‘I saw that too. How do you fancy coming with me and Katya? Thought we’d take Connor along too,’ Drew asked Sam. Katya was Drew’s wife; they had a baby son together, Connor.

Sam wanted to go, but she was sure Drew was only being kind, inviting her along with his family. Drew had been one of the townspeople who’d looked out for the Lovell family after her mum had died. He was part friend, part surrogate older brother since Ryan had been sent away.

‘I don’t know. Saturday is it? I should be working …’ Sam made her pies in a small unit tucked in a back alley and sold them direct from the kitchen or from a stall at events. She’d have loved a mobile unit herself but the business was still in its early days. She baked every morning for six days a week and did a few outdoor events as well as Friday nights on the Porthmellow harbourside. She’d managed to scrape up the cash for a second-hand stall and small oven to heat the pies. Her dream was to have a proper van like some of the bigger street food businesses but she couldn’t afford that yet. For now, she had to take every opportunity to get some revenue in to pay the rent and loans on her catering kitchen. There wasn’t much time or money for extras or treats.

‘We can go along later in the day,’ said Drew. ‘Don’t you shut at lunchtime on Saturdays?’

‘You have to have some time off,’ said Evie.

Before Sam could make an excuse, Zennor jogged up. She was barefoot, dripping, and pink in the cheeks from cold and excitement. ‘Hello! Fancy coming in, anyone? Troy? I hear you were champion tombstoner back in the day.’

Troy slapped his palm over his glass. ‘Eh. Don’t drip in my pint, maid. Watered down enough as it is without you adding to it.’

‘We were talking about going to the Mousehole Autumn Festival,’ said Sam, still unsure whether to accept Drew’s offer. She was sure that Katya might not enjoy another woman taking up family time.

‘I saw the flyer. The bands sound shit,’ declared Zennor, shaking her head. Water corkscrewed off her locks and spattered the flyer, making the print run.

‘Eh!’ Troy groaned.

Sam shot her sister a glance. ‘Zen. Do you mind?’

‘About the water or saying sh—?’

‘Both, as a matter of fact. Why don’t you go and get changed? It’s getting cold out here.’

Zennor shrugged. ‘I’m fine.’

Sam bit back any further remark. She had to remind herself she was Zennor’s sister, not her mum – even if she had had to take on that role at just twenty.

‘So, does anyone fancy going?’ said Drew. ‘The invitation’s there.’