He knew she was teasing him a little and it made him smile. He still found it hard to believe that she was ill. She looked so vibrant and healthy, sitting there with her Earl Grey tea and scanning the daily newspaper. ‘So, what have you got planned for today?’ she asked, turning the page of the paper.

‘Need to check in with Heidi in Housekeeping. Apparently one of the staff walked out. Not sure if we’re going to be short-staffed or not.’

Pru looked up at him. ‘Trouble?’

‘No. Nothing I can’t sort out. Although I’m not sure why I’ve been left to deal with it.’

‘One of you has to, I suppose,’ said Pru.

Harry wasn’t sure if he was being set up by his family or not for some ulterior motive, like making him become involved and hoping he might change his mind about going back to France eventually. Sadly for them, they were mistaken. He had walked away eighteen months ago, and he was as sure today as he had been then that he’d made the right decision. The only thing that was keeping him from rushing back was his mother.

His mobile phone bleeped an incoming text message. Harry looked at the screen.

Will take more than a drop of rain to put me off. In fact, it’s my favourite kind of weather. See you at 10.

Harry slipped his phone back in his pocket, aware his mother was watching him from over the top of her reading glasses.

‘You look happy with yourself,’ she said.

Harry could feel a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and wanted to kick himself for giving anything away to his mother, who never missed a thing. ‘Anything happening in the world today that we should know about?’ he asked, nodding at the newspaper in an attempt to deflect the comment. He certainly wasn’t going to give his mother an insight into his text message.

‘Hmm,’ she said, looking speculatively at him. Then she flicked the paper closed and folded it in half. ‘Becoming more like a gossip magazine than an informative paper.’ She stood up. ‘Must take the girls for their walk. What are you up to today?’

‘Not sure yet,’ said Harry. ‘Might take a walk out along one of the hiking paths. Risk assessment.’

Pru placed her hand on his shoulder. ‘And would that be on your own?’

Harry patted his mother’s hand. ‘You’re a terrible snoop at times,’ he said fondly. ‘Now, don’t go overdoing it.’

‘You make me sound like an old woman,’ protested Pru. ‘There’s life in this old dog yet.’