Drew was probably right. It was tempting to ask him even more about what happened but she didn’t want to pry any further into Sam’s private life.

‘I thought the atmosphere was a little tense at the pub. It must be awkward for both of them … Anyway, how are you? Busy with the Marisco?’

‘Now the season’s here, I am. We’re supposed to be out tomorrow night for a week’s charter so I’ll miss the next meeting.’

‘Where are you going this time?’

‘Back round the south coast to Brixham. Old stamping ground for me, I used to work out of there. Lived there for five years.’

‘I didn’t know that you’d crossed the Tamar,’ Chloe teased.

‘Now and again, I try to bear it.’ Drew grinned. ‘And besides my ex still lives there.’

‘Your ex … you mean a girlfriend?’ Chloe was genuinely surprised. Sam hadn’t told her there was an ex-partner in Drew’s life – maybe she wasn’t so ex if Drew was making regular visits to Brixham.

‘No, Katya’s my ex-wife.’

‘Wife … Oh, I see.’ Wow. Even though she was reasonably new to the village, she thought she at least knew the basics about her fellow committee members, but this was a surprise. If Drew had a secret like this, what else didn’t she know? Everyone was hiding something, she realised … or at least keeping it quiet.

‘We’re getting a divorce,’ said Drew. ‘We’ve been separated for years but we never got round to the legal stuff. I’m expecting it to come through in a few weeks.’ He sighed. ‘We grew apart years ago and as splits go, it’s been pretty amicable, but it does feel like the end of an era.’

‘I’m sorry. I had no idea you were married.’

‘It’s sad, even though it’s for the best. Katya’s Polish and she wants to take Connor back to Krakow to be closer to her family.’ He sipped his pint.

‘Connor …’

‘My son.’ Drew smiled. ‘He’s eleven. Starting big school next year …’ His voice trailed off and his smile faded. ‘Looks like that’ll be in Poland now.’

‘Oh, I hope not for your sake.’

He shrugged. ‘Might never happen so what’s the point of worrying about it?’

‘I’d no idea.’

‘Why would you? I tend to keep my private life quiet, but I go and see him whenever I can and it fits in with Katya’s plans.’

Chloe could definitely empathise. ‘That’s very hard,’ she said; she almost daren’t say any more.