Belinda was in and out of the bathroom in five minutes flat and back in her bedroom with the door closed. She hadn’t shared a house or bathroom with a stranger since college and then, being long before the days of unisex accommodation, it was an all-female house share. Maybe they should sort out some sort of rota for the two of them if he continued to stay in the house?

She gave a quiet laugh. She could just imagine Alain’s reaction to that.

Belinda, awake early the next morning, could hear Alain singing in the shower so stayed where she was until she heard the water being turned off and Alain making his way back to his room. When she got downstairs half an hour later, the coffee machine was on, but there was no sign of Alain. She made herself a coffee and drank it standing up looking out of the kitchen window at the limited view of the forecourt area in front of the office. Alain’s car was parked next to hers, the office light was on and the door open.

She picked up her tote and the file with all the new paperwork, locked the cottage door behind her and went over to the office.

Alain looked up briefly as she walked in before returning his attention to the computer screen. ‘Bonjour.’

‘Bonjour,’ and Belinda put the file on the desk. ‘I’m planning on having a walkabout, seeing what’s happened while I’ve been away, taking those photographs I mentioned for the website. Do you want to come with me, or shall I leave you the file and you can go through the paperwork and new budget Nigel has given us, ready for a discussion when I get back?’

‘I’ll go through the file,’ Alain said. ‘Ready for the argument when you get back.’

Belinda shook her head at him, irritated by his attitude but then realised when she saw his lips twitch that he was teasing her. ‘No arguments. Discussion.’ She took her camera out of her bag. ‘Right. I’ll see you in a bit.’

With BB excited to be back and enjoying the freedom of being off the lead, Belinda wandered down the path, leading to the tent area, knowing it was empty. Still barely past eight o’clock, she didn’t want to disturb the people in the camper vans or caravan.

The shower block and the toilet block were positively gleaming with their new paintwork and tiles. The pathways were clear all round the camp, the shrubs cut back, wooden signs painted, windows of the cabins freshly washed and their wooden decking freshly varnished. Belinda took photo after photo. The transformation of the site was amazing.