She handed it back to him. ‘Greg . . . this is too much. I can’t accept this.’

He swept aside her protestations. ‘Nonsense. You can pick your own dates by the way, you just need to call them, and they’ll rearrange for you.’

‘Seriously, I can’t—’

‘I’m not taking no for an answer.’

Kate was still staggered by the generosity of his gift – and how he’d remembered their conversation during her first experience of airports. Was this what he did? Blindside you with kindness while all the while sending you death threats?

‘Have you ever been yourself?’ she asked.

‘Where? The Bahamas?’

She shrugged. ‘The Caribbean.’ Anguilla.

He laughed. ‘More of a Seychelles man. At least, my ex-wife used to drag me there, but I’d only stay a week then leave her to it. I got itchy feet. But my excuse was always that something needed urgent attention at work. Which, to be fair, was often true. Still is. So, how are you going to fill your time now that the bursary is almost up and running? Other than our little ceremony, this is it now – at least until next year.’

Fill her time? My God, if only he knew. Maybe he did. She shrugged. ‘Back to the day job.’

A sharp rap on the door made her jump. It was Maddie. ‘Your lunch appointment’s arrived,’ she announced.

‘I’ll be there in a minute,’ said Greg, dismissing her.

Kate started to gather her things.

‘Just a minute,’ said Greg. He reached back down into his briefcase.

Kate’s eyes widened as be brought out another gift. ‘No . . . no . . . enough now.’

‘It’s nothing.’ He slid the present across the table to her.

She was adamant. ‘I can’t.’

‘Go on. Don’t make me return it.’ He pushed it a little closer to her.

Kate looked at the gift, a small wrapped package tied with a blue bow with white polka dots.

Sighing, she pulled it closer and then unwrapped it. Inside was a brand-new mobile phone.

‘No cracks,’ he said.

‘It’s too much.’

‘See it as a thank you. For bringing certain things to my attention.’

She looked at him.

‘The trucks. We’re a safer, better company because of you. I’ll always be grateful.’

‘He was normal,’ she said to Tim when she got home.

She’d found him sitting in the living room watching daytime TV, which was unusual for him.

‘Normal?’ he asked.

‘Well, he didn’t do anything weird.’

‘So, you trust him?’

‘I don’t know.’ Kate sighed. ‘I need a tea,’ she said, heading for the kitchen. ‘Fancy one?’

She stopped dead. Sitting on the kitchen floor was a large duffel bag, packed full. It was Tim’s. She heard him switch off the TV and come up behind her.

‘I think it’s for the best,’ he said quietly. ‘For now, at least.’

She spun around. ‘You’re moving out?’

He nodded tightly.

‘But . . .’ What should she say? That she didn’t want him to go? Yet, even as she tried to form the words, they sounded selfish. She’d kept him waiting for so long, kept him hanging, and, deep down, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to give him what he wanted – what he had a right to want.