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‘Wow, sounds like you’re really making a difference.’

‘It’s a lot more fun than I’d expected,’ he mused aloud. ‘And . . . um . . .’ He hesitated. ‘I sort of broke up with Yvette today.’

‘Oh wow. I’m really sorry to hear that.’ Anyone else might have believed her — but other people hadn’t known her as long as he had.

‘You almost sound like you mean that.’

Her huff of irritation made him smile, and he could picture her rolling her eyes. ‘Fine. I’m sorry that you’ve had another relationship not work out, but I’m not going to suddenly pretend that I liked Yvette. You know it’s not my style to lie. Especially to you.’

‘‘Yeah. You’re annoyingly honest.’

‘I prefer to think refreshingly so,’ Imogen teased him. ‘How are the parentals?’

‘You know, you could call them yourself and ask.’

‘But asking you is so much easier, and so much less likely to cause arguments. I didn’t stop loving them. I just . . . don’t really know how to talk to them anymore. It’s easier to leave it to birthday cards, texts and whatever and just asking you. Last time I actually spoke to them, Dad asked me when I was going to come to my senses. It’s thetwenty-first century — you’d think they could try to be a little more open-minded.’

‘I know, Moggy.’ As much as he adored his parents, he was still torn over how badly they had treated his sister when she’d introduced her first girlfriend. ‘But they’re OK. Plodding along. Planning another holiday and grumbling about work. Same old, really.’

‘Yeah. They don’t really change much, I guess.’

‘No. So . . .’ He changed the subject. ‘How’s your love life? Met anyone gorgeous to fall in love with yet?’

‘No. Mine’s about as quiet as yours just became.’

‘Ouch. You wound me!’

‘Easy target. Besides. My wanderings were more about figuring out what I want to do next and finding myself, rather than finding a relationship with someone else.’

‘And how is that quest going? You are looking after yourself, right?’

‘Yes Ry-no.’ He could hear the frustration in her voice, but that didn’t stop him asking. She was his little sister, and that was more than enough reason to look after her, before considering other things. ‘I’m looking after myself perfectly fine. And I’m still enjoying pottering around the country. How are you taking to country life? You’ve been quieter online than you usually are. Everything OK?’

‘Yeah, it’s fine. I’m actually quite enjoying things. Bill’s — that’s the name of the sanctuary — is hard work, but at the same time it’s a calm and quite soothing place to be. I can understand why the animals like it here.’

‘Yeah, I saw the grinning donkey video. Is he really like that or did you get lucky?’

‘Nope, he’s really like that. I’ve made friends with him and his mini-harem of donkey girls. And a fox.’

‘A fox?’ Imogen laughed.

‘She chases toys and begs for treats, a lot like a dog. You know, if you came down, you could meet them,’ he wheedled, hoping the lure of meeting wild-ish animals would entice her into visiting.

‘Maybe. My contract runs for a few more weeks, then I have another one lined up in Yorkshire after that — then a few weeks on the south coast.’

‘You’re really enjoying this whole nomad-finding-yourself-thing aren’t you?’

‘I really am.’

He settled back into his seat. ‘Go on then, tell me what you’ve been up to.’

‘You know, same job, different patients, different days. Doesn’t matter which physio team I’m working with, there’s always a couple of patients who seem to “forget” their exercises the second they walk out the door, always at least one who pushes too hard too soon, and the one who doesn’t want to listen.’

‘Gold star pupils?’

‘Yeah, I’ve got a few nice ones as well.’

‘And how’s the complementary side going?’

‘It’s good.’ He could picture her smile as she got started on one of her favourite topics. ‘I’ve been allowed to practice it a bit more up here — the lead therapist here is experienced with reflexology so happy for me to recommend. And I’ve started selling some more spell bags and crystals online.’

‘And you’d sell a lot more if you let me do reels about you.’ It was an old argument that he knew the answer to, but he wasn’t going to stop trying to help her.

‘And I told you before that I really want to do this myself, at my pace — I can’t keep up with your speed. I’d probably make myself ill trying.’

‘OK, OK. Tell me more about the slow lane then.’