Joanne’s eyes trailed over to the table where a young woman was taking orders. ‘Dawn,’ she called, waving her over. ‘You’re due a break. Why don’t you give Morgan a tour of the village?’

The girl was tall and pretty, and her smile revealed a perfect row of teeth.

‘Sure!’ she said, making Naomi wish Morgan had half her enthusiasm. But was it OK, leaving Morgan to roam around with someone she didn’t know?

‘Don’t worry,’ Joanne said, easing Naomi’s mind. ‘She’ll bring her back intact. Dawn’s the daughter of our local parish vicar. She’s a lovely girl.’

Morgan was already out of her chair, finishing off her brownie in one bite.

‘They may as well get some fresh air while they can,’ Joanne said. ‘Have you heard about Storm Hilda? She’ll be with us soon.’

Naomi had heard about the snowstorm, which was giving Scotland a hell of a battering. The last time she’d spoken to Ed, some roads were hit with snowdrifts but at least he’d made it to his hotel OK. As the girls said their hellos, Naomi guessed it wouldn’t do her any harm to give Morgan a little free rein.

‘I’m happy with the terms you sent me,’ Joanne said, snapping Naomi out of her thoughts. ‘I’ll email you my order later, on a two-week trial basis. We’ll see where we go from there.’

‘Lovely,’ Naomi said, beaming. It had taken time to improve her baking to a point where she felt confident selling her produce. This was her very first sale. It seemed she had been wrong about Nighbrook. The locals were far friendlier than she could have hoped for. Yet there was still a warning whisper deep in her psyche. Don’t forget about the Harpers.

‘Joanne,’ Naomi said, summoning up all her courage as the woman began to walk away. ‘Is there anything I need to know?’

A cloud crossed Joanne’s face. ‘As in?’

‘The Harpers,’ she blurted, a blush staining her cheeks.

Was it her imagination or had the café fallen quiet? She wrapped her fingers around her mug as all eyes fell on her.

‘Sorry, I’m not with you,’ Joanne said, rigid in her stance.

Instantly, Naomi regretted the question. ‘We’re living in their house . . . I . . . um . . . I was wondering if there was anything I need to worry about, you know . . . with them disappearing so suddenly.’

Joanne’s sparse brows turned downward in a frown. ‘But that was ten years ago.’ Her gaze flickered around the room before returning to Naomi, and her customers looked away. ‘You surely don’t think you’re in any danger . . . do you?’

Awkward laughter escaped Naomi’s lips. ‘No, sorry, of course not.’

What was she apologising for?

‘That’s all right then,’ Joanne said. ‘Because we’ve moved on since then. It’s best you do too.’