‘Initially we rubbed each other up the wrong way, mainly because he’s got definite ideas about how he wants the site to be which are different to the way Nigel sees it. Nigel being the owner though, as far as I’m concerned, gets the final say.’ Belinda laughed. ‘Alain called me bossy and uptight at one stage. And I thought he was a Frenchman with a bad attitude. But we got over it.’ Belinda took her phone out. ‘These don’t do it justice and once all the work is complete it will look even better. It’s very child-friendly in the old-fashioned way – places to build dens, play games and generally just have fun. And that’s down to Alain.’ She handed her phone over to Chloe, who scrolled through.

‘It does look nice. Oh, who’s the hero with the chainsaw?’

‘That’s Alain,’ Belinda said. ‘Mr Attitude himself.’

Fern smiled to herself Sunday morning as she took half a dozen hot cross buns out of the freezer to heat through. As far as she was concerned, Easter wasn’t Easter without a spicy bun and she’d enjoyed one for breakfast on the traditional morning they were eaten, Good Friday. She hoped that both Scott and Anouk would enjoy the warm spicy buns slathered with creamy local Breton butter. Standing in the kitchen preparing breakfast for everyone, Fern realised the whole Easter weekend had somehow started to resemble a mini Christmas celebration, with the emphasis on extra-special meals.

Last night, dinner had been a fresh seafood platter with salad, followed by individual lemon soufflés. Lunch today would be roast lamb with roast potatoes and parsnips, tender asparagus, petite carrots and, because she was English, gravy and mint sauce. There was a fresh fruit salad to follow the ubiquitous cheeseboard that she knew Anouk would expect. And, of course, that expensive bottle of champagne that Scott had provided would be opened and enjoyed.

Last evening over supper, Scott had offered to accompany Anouk to church when she said she’d like to go to morning service. After breakfast, when they’d both sampled the buns and enjoyed them, they set off together, Anouk leaning on Scott’s arm rather than using her stick.

Once her routine chores were done, Fern started to prepare lunch. Memories of the previous evening floated into her mind as she peeled vegetables. Memories of happy laughter between friends. Sitting out on the terrace as dusk fell and the solar lights dotted around the garden came on, she’d felt truly happy for the first time in months. Anouk too was smiling and laughing more than she had done since Laurent’s passing. Perhaps they were both coming to terms with their loss and exiting that dreadful depressing time of their lives.