Chloe looked at me and shook her head. The risk of running into Zak was the only thing I didn’t like about living in Nightingale Square and I hoped Luke was going to take up Finn’s offer to finish off any outstanding jobs.

‘Well thanks for that, Freya,’ Finn said tartly, once Zak was out of earshot.

‘What?’ I frowned.

‘She only spoke up for you,’ Chloe pointed out.

I wondered if Finn had mentioned her to Zak too.

‘Exactly,’ he rumbled, ‘and I’ll never hear the bloody last of it, will I?’

‘So, I should have just stood by and let him talk to you like that, should I?’

‘Yes,’ he said, ‘that’s exactly what you should have done.’

He strode away without another word and I was left red-faced and wondering if our relationship was ever going to be plain sailing.

I was looking forward to joining everyone at Prosperous Place to discuss our Winterfest plans, but I didn’t make it over very early because I had a call from my mother to contend with first, followed by a very quick soul-soother with Peter.

‘Freya!’ Mum said by way of greeting, ‘I’ve found you at last.’

‘I did message Dad last week,’ I reminded her, ‘so you knew I was okay.’

‘Oh, I don’t mean that,’ she said with a tinkly laugh and I imagined her waving her hands about.

‘What do you mean then?’

‘I mean I’ve found out where you actually are. It’s that Prosperous Place in Norwich, isn’t it? Owned by that luscious Luke Lonsdale.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘I spotted you in the background of one of the photographs advertising this Winterfest thing he’s so keen on and then you were named in the article too. Can you believe it made the national press? I take it you’re managing the garden?’

‘Yes,’ I confirmed, inwardly cursing the efficiency of the photographer and his zoom lens, ‘yes, I am.’

‘I don’t know why you didn’t just tell us that’s where you were going,’ she said, sounding a little sulky.

‘Because, like I’ve already explained, I wanted to get settled first.’

It was ridiculous that I didn’t feel comfortable telling either her or Dad my whereabouts, but the turn the conversation then took more than justified my reason for not saying anything.

‘Well, whatever,’ she said, dismissing my explanation without further comment. ‘It says here that you’re working with him on this new Winter Garden project?’

‘That’s right.’

‘You’ll have to let us know if you need any professional input,’ she offered.

‘I am the professional input,’ I said indignantly.

‘Well, of course, you are,’ she laughed, ‘but you know what I mean.’

Unfortunately, I knew exactly what she meant. First Jackson had made out that I wasn’t up to the job his aunt had employed me to do and now my own mother was implying the very same thing. Either that, or she wanted to make sure she wasn’t missing out on a business opportunity.

‘Thank you for the offer,’ I said, biting my lip, ‘but I’m managing just fine, more than fine actually. You’ll be able to see for yourself when the garden is officially opened in a few weeks’ time.’

I knew there was no point pretending there wasn’t going to be an official opening because Luke was bound to have mentioned it in the interview.

‘Not before then?’ she wheedled.

‘Absolutely not,’ I said firmly. ‘Luke’s very protective of his privacy.’

‘Um,’ she said, ‘I had heard that about him.’

I was surprised by that, because I hadn’t. I’d only said it to keep her and Dad at arm’s length for a bit longer.

‘In that case,’ she said, ‘I suppose we’ll have to wait for December twentieth. Now, Freya, let me give you an update on what’s happening at Broad-Meadows. You won’t believe—’

‘No,’ I said, cutting her firmly off. I wasn’t at all interested in hearing what Jackson was up to. ‘Sorry, Mum, but I have to go. I have a work meeting to get to.’

‘On a Sunday?’

‘We never stop here,’ I said briskly. ‘Let’s catch up again in a few weeks.’

I ended the call before she could say anything else and rang Peter for a quick video chat. I didn’t really have time, but I didn’t want to turn up at Prosperous Place carrying an aura tainted by the aftermath of a conversation with my mother.

‘Hey, Freya,’ he said, answering with a smile.

‘Hey,’ I said, my jangling nerves settling a little as I took in his familiar face.

‘How’s it going?’

‘Good,’ I said, perhaps a little too quickly. ‘Great.’

‘Are you sure? You don’t sound it.’

‘I’ve just got off the phone with Mum.’

‘Ah.’

Peter knew full well that was enough of an explanation, but I elaborated anyway.

