Ned lifted his office chair around to the front of his desk and I pulled out the one next to David’s. They both looked expectant and I felt my nerves hitch up another notch.

‘Right,’ I said, clearing my throat. ‘I know it’s not quite Christmas yet, but I wanted to have a quick chat following on from what was discussed during our last meeting.’

‘It’s been a busy time, that’s for sure,’ said Ned, ‘so it would be good to have an update on how things stand.’

I was rather hoping he was going to be the one to update me because my stance hadn’t changed in the slightest. All I wanted to know was, had he raised the money and could I tell everyone what my plans were?

‘We’ve really enjoyed seeing you throwing yourself into everything,’ David carried merrily on. ‘Quite literally,’ he added, with a nod to my ankle.

I knew he’d got completely the wrong end of the stick. I’d thrown myself into everything to pass the time, not because I was trying to learn the ropes.

‘Right,’ I said, biting my lip as my palms began to sweat.

‘Go on,’ said Ned.

His tone was suddenly the polar opposite of David’s. It was resigned now, bordering on hard, and I realised he’d sussed why I’d called the meeting, even though his dad hadn’t.

‘Well,’ I said, rubbing my hands down my jeans and forcing myself to look at him, ‘what I wanted to ask, is whether you’ve had any opportunity to raise the money to buy me out yet? And I also wanted,’ I carried on, before I chickened out, ‘to say to you that we need to share the news about my new business. It feels deceitful having kept everyone in the dark for so long. We’ve let them come to the wrong conclusion about why I’m here.’

There, I’d said it. I’d said it all and the sky hadn’t caved in and no one had keeled over. So far so good.

‘I see,’ Ned brusquely said.

Or not.

‘You mean,’ David stammered, looking crestfallen, ‘that you still want to go ahead and sell? You still want to leave Wynter’s Trees?’

‘Of course, she does,’ Ned rumbled.

‘Yes, David,’ I answered, trying to stay strong, even though the look in his eyes was squeezing my heart. ‘I do. I told you right from the start that I wouldn’t change my mind, didn’t I?’

‘She did,’ said Ned, running his hands through his hair. ‘You were sitting in that chair when she said it, Dad. Are you going to leave before Christmas?’ he then abruptly asked me.

‘No,’ I said, ‘I’ll still stay, if that’s all right? I haven’t made a start on sorting anything out in the lodge yet.’