“Not boring. Careful, maybe. Caring, definitely.” Maybe this conversation had been a mistake. She wasn’t in a position to help or influence even if she wanted to, and generally she was of the opinion that a person had the complete right to mess up their own lives free of interference. But this was her daughter. “You care deeply about those close to you and you always put their happiness first. You were the same as a child.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“It can be bad if it means people take advantage of you. If something needs doing, they know you’ll do it.” And suddenly it came to her. The answer. It wasn’t interference if you gently nudged someone in a particular direction. They still had choice. “And because I know you’ll do what people need you to do, I’m going to ask one more thing of you.” She didn’t need to extend this uncomfortable conversation, she simply needed to manipulate the situation to achieve the outcome she wanted.

“You told me I should start saying no,” Liza said, “and now you’re asking me to do something else?”

“Yes,” Kathleen said. “Selfish of me, I know, but I need someone to help me out with this. I should have asked you sooner.” If she’d thought of it, she would have. She’d been tackling this the wrong way. “Would you check on Popeye a couple of times when I’m away?”

“I thought you said someone was feeding him?”

“They are, but you know Popeye. He’s an independent soul, and I’ve never left him for this long. I’d be happier if I knew someone I trust is keeping an eye on him. Maybe giving him a cuddle.” She sent a silent apology to Popeye who, generally speaking, wasn’t big on cuddles. Any guilt she felt at exploiting Liza’s good nature and sense of responsibility, was diluted by the fact that her request was in a good cause.

“I’ll try, but the girls are busy and there is no way we’re leaving them after what happened last time—”

“Why not go alone? Leave Sean to keep an eye on the girls. You might enjoy it. There is nothing like an early morning walk on the beach when you’re the only one there. Sometimes I take my coffee down there and sit on the sand.”

“You do?” Liza glanced at her. “I didn’t know that.”

“Now you’re going to tell me it sounds like a risky undertaking.”

“I think it sounds blissful. I’d give a lot to have a peaceful half hour on the beach with no one around.”

“Then do it. Spend the weekend at the cottage. Have some time to yourself. Why not?”

“Well, because—” Liza frowned. “I never go anywhere by myself. We do everything together.”

And that, Kathleen thought, was the problem.