“For both of us.” He sprawled down next to her on the picnic blanket, droplets of water clinging to his leg. “It’s so easy to get into a routine, and never question an alternative. I’m picturing what life could be like if we lived here. I’d finish work and instead of sitting in commuter traffic and getting home late and tired, we’d go for an evening swim. In the winter we’d take wild, blowy walks on an empty beach and grab something to eat at the Tide Shack.”

They’d talked about it, but was he really considering it?

“You have a thriving business. In London.”

“Mmm. The way I see it, there are two options. One is for me to keep that business as it is and commute from here a few days a week. Delegate more.”

“You’d be on the road the whole time and pulled between two places.”

“I could make it work. I’d go up to London Monday night and be there Tuesday through to Thursday night or something.”

She reached out and swept droplets of water from his cheek with her thumb. “Then we’d have to keep the London house and we can’t afford both.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her in for a kiss. “You’re putting up obstacles.”

“I’m being practical. That’s what I do.”

“Well, don’t do what you do.” He sat up. “Alternatively, I talk to my partners and explore the idea of opening an office down here, focusing on coastal properties. Plenty of people want to reimagine the space they’re living in and I’m good at that side of things.”

She thought about how he’d transformed their small terraced house in London into a light-filled space. “Yes, you are.”

“I’d still have to do the occasional trip to London, but the bulk of my work would be here.”

She thought about what her life could be like living here. She’d have the beach. She’d be able to focus more on her art. She’d be able to see more of her mother, and also Angie.

Liza had visited her the day before, not wanting to leave without saying goodbye.

In the end she’d been honest with her old friend, as Angie had been with her, and that one conversation had reminded her why the connection between them had always been so strong. There were few people in life with whom you could trust your innermost secrets, but Angie was one of those.

She shifted her attention back to Sean. “Do you think you’d get enough work to justify setting up an office?”

“I don’t know, but I’m excited to try.”