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morning. I’ve tried ringing a few times.’
    ‘The phone has never stopped since I got in,’ she replied pleasantly. ‘Still, all business is good business. How is yours going? I’ve been meaning to pop in but have had family stuff going on.’
    ‘Not bad, thanks. Listen I’ve got hold of another seascape. You know you liked that one that I had on show at the opening? Well it’s not the same, of course, but it is the same Seurat style. Would you like to come over at lunch time and have a look? I’ve got sandwiches and coffee if you’d like to join me.’
    ‘Chloe, you are a life-saver. I really need an excuse to get out for a while. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. One more phone call to make.’
    There wasn’t another phone call to make, of course, but Judith liked to play the game. Half an hour later she walked around the market place and down the hill a little way to Chloe’s shop. Judith was seldom genuinely impressed by anything so it was easy to be enthusiastic.
    ‘Chloe, it looks really good. I am so glad you didn’t go for the cluttered old treasures look. There are a couple across the road from me that probably are full of treasures, but who could be bothered to rummage through and find them? No, this is really lovely.’
    Chloe positively glowed. ‘Thank you, Judith. Come through and have a sandwich then I’ll show you the painting.’ She led Judith through to the small, but again seemingly empty, office and offered delicate sandwiches on china plates and tea in china cups. Perfect, and all in keeping with the surroundings.
    They chatted about their respective businesses for a while, then Chloe said, ‘You said you had family stuff going on. Do you have children?’
    ‘No I don’t. I have an elderly mother who isn’t well at all. My poor sister has been struggling to look after her for a while now. I do what I can, of course, but when you have a business to run there aren’t enough hours in the day.’
    ‘I know what you mean,’ she agreed. ‘I’m dreading when my dad gets to that stage, though he’s pretty fit at the moment. I worry that he lives in Spain so I can’t keep an eye on him.’
    ‘My mum’s physically fit, but she forgets where she is, who she is, who we all are.’ She looked away and took a deep breath.
    ‘Oh, Judith, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I wouldn’t have asked if I’d known.’
    ‘It’s OK. I’ll have to learn to deal with it. We took the very difficult decision to put her into Mill View. I know the manager there so I know she’ll be well cared for. We all went out there together on Monday; my niece as well. She’s just seventeen so shouldn’t have to be a carer at her age.’
    ‘You sound like a really close family. That’s so nice. Anyway Mill View is only down the road.’
    ‘Yes we are, very close. It’s such a comfort at times like this. It sort of helps to deal with the guilt.’
    ‘Now you must not feel guilty. If you believe that Mill View is the best thing for your mum, that’s the best you can do. It’s lovely there, and you can go and visit any time you like. Now, shall we have a look at the seascape I bought at auction at the weekend?’
    Judith spent a little while studying the picture. She quite liked it with its strange dappled effect with dots and shading but dreaded how much it would cost. She couldn’t forget the tax demand, or the order for the new sports car.
    ‘It’s a little bigger than I really wanted,’ she said eventually, ‘although I do like it.’
    ‘It’s by Goquin,’ said Chloe. ‘He’s French and not terribly well-known here yet. They love him in France and liken him to Seurat; what do you think? It’s a really good investment at £ 750. It will probably be worth double that in ten years.’
    Judith maintained the interested expression and thought about her next move. It was quite impossible to even consider buying it.
    ‘It’s about the right price range,’ she ventured, ‘but I’m