‘Jock and Poddy built them.’ Mim still seemed out of sorts, though she smiled. ‘But thank you. I must show you my workshop one day.’

‘I would like that.’ Lorenzo’s sincerity was obvious.

Mim nodded and smiled for a brief moment before the smile fell from her face. Her eyes were full of worry when they landed on Ava. ‘How are you, sweetie? No breakthroughs today?’

Ava truly didn’t intend to say anything in front of their guest, but you know what? It was okay that Lorenzo was there, especially if the vibes she was getting meant what she thought they did. And she needed to unload. ‘I think the hardest thing is we’d only just found each other and now he’s forgotten.’ Ava leaned into her mother and rested her head and closed her eyes against the sting. Her mother’s hand stroked her hair.

‘I know. It’s so hard being strong.’

Her mother would know. She studied her concerned face. They did need to share more. She said softly, ‘I never believed in love at first sight, Mum. I do now.’ She qualified the statement. ‘It grew from the first moment we saw each other. He said that too, and now his memory of it all is lost.’

‘Love is the hardest thing to trust and you’ve had your challenges. But it will come back to him. I’m sure of it.’

Ava gave a bitter little laugh. ‘That’s what I thought. Five days he’s been here and now I’m not so sure. I thought coming here would help. It’s tough with him treating me like a stranger.’

‘I have a prescription for you,’ her mum said, patting Ava’s hand. ‘You need a timeout for Ava and her worries. Less than a week ago you were in an accident too. You were shocked, and you saved a life. Probably at the end of a very torrid time at work before your holidays?’

The question hung in the air and Ava closed her eyes. Yes, the past week and all its dramas were all there behind her eyelids. ‘Hmm,’ she agreed.

‘It’s surprising, really, that you’re still standing after the week you’ve had. I prescribe a virtual holiday. Just for twelve hours. You shelve everything for tonight. Take time out. I’ll hold all of your problems here.’ She tapped her chest. ‘Safe. You’ll go to bed early, sleep and rest for twelve hours. Then we’ll see what happens when you have your reserves back.’

It was a nice fantasy. ‘How can I do that?’ Ava sat up and squared her shoulders as if to take up her burdens again, and Stella stroked her hair.