‘No, Fraser and I were already well on the rocks when the issues with Hannah began. I mean that trying to do our best – or what we thought was our best – caused a rift with Hannah. In fact, we … don’t have much contact at the moment.’

His eyebrows twitched in surprise. ‘You talk about her all the time. I thought you spoke with her every day?’

‘In my dreams. I’m afraid I’ve also been economical with the truth about my contact with Hannah.’ She let out a sigh, wishing she hadn’t lied or at least hadn’t kept her friends in Porthmellow so much in the dark. ‘We’ve been, I guess you call it estranged, for well over a year now.’ She paused again, wondering how the months had flown by so fast. ‘I can’t believe it’s been so long. She has a little girl called Ruby. I’ve never met her. Hannah lives in Bristol now with Ruby and his father – a guy called Jordan Rees. Hannah met him at uni. He was a mature student, though mature’s the wrong word for him.’

‘I’d no idea. I’m sorry to hear this, Chloe.’

‘I haven’t wanted to tell people. It’s too much to deal with myself sometimes and mostly, I don’t know how to explain it. You’re supposed to have a happy relationship with your kids, aren’t you? There’s Sam and Zennor who are so close, and they lost their mum. I don’t want to moan to them. And Evie and Troy have such a loving relationship and family. I’m new here and I can’t face all the explanations and questions, especially knowing that I – and Fraser – contributed to the rift. The committee need me to be capable and organised and professional. Not moping about.’

Drew was silent for a few seconds. Then he reached out and touched Chloe’s arm. ‘You don’t have to pretend or put on a front with me, or anyone, but I can understand that it’s too painful to talk about your personal life. I try to keep mine as private as I can, though God knows that’s hard enough in a small place like Porthmellow. Come on, you’ve started now. Tell me about this Jordan bloke, though I have to say I don’t like him already.’