She collected her bags and the presents and walked towards the café. Hammering and the bursts of drilling rang out from all sides as workers put the finishing touches to the Chef’s Theatre marquee and larger stalls. The smaller gazebo type stalls and mobile vans wouldn’t move in until very early on Saturday morning. Chloe thought that was a good thing, judging by the way the wind was gusting. She assumed the construction teams knew what they were doing. There were shouts and laughter as tradesmen worked, music blaring out from their radios.

It was strange and unfamiliar and added to her sense of disorientation. She tried not to hurry, or break into a run, even though suddenly, it seemed incredibly urgent to get to the café.

What if Hannah had changed her mind? What if they weren’t there after all?

She stopped. A group of workmen had moved away and revealed Hannah standing outside the café with the buggy. She was holding Ruby’s arms as Ruby made an attempt to toddle towards a seagull.

Ruby tottered on the cobbles, yelling loudly and straining to get to the gull.

‘No. You can’t stroke it. They’re not furry!’

Ruby’s wails as she tried to reach the gull cut through the building work and thumping radios. Ruby had on a pair of little red dungarees. Chloe recognised them. They were once Hannah’s. Hannah had kept them, then …

Chloe held her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh.

‘Mum!’

Hannah had spotted her and was waving her over. Chloe hurried forward and Hannah burst into tears. Chloe joined her, ignoring the workmen who must have been staring at them.

‘Ruby kept trying to get down off my lap and move between the tables. She’s almost ready to take a few steps on her own so I brought her outside … Oh God, I’m so sorry about everything, Mum.’

‘Me too,’ said Chloe, fighting back a sob.

Hannah picked up Ruby who squirmed in her arms. ‘There’s so much to say. So much I want to tell you.’

‘We both have, but not now. It can wait, my love.’

‘I want to hug you but I can’t …’ Tears ran down Hannah’s face. ‘Shit. I must be all snotty.’

Chloe was laughing and crying at the same time. ‘Here you are.’ She pulled a tissue from a packet in her bag.

‘Th-thanks. Can you hold Ruby, please, while I sort myself out?’

‘Try stopping me.’

Hannah passed the wriggling Ruby to Chloe who almost burst with joy and relief. Ruby stared at her, taken aback by being passed to someone new. She reached out and tugged Chloe’s hair.

‘Ow. She’s not happy, being bundled off to a strange woman.’

Hannah’s tearful face turned to a smile. ‘She’ll get used to it.’