beginning to look as though I was going to be leaving Wynbridge having regained my family and lost a future husband but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the surprising turn of events at all.

Being in this beautiful little town had re-set my priorities dial and shown me the value of those relationships I should treasure as well as flagging up those which I could live without. What would have become of me, I wondered, had I succumbed to Jonathan’s pleading and turned down Dolly’s offer to visit?

Putting some distance between us had given me the chance to see exactly how reliant on him he had made me. He had firmly established himself as being the answer to my prayers rather than helping me look for my own. He had wanted to be my everything. He had wanted to have all the power but now I was taking it back and I was going to use that reclaimed strength to untangle myself from his clutches.

‘Hattie?’

My gaze shifted back to Beamish and I realised he hadn’t gone yet, but had carried on talking to me.

‘Sorry,’ I said, ‘I was miles away.’