‘So,’ said Abbie, when Noah was out of earshot, ‘how are you getting on with Maya? I saw the pair of you chatting earlier and it looked like you’ve been friends forever.’

‘It feels like it, too,’ I told her. ‘We properly hit it off as soon as I’d explained that what she’d overheard in the pub was nothing like she thought it was. She’s so thoughtful and hardworking. She’s perfect for Wynter’s.’

She was perfect for Ned too, but I didn’t add that.

‘And what about Chelsea?’ asked Wren, with a nod to Liam, who was busy tidying the yard in spite of the rain. ‘Have you really settled your differences with her?’

The pair now knew some of what Chelsea had put me through at school, but I hadn’t breathed a word to anyone about any of what she had confided in me the day after I’d offered Liam a job.

‘We’ve certainly cleared the air,’ I said, with a happy sigh, ‘And boy, do I feel better for it. If there’s one thing I’ve realised since coming back here it’s that if you can’t see the whole picture, then things aren’t always what they seem on the surface.’ I thought for a moment and then added, ‘and I’ve also worked out there’s nothing healthy about holding on to past hurts either.’

‘That sounds like a very healthy attitude,’ said Sue, who had come in behind me and thanks to the drumming rain I hadn’t heard.

‘Ow,’ I winced, as I flinched and jarred my ankle as a result.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, my love,’ she said, looking upset. ‘I didn’t mean to make you jump. Is that ankle still giving you gip?’

‘Don’t worry,’ I said, ‘Not really. As long as I don’t make any sudden moves, it’s fine. I’ve been careful in the yard though. It’s so wet today, I’ve been worried about slipping.’

We all looked out at the driving rain.

‘This will soon pass,’ Sue sagely said. ‘I wouldn’t let a few hours of wet weather hamper you settling back down, my love.’

‘I suppose not,’ I tensely said, while privately cursing Ned because he still maintained he wasn’t ready for me to publicly share my plans.

I looked up to find three pair of eyes staring at me and was just wondering if I could somehow drop a hint, when Noah came sprinting back across the yard.

‘I’ve got stew and dumplings for everyone,’ he said, putting down two brown bags, before shaking out his jacket and covering us all in freezing raindrops.

He passed around the reusable bowls and we all sighed with pleasure as we peeled off the lids and breathed in the delicious smell of herby dumplings and slow cooked stew.