‘But that’s a start. It’s a huge thing for him to even admit he has a problem and then to realise that he needs help. It’s a big step for him.’ She nodded a lot and I stabbed at some noodles on my plate. ‘He’s making an effort, Tom. That’s a really positive thing.’

‘Mmm.’

‘We need to make sure we support him,’ she said and carried on with her meal. She’d always said my staying here was temporary. Was she thinking good, I’ll get rid of him soon?

I was keen to change the subject even though it had been me who had raised it. I totted up the cake boxes – six. ‘How many are you expecting tonight?’

‘Difficult to say but most of the local businesses have had posters up for a week. We’ve had flyers in the post office and the pub and we’re mini-bussing a few in from the nursing home.’

I laughed. ‘Are you allowed to do that?’

‘It’s not against their will. Some of them don’t get out much. Poor old souls spend all their time sitting doing nothing but staring at four walls.’

I didn’t like to point out that most wouldn’t be much older than her. ‘So their trip out is to sit in the library and stare at—’

‘Where they can read, chat and eat cake.’ She tapped the top of the nearest cake tin.

‘Is one of those lemon drizzle?’ I could feel my mouth watering at the thought of it.

‘It might be. Can you check on the lambs before we go?’

‘Sure.’ I took the things to the sink. Since Maggie had sprained her ankle I’d had a few more jobs come my way and the lambs was one of them. I didn’t say but spending time with the lambs and watching them grow was the best. I’d discovered I liked doing stuff outside – who knew?

*

May was a changeable month weather-wise but it was still warm as I walked down to the sheep. The grass was lush and pretty much everything around me was green. The view across the fields and down to Furrow’s Cross was something I could have looked at for hours. It made me understand why people liked looking at paintings, although I’d probably never totally get that. But with that view it made you want to stare at it. Each time I did I noticed something different. Maybe the way the fence was straight and then went all wobbly for a few sections and then back to straight again. How the trees at the bottom were in clumps of colours – dark greens, light greens and deep purply red. I should ask Maggie what sorts of trees they all are. She’d know for sure.