‘I lost my mum not all that long ago,’ I shared with him. ‘She had a heart attack and was gone quicker than I could click my fingers. I still can’t believe it really.’

He reached across the table and held my hand. Had he remembered me, he might have been able to recall Mum too. He might have seen her sitting on the beach in her yellow sundress. The thought brought a lump to my throat.

‘That’s what happened to Dad,’ he said, sounding choked. ‘One minute he was stacking bales, and the next . . .’

‘He was gone,’ I whispered, deeply regretting that I knew exactly how that felt.

‘Anyway,’ he sighed, squeezing my hand again before letting it go, ‘Charlie’s running the place now with Bruce as his willing and extremely naughty sidekick.’

I was already rather fond of Bruce but was sure I would like him even more if Joe could rein in his exuberance a bit.

He shook his head and sighed.

‘I hope I don’t sound bitter,’ he said. ‘I don’t mean to. I’m just finding it all a bit frustrating at the moment. It’s no mean feat trying to work with family.’

‘Oh, I know all about that too,’ I sighed.

This was something else we shared.

‘You do?’

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I work for the family firm. My dad runs it and we seem to be clashing more and more these days.’

‘Hence the holiday?’

‘Hence the holiday,’ I nodded. ‘In part.’

‘Seems like we have quite a lot in common, Tess, doesn’t it?’ He pointed out, filling my cup again.

‘We certainly do,’ I agreed.

‘And I have to admit,’ he said, taking another slice of cake even though he had only minutes before sworn that he was fit to burst, ‘I was wondering how you could possibly manage to take so much time out. Six weeks is a long time, but if Dad’s the boss . . .’

‘He’s not doing me a favour,’ I shot back, feeling defensive. ‘It’s not nepotism, if that’s what you’re thinking. I work bloody hard for the company, and I haven’t had a proper break in years. I’m only taking the time I’m owed.’

Joe put up his hands in surrender.

‘All right,’ he said, ‘sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.’

‘I just hate it when people assume that I’ve had handed to me on a plate,’ I said bluntly, picking up my cup. ‘I started out as the tea girl, just like everyone else.’

‘Even the boys?’

‘You know what I mean,’ I said, still feeling annoyed. ‘I’m just taking my holiday entitlement in one go, that’s all.’

‘Fair enough,’ said Joe, ‘I guess you’re lucky to have a boss who will let you.’