‘I think I’ll take some time off work. I’ll look after Ben and Harry and the home for now.’

Miles stiffens in surprise. ‘But … but … what about BPC?’

‘Well, I’m putting the business on the back burner at the moment.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, we’ve only got two clients at the moment and Aristos is very quiet these days, so the small amount of work I’m doing, I can do from home.’

‘That’s a surprise. Why didn’t you tell me?’ He raises his shoulders and his palms.

‘Because you’ve had so much on what with losing your mother. I didn’t want to worry you about my business.’

He frowns. ‘But what about Ted and Julie?’

‘Ted’s freelancing doing a few tax returns, sorting out another friend’s business accounts. Julie’s helping her new partner set up a business. So they are coping.’ I pause and sigh. ‘They’ll be OK for a while, I suppose.’

Miles’ golden brown eyes darken. He squeezes my hand again. ‘We’ll soon get that money from my mother’s estate and then you’ll easily be able to use it to build BPC up again. Is that what you need, some more capital when the loan runs out?’

‘In a word, yes.’

‘Well I can’t think of a better use to put my inheritance to.’

I lean across the table and kiss him. ‘Thank you so very much.’

‘That’s fine. It’s a no-brainer isn’t it, wanting to help my wife?’ He pauses. ‘Are you sure you’re happy to stay home and look after the boys for a while? I don’t want you bored and unhappy at home. You could apply to work for someone else in the meantime. We can get a nanny again anytime you want.’

‘After everything that’s happened I think a short break from a guest in the house will do us all good. And we can use me staying at home as the excuse for letting Hayley go. But yes. As soon as Caprice’s money comes in I’d love to pump it into BPC and go back to work.’ I pause, and sip my tea. ‘So who’s going to tell Hayley?’

‘I’ll tell her,’ Miles says. ‘She’s closer to me.’

174

Miles