‘I mean, I didn’t put on a performance for him or anything,’ she said, eventually. ‘I was just who I am with him.’ Saying it, she reflected immediately on how that sounded. She was able to be herself with him, which is a privilege so few are afforded.

‘Hmmm,’ said Uncle David.

‘Anyway,’ she said, changing the subject. She was boring herself with this post-mortem of him, and of her. Of them. There wasn’t even a ‘them’ if he wouldn’t bloody take her calls. ‘How are you? You look a hundred times better than you have. Even since Christmas. It’s really, really good to see.’

Uncle David nodded. ‘I’m good,’ he said. ‘So much better. It’s the sea air. And Eric – he’s so much happier down there. He was done with the pub for a long time before I was ready to admit it.’

‘I know how that feels,’ Penny said, instantly wishing she hadn’t. There was no need.

‘I thought you’d be happier,’ Uncle David remarked. ‘I thought you’d thrive.’

‘I’ve done my best,’ she said, in a small voice.

Uncle David sighed. ‘So I’m the only one who wants to be here,’ he intoned. ‘And everybody else is just my prisoner.’

Penny didn’t know what to say. That wasn’t too far from the truth, really, was it? He’d imposed his will on Eric, and then Penny.

‘You don’t ever want to sell it?’ Penny said, gently.

‘I suppose I had better start thinking about it,’ he said, and Penny could barely let herself breathe in case she interrupted this train of thought. Had he really just said he would think about selling? Penny sat very still. She waited.

Finally he continued, ‘It breaks my heart, but … I think it’s time, isn’t it?’

Penny shook her head. ‘I can’t make that choice for you,’ she settled on.

‘It’s fine,’ David said. ‘I’ve expected too much from you. Every week I’ve got better is a week you’ve sounded less like yourself. I really thought I was doing the right thing. I really thought you’d love it here. I really thought you’d get the Bib Gourmand and it would make you hungry for more.’

‘You can’t come back?’

‘I need to think about the best thing to do. We’re so happy down in Cornwall – Eric is so happy in Cornwall. I’m finally treating him like the priority he should be, instead of making the pub the top of my list. Clementine said I’ve been unfair on you. Do you think I have?’

‘I don’t think anything, Davvy. I’d go to the moon and back for you.’