‘Erm …’ she said, uncharacteristically flustered. ‘No. Actually, Gabe said he’d come and discuss things himself.’

‘What? When?’ Sam shrieked, she couldn’t help herself.

‘Next week,’ Chloe said. ‘I hope it was OK … I told him you’d speak to him direct to make arrangements, but I think he wants to meet everyone on the committee. You’re the chair. I don’t want to take over.’

Sam spotted Drew hiding a smile. She needed to change the subject.

‘So. There’s a lot to get on with, even without our unscheduled change of chef. Zennor and Ben are amending the marketing and publicity. Drew wants to update us on how he got on with the insurance and health and safety people, and Troy was going to tell us if the harbour authority is happy with the plans to put a temporary bridge over the harbour entrance. We can charge an extra fee for crossing it and it would be a real novelty.’

Troy gave a sharp intake of breath. ‘You’ll be lucky.’

Sam braced herself. ‘OK. We’d better have Drew’s report first and then Troy can give us the bad news, if there is any, so we can come up with a solution. Then I’ll update everyone with the latest on the stallholders and sponsors.’

Sam hid a smile as Chloe laid out a lacquered pen next to a Moleskine notepad. She might be a newcomer and a little over zealous, but she’d become popular among the committee because she was willing to get involved. Some of the die-hard locals didn’t like her ‘taking over’ the festival, but as they weren’t prepared to take on the responsibility themselves, the rest of the committee thought it was tough. Sam had had to grow a thick skin as festival chairman. Not all the decisions she and the committee made were popular. Admittedly, it meant disruption, road closures and crowds for a few days, but on balance, the whole community benefited from the increased trade.

They came to the end of the agenda and while they were packing away their stuff, Chloe spoke up.

‘I have an announcement,’ she said and everyone’s ears pricked up. ‘It’s not official committee business but it does involve you all.’

‘Sounds serious,’ said Sam.

‘Only for me.’ Chloe smiled. ‘Actually, it’s pleasure, for all of us I hope. Some of you know I have a special birthday coming up next month.’

‘Are you twenty-one again?’ Troy quipped, and everyone tittered politely.

She rolled her eyes. ‘In my dreams.’

‘But you’re only a maid.’