‘You do know that if you don’t come back today, I’m going to have to hand your entire portfolio over to Chris, don’t you, Tess?’

‘Of course.’

‘He’s really come into his own since you’ve been gone.’

‘I had a feeling he might. You should have promoted him months ago.’

‘Perhaps.’

He sounded tired all of a sudden and resigned, but given what I’d recently discovered I couldn’t feel sorry about that.

‘Look,’ I said, ‘I have to go. I’ll ring in a few weeks, okay?’

‘This is all far from okay.’

I didn’t say anything. There was no point.

‘If you decide to stay away beyond June, Tess, then we’re seriously going to have to think about your long-term future with the firm.’

He was getting frustrated. No doubt annoyed that the Tyler work ethic in me wasn’t as firmly fixed as it was in him.

‘Are you going to fire me?’

‘No, of course not,’ he snapped. ‘But I do have to think about the business, the needs of our clients and the Tyler reputation.’

The way he still prioritized the firm over family, even after my dramatic desertion, made my stomach pull even tighter.

‘You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to take some time off too,’ I said bitingly.

‘That’s as maybe,’ he snapped back, ‘but someone has to stick around to hold the fort.’

‘If you say so,’ I swallowed, determined not to get upset. ‘Bye, Dad.’

There was a painful lump lodged in my throat as I turned the phone off again, tossed it back into the drawer, slammed it shut and grabbed the cottage keys. Hope had been right: I was in need of a pick-me-up.

‘So,’ Sam asked, ‘how did you get on?’

‘Was it as bad as you thought it would be?’ added Hope.

‘Worse,’ I huffed, wrinkling my nose. ‘Much worse.’

The call thankfully hadn’t resulted in a blazing row, but it had got me stirred up and feeling unsettled nonetheless.

Hope indicated the row of tempting optics behind her.

‘What can I get you?’ she asked.

‘Thanks,’ I said, ‘but I don’t think I’d better start on the hard stuff.’

I was tempted but knew I wouldn’t feel any better for it.

‘Coffee then?’ she suggested.

‘Yes, please. A really strong one.’

‘You didn’t get fired, did you?’ Sam asked.

‘No,’ I told him, ‘not quite, but if I stay too long, it might come to that. Not that I have any intention of leaving early.’

At least if Dad did give me the boot that would be one less decision I would have to make. I shook my head and Sam leant over the bar and squeezed my hand. I risked a look at Hope, but she didn’t seem fazed by the gesture at all. My heart on the other hand, was behaving ludicrously.