I hadn’t gone into the whys and wherefores, the details of how I had become increasingly disillusioned with my role and unwilling to babysit and spoon-feed adults who were old enough to know how to behave and conduct themselves. I was certain my resignation would be a big enough shock for Dad to deal with and, even though I was still appalled by how he had treated Mum and their marriage, I felt there was nothing to be gained from rubbing salt into the wound by revealing my distaste for the firm he had spent the best part of his working life growing.

To close the mail, I veered a little on the side of personal, stating that I was in perfect health and happy, although I omitted to mention where I actually was. I knew I was pushing my luck in ‘resigning with immediate effect’ but as it was my Dad who owned the firm, I hoped he wouldn’t use the weight of the law to make me honour a period of notice. That perhaps wasn’t particularly professional of me, but there had to be one perk I could use in my favour after all my years of dedicated service.

‘All done?’ Sophie asked, as I returned the laptop to her yet again.

‘Yes,’ I said, swallowing hard, ‘all done.’

*

I had thought that having finally acted on my decision I would be feeling footloose and fancy-free, but as I later prepared for my visit to Joe’s family farm, I discovered that wasn’t the case at all. I couldn’t pin down the reason why, but the lump I had felt forming in my throat in the café was very firmly fixed and if I turned around, or stood up too quickly, there was a definite feeling of dizziness waiting in the wings to catch me out.

I knew my physical reactions weren’t the result of worrying about the financial implications of what I had done because I had already made some rough calculations of my assets and knew I would be okay. If I sold my beloved car and the impersonal apartment, in which I had a sizeable chunk of equity, I would be able to afford a move, possibly even to the Norfolk coast, and still have a little money left over.

There wouldn’t be much, and it would be one heck of a lifestyle downsize, but I would be all right. For someone my age, I was in an enviable position, so my body’s responses to the more practical parts of the situation were in no way justified and I decided the best thing I could do was ignore them.

‘All set?’ Joe asked, when he turned up to collect me.

‘Just about,’ I said, checking I’d locked the back door.