‘Sorry.’ Sam forced herself to focus on the festival. ‘Well, if Gabe does intend to move to Porthmellow, it can only make our job easier,’ she said briskly. ‘If he’s around, it will be simpler for the committee to deal with him, not that I expect he’ll want to get his hands dirty by talking to us direct until the day itself. He’ll have a team of people for that. I’ll put Chloe in charge of liaising with them, since she dealt with them in the first place and has contacts.’

She was aware she sounded a bit stuffy and pompous but she didn’t care. It was inevitable she’d have to speak to and see Gabe at some point, but she intended to have as little to do with him as possible. After what had happened between them the last time they’d seen each other, she was absolutely sure he felt the same.

She checked her watch. They should have started the actual meeting almost fifteen minutes ago, but one of their party was missing. ‘More importantly, where’s Chloe got to? It’s not like her to be late. I hope there’s nothing wrong.’

Chapter Seven

Chloe perched on a stool at the breakfast bar and punched Hannah’s number into her phone before she could chicken out. This was a bad idea. Her daughter would see it was ‘Mum’ calling and probably not pick up. The most likely scenario was that the call would go to voicemail again.

Her thumb hovered over the off button.

‘Mum?’

She gripped the phone. ‘Hannah?’

‘Who else would it be?’

‘No one, but … it’s good to hear you.’

Silence. A pause. Would her daughter ring off? ‘Is everything OK?’

‘Yes. Fine … We’re fine. I’m fine and Dad was, the last time I spoke to him. I only wanted to see if you and Ruby are OK.’

Another pause. ‘Yes. We’re OK.’

Chloe couldn’t stand the tension. She heard noises: doors opening; doors slamming?

‘I should go,’ Hannah said.

‘Not yet, please. I … Are you …’ Is he there? Chloe ached to ask the question but it was too incendiary. ‘Are you on your own?’

‘I was. But not now.’

‘Oh. I see.’

‘Why do you ask, Mum?’

Hannah wasn’t stupid. ‘No reason. I only wanted to see how you were. To see if there’s any way we can … come together. I hate – I mean I’m really sad about – the way things have gone between us.’

Chloe heard a man’s voice clearly saying ‘Hannah? Who is it?’ That had to be Jordan. Was he controlling Hannah? Threatening her? Chloe wanted to be sick.

‘I have to go, Mum. Ruby’s crying.’

‘Is she OK?’

‘Of course she’s OK. Why wouldn’t she be? I can look after her.’