My optimism wanes when I walk through the door, only to be greeted with stony faces and an accusatory glare from the boss, Henry. His wife, Olive, is standing beside him, her hand firmly on her hip.

They know.

I’m on the back foot – I wasn’t expecting this scenario to play out just yet.

‘Morning,’ I say. I carry on through the shop floor to the back room where we keep our bags and coats. I hang mine up, and while my back is turned, I try to plaster on a facial expression that fits with ‘I’m so sorry to land you in it,’ and ‘I’m sorry for not telling you myself.’

Who did tell them? When I turn back to face them, they’ve both disappeared.

That’s bad. They’re obviously really upset with me. I should’ve been upfront right from the beginning.

‘Olive?’ I call. ‘Henry?’

‘Why didn’t you say?’ I hear Olive’s soft, quiet voice. She’s in the doorway of the break room. ‘I don’t understand how you could keep it from us, Amber.’

‘I’m sorry, Olive.’ My posture sags. I really am sorry as I know they’ll feel let down. And I kept the move from them for my own selfish reasons. I didn’t think I’d feel this ashamed. ‘I honestly didn’t know how long it would all take, so didn’t want to be too premature in telling you. I’ve had no offers, so it could be months and months yet before I’d even need to give notice.’

‘Need to?’ It’s Henry’s voice that booms in my ear now. He’s come to join in – watch my discomfort. ‘I really didn’t think it would be a case of what you were required to do, Amber. Not after all we’ve done to accommodate your needs. I’d have thought you’d offer the common courtesy of giving us a heads-up – a couple of months’ notice rather than the statutory one month.’

‘Of course. I completely understand, and that would be what I’d like to do, too. But how can I give notice if I don’t know when I’ll be leaving? As I just said to Olive, I’ve had zero interest – it could be months, a year, for all I know.’ My defences are up. Being put on the spot is making me anxious and when I’m cornered, I tend to say things I later regret. However much I’m in the wrong, morally, I’m going to put up a fight so I don’t come off worse.