‘It hadn’t kicked off then. It was when word got out about Moorside being sold that I started to get enquiries for the other two. Molly and I talked about it and decided that it was too good an offer to refuse and now would be a good time for us to retire to our place in Cannes and enjoy some sunshine.’

‘Can’t see you retired somehow,’ Belinda said. ‘I give you six months and you’ll be running a club somewhere on the coast.’

‘Don’t think Molly will let me,’ Nigel said. ‘With this health scare of hers, she’s determined we’re going to take things quieter, enjoy life. Now, Belinda,’ and Nigel’s voice changed.

Belinda tensed, dreading what was coming next.

‘The new owners are happy to keep you on as manager for Riverside and for you to live in your apartment until New Year. But in January they intend to review the situation.’

Belinda suspected there would be a hidden agenda in there. Use her expertise and pick her brains and then, come January in all probability, they’d ‘restructure’ the business and she’d lose her job and her home. Maybe it would be better to leave before she was pushed.

‘Can I have time to think about it before agreeing to stay on? Perhaps it’s time for me to have a change too,’ Belinda said. ‘When is the sale due to be completed?’

‘End of June. Whatever you decide, I promise Molly and I will see you all right. We’ve already earmarked a healthy bonus for you from the sale proceeds. A reward for all you’ve done over the past few years.’

‘That’s so good of you, Nigel, thank you. Have you sold the campsite as well?’

‘Still under negotiation, but yes, the idea is to sell that too.’

Briefly, Belinda wondered how Alain would feel about that. She knew how she felt as Nigel ended the call. Sick at the unexpectedness of it and shattered as yet another problem reared its head in her life. It seemed as if her whole world had started to implode since she’d arrived back in Brittany.

Belinda was still sitting outside when Alain got home, playing an aimless game of solitaire on the laptop while trying to get her head around the three major problems life had hoisted on her. First, there was the problem of her father. Should she go and see him while she was over here in France? Or would it be too painful for both of them? Second, should she stay, keep her home and work for the new company until the end of the year – or leave? And last, but not least, was Chloe’s imminent move to Vendée. Go with them? Or not?

She could hear Alain moving around in the kitchen and the oven being slammed before he appeared on the terrace.

‘Hi,’ she said. ‘How did your meeting go?’