Her request gave me the perfect opportunity to spread the word that I was selling my shares in the business. I knew Maya wasn’t the gossiping type, but armed with such gargantuan news she wouldn’t be able to resist telling someone and, depending on who’s ear her words poured into, then that would be enough.

‘Sorry,’ she said, shaking her head when I didn’t immediately answer. ‘Forget I asked. It’s none of my business.’

‘No,’ I said, ‘it’s fine. I can completely understand that you’d want to know. Given Ned’s reaction to you walking in, you’re probably thinking it was something pretty important.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I am.’

‘Well, it was.’ I told her, gearing up to share, ‘but don’t worry. It was nothing to do with your job or Liam’s, if that’s what’s playing on your mind.’

I don’t know why, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything further. It was the ideal time and should have been, given the set-up and how much I wanted it to happen, the easiest thing in the world to explain, but I just couldn’t do it.

‘Thank goodness for that,’ said Maya, wilting with relief. ‘Now Ned and I are finally getting somewhere, I’d hate it if I couldn’t work with him.’

‘You’ve no worries there,’ I told her. ‘With David about to retire, you’re needed more than ever.’

‘Phew,’ she grinned, wiping imaginary sweat from her smooth brow.

‘And thanks for the thought,’ I quickly added, ‘but you needn’t worry about finding someone for me to spend Christmas with either. I’m very happily single right now.’

‘How about a winter warmer?’ she giggled. ‘A festive fling?’

‘No thanks,’ I breezily said. ‘I’m good.’

‘Sure?’ she wheedled.

She sounded disappointed and I hoped she hadn’t already got someone in mind.

‘One hundred and ten per cent.’

‘Oh well,’ she shrugged, ‘in that case, I’d better get back to work.’

She handed me her mug and stood up.

‘Oh, but before I go, I have a favour to ask,’ she said, sitting back down again. ‘I can’t believe I almost forgot.’

‘What is it?’

‘Well,’ she said, ‘I really wanted to go with Ned to Wynbridge tomorrow.’

‘To Wynbridge?’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘You know, that place in the Fens. It’s their Christmas tree auction this weekend and we supply a lot of the trees. Ned usually goes on his own to deliver them, but a couple of weeks ago he said that this year we could make the trip together.’

‘Well, that’s all right then, isn’t it?’ I shrugged. ‘If he’s already suggested it…’

‘It was all right,’ she cut in, ‘but now he’s changed his mind. He says he needs someone here he can rely on and who knows the rental system.’