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It was harder for him. She knew that. He was older. He remembered better than she did. Best to change the subject.

“Better be getting into work,” she said. “I’ve got those invoices to clear up. I’ll go through them again this morning.”

“I’ll do it,” her father said.

She stopped chewing her toast. “Sorry?”

“I did used to do all the accounting before you took over,” he said. “It might do some good to have a fresh pair of eyes on things. Besides, you’ve probably got enough to do, don’t you? There’s a stack of tax forms that need to be posted. You’ll need to get some shopping in ‘cos there’s no biscuits in the garage and we’re almost out of milk. Oh, and I need a new prescription for my meds. You can pop into the surgery and get that for me, too.”

For a second, Sophie considered this, then she shrugged and nodded. “Fair enough.” Like she wasn’t eager to go. Like she wasn’t thinking about going right this second.

Ordinarily, going back and forth through town and running errands wouldn’t have made her particularly happy. Today was different, though. Today she was practically bolting her breakfast in order to go out.

Because the longer she was out and about, the more chance there was that she might bump into Tilly.

Tilly with her blonde curls and long eyelashes, with her crooked smile and her peachy skin. Just the thought of her made Sophie’s pulse start to race.

She finished up her breakfast. “I’ll be getting on with things then,” she said, getting up from the table.

Not that she was about to mention Tilly to anyone at home. Definitely not. It was very early days, but there was something there and she knew it. Something sparkly and lovely, so it was like standing on the bank of a cool lake on a hot summer day.

And if she could somehow run into Tilly without making a fuss about things, and without having to wait for another choir rehearsal, well, that was all for the better, wasn’t it?

THE VILLAGE SHOP was quiet at this time in the morning. Sylv was sweeping up by the door when Sophie came in.

“What you looking for, then?” Sylv asked as Sophie craned her neck down the small aisles.

“Nothing,” said Sophie. “Just, um, wondering who else might be in, that’s all.”

“Not a soul in here,” Sylv said cheerfully. “Have a good time last night?”

Sophie felt herself blush, then she coughed as she figured out what Sylv was talking about. “Oh, at choir? Yes. It was better than expected, actually, you?”

“I like a good sing,” Sylv said, taking the milk that Sophie was holding. “Nice to see so many people come out as well. Especially after the orchestra debacle. And that new policewoman as well.”

“Police officer,” said Sophie, leaning on the counter. This was her chance. Sylv was the biggest gossip in town. “She seems alright.”

“Bit of an ‘abide by the letter of the law’ type, from what I’ve heard. Gave Adelaide Park a ticket for parking in front of the bookshop to unload her car.”

“Well, Ad does insist on driving those big American SUVs,” Sophie said. “Her car does sort of block the street.”

“What about her telling Josh at the pub that those tables outside have to be exactly a meter from the curb, then?” asked Sylv.

Sophie sniffed. “I wouldn’t know about that,” she said. “But, I mean, I suppose the law’s the law, isn’t it?”

Sylv raised an eyebrow. “You’re in that girl’s corner, aren’t you? Any chance that you’d be sweet on our new policewoman?”

“Police officer,” Sophie said. She drew herself upright. “And no, obviously not. I mean, she’s police, isn’t she?”

Sylv took a look at Sophie, then obviously remembered who she was, who her father and her brother were, and nodded. “Yeah, fair point. Shall I put this on your tab?”

“Please,” Sophie said, scooping the shopping into her bag. She left the shop.

Okay, so there was a small hiccup in all of this. Tilly was pretty and funny and in the choir, meaning Gio wouldn’t be around to interfere. Sophie liked her, and she was pretty sure that Tilly liked her, too.

But yes, Tilly was a police officer. Not exactly ideal. But then, it wasn’t like her dad had told her not to date police officers. Mostly because he’d probably never imagine that she would, but still, it wasn’t forbidden.

And it wasn’t like her dad and her brother were career criminals or anything. They weren’t. Both had had their issues, mostly after a few beers in the pub, but they weren’t the Kray Twins. They just… didn’t always keep to the letter of the law. The spirit of the law, yes. But Sophie knew that there were always shortcuts and corners that got cut, and that being a hundred percent respectable wasn’t really a priority.