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working with you.”
    And there it was. The inevitable but .
    My stomach flipped over as I took in the expression on Rob’s face. The disapproval. Hell, the dislike . I dropped my gaze, feeling sick, waiting for him to start really putting the boot in.
    Instead, he sighed. It was a big sigh, heavy with regret.
    “I was going to leave this till January…” he began, and my gut clenched with a sudden, horrible premonition.
    I snapped my gaze up to meet his and said quickly, “Listen, don’t make any hasty—”
    “I’ve been offered another job,” he continued, speaking over me firmly and clearly. “I’ve already informally accepted it.”
    Shit. Shit, shit, shit .
    “Rob, please,” I said quickly, stepping closer. “ Please don’t make any decisions yet. I know I’ve been a grumpy bastard but please, just think this through before you do something as drastic as leaving.”
    “I have thought it through,” Rob replied firmly. “I don’t want to work at Quicks anymore. I want to do something different.”
    Fuck. I really didn’t want to lose Rob from the team. He was solid and dependable and good-natured. Unflappable. Nothing fazed him. He got shit done, without offending or alienating anyone in the process. He smoothed over all the rough edges I created with my more…direct approach.
    Without him, I was going to be toast.
    I cleared my throat. “Okay, what’s this new job? Tell me about it.”
    “It’s with the Council,” he replied easily. “In the Finance Department.”
    “The Council!” I exclaimed, horrified. “You’ll get paid a pittance!”
    Rob just shrugged.
    “Seriously—you’ll be dropping, what, half your salary?”
    He shrugged again, seeming unconcerned. “I’ll also get an additional week of annual leave, and a way better pension. Plus the hours are standard nine to five office hours with flexitime so I can build up hours by coming in early or working late and then, if I want to leave early anytime, I can do that without having to go cap in hand to my boss.” He raised an eyebrow at me and I felt my cheeks heat.
    “Look, I’m sorry about earlier,” I said. “I was being a wanker, I know that.”
    “You were,” he agreed, “But that’s not the main reason I’m leaving. Sure, I’ll get less money in this new job, but I’ll also work way less hours and that means I can spend more time with Tim.”
    “Tim?”
    The name was out of my mouth before I could think it through.
    Rob stared at me for a long moment, then he said coldly, “My brother.”
    His brother. I racked my brains for the information I was clearly supposed to already have but came up with nothing.
    “I told you and Marley all about Tim when you interviewed me,” Rob added tightly.
    Shit. I had no absolutely no memory of Rob mentioning his brother at his interview. Nothing but a vague, uncomfortable recollection of fielding emails on my phone under the table while Marley asked Rob interview questions. In my defence, I had already decided he should be hired—the interview was for Marley’s benefit, so I’d left all the talking to her. There were always so many emails to catch up with…
    “You don’t remember,” Rob said flatly.
    “Not exactly…” I trailed off, conscious that I was the worst manager in the world and that this complete and total ignorance about Rob’s personal circumstances would not be viewed kindly by Emily in HR.
    “You don’t remember me telling you that my brother has Down’s syndrome?” His expression was disbelieving.
    Oh shit.
    I swallowed. “Rob, I—”
    “Tim’s the reason I need to go home early today. He’s been going to his support group for the last eight years and he has lots of good friends there. They’re having a Christmas party this afternoon and Mum can’t take him. It’s important to him to be there, and if it’s important to Tim, it’s important to me.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise.”
    Rob’s gaze was grim and I realised suddenly how