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‘I wonder why she asked. I don’t think I’ve been acting any differently.’ She screwed her face up in thought as she pulled her hoodie on.

Thom pulled on his jeans and studied her. ‘You clearly are. Happier. Singing with joy, maybe. I mean, why wouldn’t you be?’

‘You’re such a wanker.’ Chloe mock hit him.

A pause stretched between them.

‘What if she does find out?’ Chloe asked quietly, smoothing her hoodie down.

‘We’re not stupid enough to get caught,’ Thom replied simply. ‘And like I said, I will never say anything.’ He leant back, more certain now. ‘And it’s just a phase, isn’t it?’

Chloe looked at him properly at that. ‘A phase? That’s what they call it now, is it?’

Thom held her gaze for a moment longer than he meant to. ‘I mean… if someone like Poppy comes along for me, and someone more your type comes along for you… well…’

Thom could see moisture in her eyes as she stood up and sniffed loudly, then spoke. ‘Actually, Thom, maybe we should stop this. No, no, actually we should stop this now. What am I doing? What am I doing?’

‘Chloe.’ He moved towards her, arms outstretched. ‘Chloe, baby. We are having fun.’

‘Yes, but you said it. I will never be the one for you. I don’t fit with who you think you should be with. Do you really know what you want either? Yes, I can’t deny, we are having fun, but the fun stops when the feelings come creeping in for one of us.’

Thom stilled. He spoke in a whisper. ‘And have they? Have feelings started creeping in for you, Chloe?’

She opened her mouth, then stopped.

A small sound came from the baby monitor, a rustle, then a whimper that built quickly into a cry.

Chloe stood. ‘I need to go up.’

Thom nodded, awkwardness creeping back in like a coat he wasn’t sure he wanted to put on. ‘I should go.’

At the door, he waited, hand still on the frame. ‘So that’s it then. Just like that. Really?’

‘Yes.’ Chloe was already turning away, heading for the stairs before anything in her face could give her away. ‘Goodbye, Thom.’

Thom stood there a second longer than he needed to, waiting for her to change her mind. Then, realising she was serious, he stepped out into the chilly air without looking back, shoulders set, jaw tight, trying to understand the cacophony of thoughts and feelings whipping through him.

Rita and Jago managed to hitch a lift back up the hill with Ned. The snow had stopped falling, settling into a fine dusting across the hedgerows and fields. Stan clearly does know everything!

Ned slowed his Land Rover as they turned into the drive behind a grey van crawling carefully up towards the farmhouse.

‘Who’s that then?’ Jago peered intently through the windscreen.

‘Ah, probably Taran Brimble.’ Rita picked up her bag ready to get out. ‘Chloe said her brother was picking her up.’

Ahead of them, the van paused awkwardly near the annexe. And then Rita saw her. Sennen. Quick as anything, hood up, slipping out of the passenger side and trying to disappear into the shadows before the headlights properly caught her.

Rita said nothing. Not a word.

Beside her, Jago frowned. ‘Was that who I think it was?’

‘Mm,’ Rita replied quietly.

The warmth of the farmhouse hit them as they stepped inside. Chloe was already standing by the kitchen worktop, coat on, bag over her shoulder.

Something about her was off immediately. Not guilty exactly. She seemed… shaken.

She barely looked either of them in the eye.