Because the truth was too painful to admit. Hannah wasn’t a Fresher. She’d actually left university the previous year and was now living in Bristol with her boyfriend, Jordan, and their baby – Chloe’s granddaughter – Ruby. Neither Sam, nor any of the committee members knew she was a granny. She couldn’t face talking about the situation. It was too raw and bizarrely, Chloe also felt ashamed of it. Everyone around her seemed to have close bonds, especially Zennor and Sam. Even though she’d heard on the grapevine that they were estranged from their older brother and that Sam might empathise, she still couldn’t bring herself to talk about her own family problems. She might break down or act unprofessionally. It felt like something she had to deal with herself so she buttoned it up and put on a front.

She poured a glass of iced water from the chiller and took it out onto the balcony. The drizzle hadn’t quite stopped, though she didn’t much care. On the horizon, a shaft of light had pierced the pewter clouds and lit up the angry waves.

Although it didn’t make her feel any better to see the sun, she couldn’t help thinking of how much Hannah would enjoy the view. Her daughter always loved Cornwall, and they’d spent many happy holidays in Porthmellow right up until Hannah had gone to university.

Ruby would love the beach, she was just getting to the age when the sand would be fascinating. Chloe allowed herself a moment to picture her granddaughter – just over ten months now – clutching her granny’s hand while paddling in the sea. She would sit on the beach rug she’d bought in the hope that Ruby would visit, Ruby letting sand trail through her chubby fingers … Ruby giggling and Hannah wiping ice cream from her daughter’s mouth. Later, while Ruby slept in the cot that Chloe had bought for the spare bedroom, she and Hannah would make jiaozi dumplings together and share a glass of wine on the terrace while the sun set over the headland.

However, her fantasy seemed more ridiculous than ever. Hannah knew that Chloe had moved to Cornwall, but it had made no difference. Hannah had responded briefly that she didn’t want to have any contact with either her mother or father and they were to leave her alone. Only that morning, Chloe’s latest email had come back with a terse line saying; ‘Don’t try to contact me, Mum.’