‘I can apply for one anyway.’ Jodie stood and refilled the kettle. She wasn’t sure how much coffee or tea she’d drunk that day, but she needed more. She made a fresh pot of tea, emptied the dregs from their mugs and refilled them. ‘I suppose I’m lucky, each of the homes I checked out have at least one vacancy.’

‘You might end up being better off.’

Jodie reached over and grasped her friend’s hand. ‘I’m so glad you came over today. Your glass-half-full approach is what I needed to help me cope with all this NMC stuff. And it was good too, to talk about the baby shoes with someone who understands.

‘I could stay over, if you like, Tasha wouldn’t mind.’

Jodie tried to imagine Tasha’s face if Rivka said she was abandoning her to spend the night with her friend. It would widen the streak of jealousy that Jodie had already noted in the younger woman. ‘Thanks,’ she said, ‘but actually I’ll have company.’ She waited for the penny to drop and laughed at Rivka’s look of surprise. ‘I met a guy. Flynn. He’s…’ Jodie tried to think of the right word and shook her head. ‘He’s special. Sweet and supportive. He insisted on staying here when he heard what I was going through, said he was going to keep staying until I was okay.’

Although Rivka tried to look delighted, Jodie could see the worry that appeared in her friend’s eyes and wasn’t surprised at her hesitant, ‘You’re not moving too quickly are you? How long have you known him?’

‘I know, I know,’ Jodie said with a shake of her head. She wasn’t normally so spontaneous, it was no wonder Rivka was surprised. ‘Less than two weeks, but I feel as though I’ve known him forever. You’ll like him, honestly. And even if nothing long-term comes out of it, it has been so amazing to have him with me on this.’ She reached for her mobile. ‘Look, he sent me a text earlier to check I was okay.’

Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to ring, it’s been manic but I’ve been thinking about you and look forward to hearing all about what happened with your rep later.

Rivka read it and pursed her lips. ‘Fine, well if he helps get you through this shitty period that’s something I suppose.’ She didn’t look convinced and dropped her eyes to her twisting fingers before she continued. ‘Are you going to tell him about the other business?’

Jodie’s eyes flicked to the box. She’d no idea why, after all these years, Victor would choose to send her such a reminder or what he expected to achieve. ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘Flynn wouldn’t understand.’