‘She told me to ask if I needed any professional input with the Winter Garden.’

‘That will account for the frown then.’

I ran my fingers over my forehead, trying to smooth my brow.

‘Yeah,’ I swallowed. ‘Look, I don’t actually need any help to do this.’

‘Of course, you don’t.’

‘And practically everything’s already been approved, but if I email you my plan and proposal would you just have a quick read? Confirm that I’m on the right track.’

‘That Jackson guy really undermined your confidence, didn’t he? And your mother obviously hasn’t helped either, has she?’

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to agree out loud. It was enough carrying the evidence around in my head. The Mum and Jackson combo really had struck quite a blow.

‘There’s no doubt in my mind that everything you’ve planned is perfect, but by all means send it,’ Peter said kindly. ‘I’m really interested to see what you’re working on.’

‘Thanks, Peter,’ I said, feeling better.

I took a moment to look at the detail around him. He obviously wasn’t at his place.

‘Are you in a restaurant?’ I squeaked, the second I realised I had interrupted what appeared to be an evening out.

‘I am,’ he nodded, turning the phone around so I could see a yacht-filled harbour and a very pretty woman sitting opposite him. ‘I’m actually on a date.’

‘Oh my God,’ I said, cringing as he turned the screen back to his face, ‘I’m so sorry. Why did you answer?’

‘It’s fine,’ he laughed.

‘Of course, it isn’t,’ I hissed. ‘I’m going now.’

‘Okay, but before you do, tell me, how’s that Finn fella you mentioned? Still an interesting character?’

‘Oh yeah,’ I said, rolling my eyes. ‘He’s getting more intriguing by the day. I’ll email you later and please apologise to that lovely woman you’re with.’

I hung up before he handed the phone over so I could say sorry myself. At least one of us had got our love lives back on track, that is, assuming she’d forgive him for taking a call from an ex in the middle of their dinner date.

Nell and I jogged across the road, arriving hot and flustered in the Prosperous Place kitchen and full of apology for not getting there sooner. I noticed there was no Finn either.

‘Where’s Finn?’ I whispered as I slid into the empty space next to Chloe, and Nell headed for a spot in front of the range cooker with the cats. ‘I thought he said he wasn’t backing out.’

‘He’s not. He was here,’ she whispered back, ‘you’re sitting in his seat, but he spoke first and then excused himself so he could get back to work. His session is still going ahead.’

‘And what are you doing here?’

‘You’ll find out in a minute.’

Having waited until I was settled in my seat, Carole then told us all about her grand cake and pudding plans. She was followed by Mark and Poppy and their delicious-sounding chutney and bread proposals. There was also a needlefelt session being run by Heather who had sorted childcare, planting up winter garden containers with Graham and making a woodland-inspired wreath, which was where Chloe came in.

‘I didn’t know you could do that,’ I said to her, once she had finished talking.

‘I’m full of hidden talents,’ she smiled. ‘I’m hoping you might give me a hand. But only in an assistant’s role,’ she hastily added.

So that must have been the extra session Carole had signed me up for!

Lisa and I were up next. Just like the others, we ran through what our schedule was going to include, timings for each section and what each attendee would need to bring. Had I not been helping out; I would have signed up to take part myself because it sounded wonderful. It all did.

After a quick coffee break, Luke went through the formalities and handed around the contact details of each attendee to the relevant session leader – Lisa in my case – and we drafted out emails which we then read out, before all pressing send at the same time. It might sound silly, but it was very exciting and I wished Finn could have hung on to join in with the rest of us. Being in the thick of things might have lifted his spirits again, assuming they were still sagging.

When I walked back to the square, I was tempted to knock on the studio door, but I didn’t. To be honest, I didn’t think he would have heard me anyway, because the radio was on full blast and it was accompanied by the sound of grinding metal. Even though he was cross with me for sticking up for him, I was still kind enough to hope that meant he had hit his creative stride and was happy in his work.

It can’t have been easy to keep his dream alive when faced with Zak and his father’s steady stream of disparaging remarks. Jackson’s snide comments about my lack of qualifications had ensured I could empathise with some of what he was feeling and then there was my mother’s offer of professional input which hadn’t made me feel any better either. Perhaps I should point all that out to Finn. It might be a comfort to know that he wasn’t the only one striving to fulfil his dream in the face of adversity.