‘OK. I only wanted you to know that friends would be welcome,’ said Chloe but Sam thought she’d visibly relaxed now she knew ‘plus ones’ weren’t coming along. ‘Thanks, guys. I hoped you wouldn’t think it was cheeky to ask you to bring some grub, but it sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun and I promise to keep the fizz flowing. There may even be some nice champagne.’

‘Champagne,’ Drew whistled. ‘Well, I guess you’re only forty once.’

Chloe started to reply, but she was cut off by Troy’s snort. ‘Pah. Forty’s nothing. I’ve done it twice over, but we’ll be there. My Evie likes a drop of French fizz. Don’t see the attraction myself. Makes me gassy. You might like to keep the windows open.’

Zennor gasped in horror. ‘Troy! That’s way too much information!’

Everyone else burst out laughing and Chloe smiled politely. ‘In that case, I’ll get the air freshener ready, Troy,’ she said, to more sniggers.

Sam wasn’t quite sure Chloe was so amused by the banter as she pretended. She didn’t know them that well, and perhaps Drew’s bringing up her age hadn’t gone down too well. Maybe she was sensitive about it after her divorce. Forty was a big milestone in anyone’s life, but not one Sam had to worry about for a good while yet … even so, the years could fly by and she’d once thought – hoped – she might have settled down and possibly be thinking of a family by now. The trouble was she’d never been able to see herself with anyone but Gabe. Once again, the idea that he might be – probably was – in a relationship with a partner he might bring to Porthmellow churned away in her mind.

The meeting broke up as twilight descended over the harbour. Usually the committee rewarded themselves for their hard work with a trip to one of the local pubs, meeting up with others who helped with the organisation.

Chloe slotted her tablet and files into a leather case. ‘I’ll join you later at the pub if it’s OK. I need to make a call first. It’s work again.’ Her grimace was apologetic.

‘OK,’ said Sam. ‘We’ll keep your seat warm.’

‘Thanks.’

After Chloe had left, Zennor and Ben scooted off to the pub to get a round in and Troy decided to head home to Evie so only Sam and Drew were left behind to pack up.

‘Want a hand with your stuff?’ he asked as Sam put her iPad in her bag and picked up a box of files.

‘Thanks. I’ll have to cart it to the pub with me so I could do with some help.’

‘It should be quiet at the Tinners’ tonight. The Smuggler’s has a folk band on and it’ll be noisy and packed.’