‘Not to worry,’ he smiled. ‘I probably will fly out early as you won’t be here.’

‘OK,’ I nodded.

‘I really do understand that this visit to see Dolly is important, Hattie,’ he said, reaching for my hand, ‘and what I’ve got in mind will keep. Though not for much longer.’

I felt my face turn a shade brighter as he squeezed my fingers and grinned.

‘In that case,’ I conceded, ‘if you let me know when you’ve got your schedule sorted, perhaps I’ll see if I can come back a little earlier than planned.’

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I assumed that Jonathan had made his peace with the thought of me heading back to Wynbridge again, but he still had one last-ditch attempt to try and make me change my plans. However, given what he was suggesting, I couldn’t help thinking that his motivation was well meant rather than meddlesome.

‘You could fly out with me,’ he said just as I was about to leave. ‘The weather’s glorious right now and you know I’m going to be viewing the apartments. I can easily book another room and you could fly home in a week or so and go straight to Wynbridge then. You’d still be with Dolly in plenty of time for the end of term.’

‘I’m not going to do that, Jonathan.’ I told him, even though it really would have been lovely to see the apartments for myself.

‘Don’t you want to help me choose where we’re going to be living?’ he asked, sounding a little peeved.

‘Of course, I do,’ I told him, looking out of the flat window as the taxi I’d booked pulled onto the forecourt. ‘And I can choose with you from the extra photos you send. We’ve already narrowed it down to three places.’

‘But it won’t be the same. You won’t be able to get the feel of them from a photo.’

‘Look,’ I said, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake in turning him down. ‘I know the layout of all of them now and if I can’t decide, I’m certain you’ll pick the right one for us. I trust you, Jonathan.’

Truth be told, I was surprised he hadn’t jumped at the chance to be in charge. The old Jonathan wouldn’t have given my preference a second thought if he didn’t agree with it, but then we’d banished him, hadn’t we? Really I should have been feeling grateful that he valued my opinion rather than annoyed that he was so keen for me to express it.

‘Well, all right,’ he sighed, ‘as long as you’re absolutely sure.’

‘I am,’ I said, ‘and now I really do have to go otherwise I’ll miss my train.’