Belinda gave Fern a quick hug. ‘I know it doesn’t change anything, but it’s true. You have to hang on to that thought. If Scott wants a proper relationship with you, he will find a way. If not, you will be happy that you met him even for a short time and carry on with your life here.’ She moved away from Fern and picked up a stray cube of cheese from the work surface. ‘Listen to me, don’t I sound all grown-up and philosophical about things? When I’m truly not. If I was, I’d know what to do about Chloe’s recent bombshell.’

‘Which is?’

‘Max has a new job at a marina in the Vendée. Brilliant promotion for him, from what they say, and Chloe is desperate for me to go with them. Give up my job and my flat. I’m not sure.’ It was her turn to grimace at Fern. ‘Que sera sera.’ Belinda picked up a dish of olives and cashews. ‘Enough. Shall I take these through and we can get the show on the road?’

‘Good idea. You and Alain look very comfortable together by the way. I’m guessing you no longer want to shoot him?’

‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Belinda smiled. ‘He has his moments. But he’s definitely growing on me,’ she added quietly.

Conversation between the five of them flowed from subject to subject. As they all made appreciative noises and tucked into the maigret de canard with caramelised onions and sauté potatoes that Fern placed in front of them, Belinda remembered something she wanted to ask Fern that had been floating around in her mind for days now. Something that she should really run past Alain before putting it out there, but she decided she’d risk upsetting him.

‘We’re looking to employ a couple of people to run the café for us this season,’ she said. ‘And I know you don’t want a full-time job like that, but would you be interested in providing the cakes, desserts and possibly a couple of main meals like lasagna.’ Without looking at him, Belinda sensed that Alain was staring at her.

‘What about the village bakery?’ Fern asked. ‘Won’t that be stepping on their toes?’

‘They’re already providing croissettes, bread and a few cakes to the shop and, of course, we’ll sell some of their stuff too in the café, but it would be nice to have a bit of variety.’ She looked at Fern hopefully. ‘You’re such a brilliant cook. And it would keep you out of mischief for the next few weeks.’

‘It’s a big commitment, but I’ll definitely think about it,’ Fern said.

After that, the conversation turned to other things and it wasn’t until Belinda and Alain started to say their thank yous prior to leaving that Anouk spoke directly to Belinda.