If, in my new business, I could incorporate my passion for art as therapy, utilising things collected from nature to create art, and combine it with the benefits of forest school training, then I would be on to a winner. So many students would gain from spending time outdoors and creating something unique and if I added to that the opportunity to take a few risks in a safe environment, then their confidence and self-esteem would skyrocket.

As I read the listed endorsements from the students in the brochure, along with what the leaders and assistants had to say, it dawned on me that this might well have been what Chelsea had been referring to when she mentioned the ‘forest thingy’ and Liam had cut her off, but why had this information been sent to me? I hadn’t requested it.

I stared into space as the cogs slowly whirred and my mind eventually worked it out.

This had to be a venture Ned had, at some point, thought I might consider setting up and running at Wynter’s Trees. He knew how much I loved my job and art, and how I had embraced nature to help further nurture those students most in need.

My heart skittered at the thought and I felt giddy as the realisation dawned that Wynter’s Trees would be the perfect place to set up a forest school, especially with the reserve right next door. Why hadn’t I thought of that before?

‘Because all you’ve been focused on,’ I scolded myself out loud, ‘is leaving it all behind.’

Reading through the descriptions and looking at the images again, I could see quite clearly that the plantation, the reserve and forest schools were the ideal match. There would be no need for me to look for another site to launch my venture, because I already had access to everything I needed right here.

‘Is this Ned’s way of showing me that I can have it all?’ I whispered, imagining myself working with visiting students, helping with the trees and also maintaining the decorative touches around the place. ‘If he’s given it this much thought,’ my heart danced along, ‘then he must really want me to stay.’

Just as my excitement was about to get the better of me, I remembered Ned had thrown away the information in my hand and Liam had told Chelsea that Ned had said the ‘forest thingy’ wasn’t important anymore. This idea must have originally occurred soon after I’d come back, most likely when David had thought there was a chance that I would change my mind about selling my shares.