‘She can’t, Nick. It’s not her house anymore; she has no say in who we sell to.’

‘But she’s been adamant since the plans were originally made public that no one should sell out to them, not even a piece of their land – the gardens might be long, but they belong to the householders, and the developers would take it bit by bit until they own it all and demolish the entire row of houses. You know that. Don’t you care? Just because you’re fucking off to live elsewhere and won’t see the destruction, the eyesore of new buildings – don’t you have an ounce of responsibility?’

‘That’s unfair, Nick.’

‘Is it? Because you want a quick sale, you’d shit on all of the villagers to get what you want?’

‘Next door sold to them and no one’s saying anything about that.’

‘You’re wrong, actually. But anyway, ultimately it would need both of our signatures. So, unless you’re intending to forge mine, it isn’t happening.’ His pacing of the lounge becomes more frantic. I need to calm him down, but all I feel is panic; an overwhelming sense I’m losing control.

‘It was only an option, Nick. As was living in Eastbourne.’ I’m crying for the second time today and hate myself for showing weakness.

‘I know you want to move on. And I understand you wanting to consider every option. But this is where my memories are.’ He waves an arm around the room. ‘It’s where Tim is. My dad. It’s hard to let all of that go on top of having to let you go, too.’ He stops pacing now and stands still, his head hanging.

‘I know this is a huge step for you, Nick. It was never an easy decision for me to ask you to leave.’

‘No, I know. I realise that.’ I hear him inhale, then he looks at me. His eyes are shining with tears. ‘And I know I’ve only myself to blame. But please, for me and Mum, don’t ask me to sell to those arseholes. I’d come to terms with the knowledge someone other than my family might live in this house, but at least it would be a family – people like us. Not them. Not people who are only going to tear it down.’ He shakes his head. ‘They don’t care about this village; they only care about big profits. It would ruin Stockwood. I’m not asking purely for myself, here. I’m asking for everyone.’

Chapter Forty-Eight

Amber