‘Here in Porthmellow,’ Sam said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. ‘I just met her and Ruby in the Harbour Café. She’s been trying to call you.’

A few minutes later, Chloe phoned the Harbour Café number and the owner answered and passed her on to Hannah.

‘Hannah?’

‘Mum? I’ve been trying to get you. I had no signal and then my battery ran out so I came to this café. You know that place that used to have the chocolate eclairs that you and Dad used to like, but it looks a lot different.’ Hannah lowered her voice. ‘It’s gone all trendy with artisan coffee and vegan brownies …’ She giggled nervously. ‘Who’d have thought Porthmellow would turn hipster-ish?’

Chloe didn’t know whether to laugh or to weep with relief. This was the Hannah she used to know. The one she’d known until a couple of years previously when she’d met Jordan.

‘I’ve been to Bristol to the flat,’ Chloe said.

‘I know. Sam told me … and I’ve been here. We’ve been going in opposite directions. I should have called, but I didn’t know what to say after everything that’s gone on between us. In the end I thought it would just be better to see you face to face so I drove down here and found the Crow’s Nest, but you weren’t in and your neighbour wasn’t sure when you’d be back … I was petrified you’d gone on holiday or something then I realised you wouldn’t because you’ve been organising this festival.’

She listened, astonished that Hannah had known about the Crow’s Nest and the festival. Her emails and messages hadn’t fallen on deaf ears. Hannah had been interested …

‘But why are you in the café?’

‘Ruby needed feeding and changing and I asked if I could charge my phone. Then your friend Sam walked in and I heard them mention your name … and I said who I was. They were so nice. Sam offered me her phone, but the woman who owns the café let me use the landline. That was when Sam mentioned you’d gone to Bristol to find me. She seems really nice.’

‘She is.’ Chloe thanked her lucky stars for her friends and that she’d finally told them the truth about her situation. ‘Hannah, I’m almost in Porthmellow now. Will you be OK to wait at the café? It closes at five.’

‘Not tonight. They’re open until nine because they’re having a music event, but they said I can stay until that starts at seven. The harbour is heaving with workmen setting everything up for the food festival. Mum, it’s huge. I can’t believe you’re involved.’