‘Sounds gross,’ said Zennor, but everyone else was smiling, and even Ben had a smirk on his lips as he tapped away.

Chloe took it in good part. ‘Perhaps not too many hairs … but it’s the thought that counts. Thanks, Troy.’

‘So, how much does Gabe want?’ Troy asked. ‘Stepping in at the last minute to bail us out is sure to cost.’

Chloe brightened. ‘Ah but there’s the thing and it’s another reason why I’m so late. Before my client called, Gabe’s PA phoned me with some great news. Gabe knows we lost money because of Kris going bust, so he’s offered to do it for …’ Chloe did a jazz hands gesture. ‘Free!’

Zennor snapped to attention at this news and mouthed ‘WTF?’ at Sam.

‘Wow,’ Sam said it again. It seemed her go-to reaction for any announcement regarding Gabe. It covered so much: surprise, amazement and horror.

‘That’s very generous of him,’ said Drew, sliding a questioning glance at Sam, which she couldn’t fail to notice. Zennor pressed her lips together, as if she wasn’t as impressed by Gabe’s generosity as the rest of the committee.

‘It’s bloody gobsmacking. I’d have thought he’d have been keen to make as much money as he could from his poor relations,’ said Troy.

‘Actually, he said it would be a pleasure to put something back into the community,’ said Chloe. ‘And it could be me, but I think he seemed rather surprised that he hadn’t been asked before.’

‘We haven’t been able to afford him before,’ said Sam quietly. ‘I mean his fees are way out of our price range. I heard it from one of the organisers of the Devon Grub Festival,’ she added quickly.

‘Well, he must still feel he has a connection to Porthmellow, even if he hasn’t been back much since.’

‘I haven’t seen him round here at all,’ said Troy.

Drew joined in. ‘I think he comes down to visit his parents. I saw him at the market in Truro a few years back when I was taking my mum out for the day. In fact, it was my mum who spotted him buying something at a posh bread stall. She’s always had a soft spot for him.’

‘Unlike some,’ Troy muttered. ‘He left here under a bit of a cloud. But Sam’d be able to tell you more about that than me.’

Sam found her voice. ‘That was years ago, Troy, as you well know. We were kids and we’ve all moved on a very long way since then. The important thing is that he’s agreed to bail us out now, which as you say is very generous of him. Chloe – what’s the next step? Are his team coming down to talk about the details?’

Chloe exchanged a glance with Sam. She obviously suspected that Sam and Gabe had ‘history’.