‘Making your escape?’ Debra said, looking in while she was clearing up her things.

‘It’s not exactly an escape.’

‘That’s all you know. The Head is talking about kidnapping you and locking you up in a cupboard until next term.’

Evie laughed. ‘Then I’d better make a run for it.’

‘Is this from the kids?’ Debra indicated a large card with many signatures scrawled on it.

‘Yes, isn’t it sweet of them?’

‘I don’t see Mark’s name. He didn’t manage to get back in time then?’

‘No, and I’m sorry not to have the chance to say goodbye to him. On the other hand, he might have come to rely on me too much, so maybe it’s best as it is. I just wish I didn’t have this niggly feeling that I’ve let him down.’

‘You haven’t. You did all you could. Now, forget about this place and have a great summer. Are you going anywhere nice?’

‘A little seaside cottage for a few weeks.’

‘Lovely. With Andrew?’

‘He’ll join me in a day or two, but it’s a bit iffy at the moment. He’s very fed up with me and I don’t blame him.’

‘Never mind. Once you’ve got him down there you’ll bring him round-moonlight on the sea, romantic atmosphere. He won’t stand a chance.’

‘I hope not.’

Now that she was on the verge of losing Andrew, Evie found herself remembering how sweet-tempered and kind he was, and what a fool she would be to let him go. But all would be well. He would join her, they would spend quality time together, and all their troubles would be forgotten.

What she hadn’t told Debra was that she was clearing her things out of the cottage for the last time. It had belonged to an elderly great-uncle, who had recently died and left it to her. But he had also left a mountain of debts and the cottage had to be sold to pay them.

It was time to remove the possessions she’d left there over the years, and she had rented a van to take them. When she’d finished her goodbyes, she went out to where it was parked in the school yard.