“I’m sorry about this, John; you’re meant to be resting and instead you’re running around the café. Sit down. I’ll take over. How are you feeling? Okay? Not woozy? No shortness of breath?”

“Blimey, take a breath, will you? I’m fine. Feel like I’ve done a bloody good workout, but otherwise I’m fine. Besides, I’ve got my bodyguard keeping an eye on me.”

Tiggs was rubbing herself against his legs.

“She woke me up by licking my eyebrows.” John raised his eyebrows incredulously. “Never had that experience before.”

Annie made John sit down and set to with the coffee machine. Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, all indignance after having her bottom unceremoniously sniffed by a cockapoo, jumped up onto John’s lap and made herself comfortable.

The café was buzzing with talk of last night’s dramatic events. John played the whole thing down, saying it was luck that saved them and Alfred’s tenacity that kept them going, but Annie knew better. She’d heard the account John had given to the paramedics. The force of the wave had smashed Alfred’s head against the rocks and knocked him unconscious. Alfred was sucked under by the current, but John had managed to grab him and had swum them both into the mouth of the cave. He had half carried, half dragged Alfred up through the narrow tunnel to the cellar door at Saltwater Nook. John had undoubtedly saved Alfred’s life.

The café emptied out, and there was a lull, during which Gemma flitted about clearing tables ready for the lunch rush. John, still chairbound by a large ginger cat, caught Annie’s arm as she carried a box of kettle crisps.

“Can we talk for a minute?” he asked.

“Sure.” Annie stashed the box beside the door to the hallway and came to sit across the table from him.

“I’m going to tell my developer friend that the deal’s off. I want you to have Saltwater Nook. And if Max drags his heels, then I’ll sell my flat and take a loan to tide Mari over. We’ll work it out.”

Annie reached for John’s hand.

“Max agreed to buy me out.” She smiled. “He’s got the cash.”

“Oh my God, Annie, that’s amazing!” John beamed back at her.

“But if my offer isn’t enough to get Mari what she needs, then go with the developer. I mean it. It won’t change how I feel about you.”