They both tucked into their cakes in silence. The carrot cake was good but it would never have been Maggie’s first choice. ‘How is the cake?’ asked Maggie realising too late that she should have been using the past tense as there was no sign that there had ever been any cake on Tom’s plate. ‘Did you inhale it?’

‘Sorry.’ He looked awkward and she regretted her comment.

‘No, it’s nice to see someone enjoy their food. My husband wasn’t a foodie. He would have been happy with a pill instead of a meal.’ Why she was telling him that she had no idea but he was politely nodding.

‘Dad says I’m a bottomless pit.’

‘I’d rather that than a picky eater.’ She paused to drink her tea. It was stewed.

‘The cake was great. Thanks, Maggie.’

‘You’re welcome. I feel guilty that I’m stopping you studying.’ She wanted to give him a get-out option.

‘Nah. It’s okay. I think cumulative frequency polygons are beyond me to be honest.’

‘Maths is it?’ She ventured a guess.

‘Yeah. Not my strong subject.’

‘Nor mine. Although, I was pretty rubbish at everything at school. I once drew an apple and my teacher asked me what it was.’

Tom laughed. ‘I’m all right at art. Not many jobs you can do with that though.’

‘Yes there are,’ said Maggie, her indignation strong. ‘Sign writer, architect, art teacher…’ She was starting to run out of examples; perhaps he was right. She looked around for inspiration. ‘Cake decorator.’

‘I don’t think that’s the career for me. I’d love to illustrate graphic novels or work on anime films.’

Maggie nodded, not entirely sure what he’d said but she wanted to show him some encouragement. ‘I was a holistic therapist. Thank goodness I didn’t need any exams for that.’

Tom now had an expression that most likely mirrored her own thirty seconds ago. ‘What do you do now?’ he asked.

Oh what a question that was. If she were to answer it honestly would he be shocked? I spend my time desperately trying to fill my day until one morning I don’t wake up.

She gave herself a mental shake. ‘Well, this morning I was trying to get a wheel off a trailer,’ she said.

Tom was grinning. ‘What, like nicking one?’

‘No. The other day I was moving hurdles with my tractor and I got a puncture.’

Tom laughed. Maggie wasn’t seeing what was funny. ‘You’re joking right?’

‘No. Honestly. I’ve got a bit of land so it’s the only way to move large things about. And Tuesday morning I got a puncture and the wheel won’t come off. It’s a right pain because I can’t free it without some help.’

‘I’ll help you,’ said Tom. He was picking up non-existent cake crumbs with his finger.