Jim watched Annabel performing her first gig since her illness. He was proud of the usual excellent standard of her performance, but was struggling to enjoy himself. He kept looking at his stretch, at the email he had received from the business school at Newcastle University, offering him the opportunity to continue his post-doctoral research in philosophy. Although he considered it an excellent opportunity, it would mean leaving Annabel and Olivia alone in Lancashire and he was dreading the conversation he would need to have. The thought occurred to him that if he could convince his sister to move to Lancashire, she could keep Annabel and Olivia company, and then the move might be possible.
It wasn’t the only offer he’d received. A French organisation had invited him to give a lecture i
