‘That doesn’t mean I should ask you to,’ he smiled. ‘I’m so impressed by what you’ve done here, you know,’ he continued. ‘Can you tell me that you understand how impressive what you’ve done is?’

Penny shrugged. ‘We all worked hard,’ she said. ‘And we all feel proud, I think.’

Eric appeared at the door of the lounge.

‘What are you two whispering about?’ he said, playfully. He added, ‘Oooh, coffee – great. I need a warmer.’

Uncle David shot Penny a look.

‘Never you mind,’ he said, before adding, ‘Did you catch anyone? Who can come for a drink later?’

Penny felt about eighty different emotions. She felt excitement about what David had said. She felt regret that she hadn’t ever felt different about being there. She felt relief that David had made the decision for her. And she felt blind panic, too, because without the excuse of the pub to hold her back, what was stopping her from starting her family now? Everyone knew the old adage that there is never a great time to do it, but it seemed to Penny that this was about as good as it was going to get for her. She could go back to Bridges, back to her flat, keep the cover chef on part time for when the baby came and then … well. And then she didn’t know what. She’d work part time? She’d get childcare? She’d live frugally and have the café look after itself for a while? Whatever the decision, she had options. And for the first time in ages Penny understood what that meant. Choices. Decisions. She was, finally, back in the driving seat of her own destiny and so the time was, terrifyingly, exhilaratingly, perfectly, now.

‘I need to talk to you,’ Penny said to Clementine. ‘I’m having some thoughts and feelings.’

‘Shocker,’ said Clementine, smiling.

‘Uncle David just told me he’s selling.’

‘What?’ said Clementine. ‘Really?’

‘Yes. I can go back to Bridges. I’m free!’

Clementine hugged her sister. Still keeping her voice low she said, ‘When?’

Penny shrugged. ‘Probably not for a while, but he’s going to put the wheels in motion.’

‘I see,’ said Clementine. ‘Well. God. That’s so good for you! I mean, don’t take this the wrong way but obviously I’m sad this place won’t be in our family anymore. It’s the right thing and everything but like, it’s where we grew up, isn’t it?’

Penny understood what she meant. ‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘But.’

‘But,’ Clementine said, nodding.

‘It’s not my job to protect that.’

‘It really isn’t,’ said Clementine.

They both sat with that realization.

‘Will you still be my surrogate?’ Penny said, eventually.

Clementine turned to her. ‘You’re sure you’re ready?’

Penny let out a little whoop of glee, careful not to let their uncles hear. ‘So ready!’ she said. ‘Now that I am free!’