I knew that was because I’d been preoccupied with my crafting, painting and generally helping out, so I supposed it wasn’t entirely David’s fault that he’d misread the signs.

‘I’ve got loads to do and thanks to you, Ned, I can face doing it now.’ I looked at the top of his bent head. ‘I want to say thank you for helping me get my head straight. You’ve made such a difference.’

His head bobbed up and down, but he didn’t say anything.

‘Goodness me,’ David sighed, just before the silence began to feel awkward. ‘I really thought you’d change your mind, Liza.’

‘I realise that now,’ I softly said. ‘I’m sorry, David.’

I knew I didn’t have anything to say sorry for. I’d been straight with them both practically from the day I moved back and, as Ned himself had previously pointed out, I couldn’t be responsible for other people’s actions and decisions. But none the more for that, the apology had still slipped out.

Ned cleared his throat and sat back up again.

‘To answer your first question,’ he said, sounding all business, ‘I’m no further forward with the funding issue yet. And not because I was so deluded that I thought you’d change your mind, but because there’s a lot going on here and it’s a tricky time to sort anything other than trees.’

‘I appreciate that,’ I began.

‘And with regard to your request,’ he continued, a steelier edge creeping into his tone, ‘I’d still rather wait to tell everyone.’

I was about to ask why, when Maya opened the door and stuck her head round the frame.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt…’ she said.

‘Then don’t!’ Ned shouted, making us all jump. ‘Can’t you see the bloody sign?’

Red-faced and bright-eyed she backed out and quietly closed the door again.

‘No,’ I said, adamant that I wouldn’t back down about telling everyone. ‘I can’t agree to that Ned, and there’s no need to take your annoyance out on Maya.’

His flash of temper told me he was every bit as upset as David, even if he hadn’t been as deluded as he had insinuated his father had been. I heard David get up and pour himself a cup of water from the cooler behind his desk.

‘Are you all right, Dad?’

‘Yes, yes,’ he said, turning back around. He did look a bit peaky. ‘I feel a bit of a fool, to be honest. I should have realised you wouldn’t change your mind, Liza, but I never really believed it would come to this. I suppose I’ve just blocked it all out, until now.’

‘I’m sorry,’ I said again, ‘but I did say…’

Ned put up a hand.

‘We know,’ he curtly said.