‘I know you’ll like your pressies, but Max’s is a bit boring, I’m afraid, his favourite aftershave. Men are notoriously difficult to buy for, aren’t they?’

‘Oh it’s good to have you back, Mum,’ Chloe said as she carefully unwrapped the first of her presents, a cream silk scarf printed with French scenes. ‘This is beautiful. Thank you again,’ and she tied the scarf around her neck straight away. The second present, a traditional nautical Breton top with red stripes, was also greeted with delight.

‘I bought myself one of those too,’ Belinda said. ‘One with blue stripes. I practically lived in similar ones a long time ago and they’re still incredibly popular.’

‘Thanks, Mum. So how long are you here for?’

Belinda shrugged. ‘I’m not sure if I’m going back to the campsite at all, from the way Nigel was talking. Says he needs me while Molly recuperates. Did you know he’s sold Moorside? I’m just hoping he and Molly don’t decide to get out of the hotel business completely and my job disappears.’ She didn’t add, my home would be gone too if that happens.

‘If they do, you’ll find another job, Mum,’ Chloe said. ‘Another top hotel group would snap you up. What about our camping holiday though? I was looking forward to it. And to you showing me places you knew growing up,’ she added. ‘Like where you went to school. You lived over there for a long time, but you’ve never really talked about it to me.’ She glanced at Belinda. ‘How was it really being back over there, Mum? Is the campsite close to where you lived? Did you meet anyone from those days?’

Belinda hesitated and then Chloe’s words ‘you’ve never really talked about it’ echoed in her head.

‘You can still go on your holiday, even if I’m not working over there. The campsite should be fully functional by the end of May and Alain is sure to be happier, not having me bossing him around. As for talking about that time of my life,’ Belinda shrugged, ‘you know how upset Granny always got if anyone brought up the subject of Brittany. Leaving it in the past was her way of coping. I guess I’ve followed her lead. But, yes, it did feel strange in the beginning, although after a few days, it was like I’d never been away. And I’ve made a new friend, Fern. The lady who owns the auberge where I stayed.’

Thankfully Chloe didn’t press her on talking about the past but picked up on Alain. ‘What’s this Alain like?’