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‘Hi, how are you?’

‘Good thanks. Yourself?’ She had to resist the urge to step closer to him.

‘Pretty good too. Just dropping off some stuff Mum wanted.’ He glanced at the bag on the floor, being investigated by Tilly. ‘Snout out, nosey girl.’ He laughed and nudged her away.

‘What did Dr Tom want, Mum? Was it about me?’

‘No, sweetheart. It was about me.’

Summer leaped up and flung her arms round her mum’s waist. ‘You’re not sick are you? Please tell me you’re not sick!’

‘No, no.’ Guilt accosted her and she bent to reassure Summer, cursing herself for the throwaway comment. ‘He wanted to ask me if I’d work for him.’

‘Like what you did in Northumberland?’

‘A little bit like that. What do you think about that?’

Summer pursed her lips while she thought. ‘Would you work late lots?’

‘No. Dr Tom said I could pretty much pick my own hours. So I could take you to school, work for a few hours, and then pick you up.’

‘I think you should do it. You like being a nurse. And I worry you get bored when I’m at school.’

‘I’ll have to think about it, and talk to your nanny.’

‘Do it, do it, do it, do it!’

Evelyn laughed. ‘I guess I’ve got a new job, then.’

‘Congratulations.’ Jake gave her another delicious smile. ‘I suppose it’s too short notice to offer to take you out to celebrate.’

‘I haven’t said yes, yet,’ Evelyn argued, while wondering why she was hesitating.

‘But you will.’ Summer tugged on her hand until Evelyn bent down again. ‘You should say yes. Jake’s very nice and I think he likes you.’ Her whisper was far louder than Evelyn would have liked, and she looked up at him over the top of Summer’s rapidly growing curls.

From the laughter in his eyes, she guessed he’d heard every word. ‘I don’t know about celebrating. I haven’t exactly said yes yet, and I doubt I can arrange a sitter for Summer.’

‘You forgot Mum. We were going to watch the dancing on TV with Nanny tonight, and teach Tilly more tricks. We can record it for you so you can go out with Jake. Nanny won’t mind. And I promise I’ll be good for her.’

‘I’d really like you to say yes.’ Jake almost echoed the words of his dad a few minutes earlier and Evelyn wondered what it was about them both that made her agree – or consider agreeing – to things she’d planned to avoid.

‘All right. If my mum is happy to watch Summer …’

‘Of course she is! I’m her little angel!’ Summer interrupted.

‘… then yes. I’d love to go out with you to celebrate.’

‘Fantastic.’ Jake’s blue eyes sparkled. ‘I’ll pick you up around seven?’

‘Sounds good.’ Evelyn smiled back, feeling a little bit sparkly herself.

Chapter Seven

Evelyn stared at her meagre wardrobe and wondered again what on earth convinced her to agree to this. She had nothing to wear on a date, and there was good reason for that: she was a mother who was technically still married. The patch of pale skin still encircled her ring finger, evidence of where her commitment to another man had sat for years. That the marriage was only a technicality awaiting the final paperwork to come through didn’t change the fact that her daughter had been so ill recently. No, Evelyn shook her head. She’d just have to cancel.

Summer bounced into the room and landed on the bed in a fit of healthy, happy giggles, closely followed by Tilly. Evelyn smiled as she watched them wrestling on the bed, not even caring that she’d have to make it all over again. Summer was behaving like any other mischievous, normal, healthy little girl, and that meant more to Evelyn than any tidy room or household rule ever could.

‘Mum …’ Summer rolled to sit on the edge of Evelyn’s bed, swinging her feet back and forth as she fixed her with a serious look. ‘If you don’t hurry up, you’re going to be late.’