Clancy didn’t mind everyone not mentioning Alice. It was less stressful that way.

When lunch was over, Aaron agreed to stop in at De Silva House and help Fergus move things around in Aunt Norma’s annexe – hoping to abandon her crutches and plaster soon and move on to sticks – because she’d bought a new reclining chair to watch TV from and Lee was already out with Daisy. Clancy happily offered to take Nelson for a run. Aaron’s parents were important in his life and it gave her a warm feeling that he was the kind of son who’d willingly give a hand, but that didn’t mean she felt the need to overstay her time in their company.

After stopping in to change into jeans and a cardigan, she fetched Nelson and set off along the clifftop, the wind making Clancy’s hair writhe around her head. She tried to imagine what Nelson’s Bar would be like in winter, with grey skies and a roiling sea. The wind would probably feel as if it was trying to snatch you off the cliff. She even let herself imagine that she would still be living in the village then.

‘Clancy!’

Her daydreams interrupted, she turned to see Harry and Rory running towards her from the direction of the village. ‘Hiya!’ she called. ‘How’s everything going?’

Harry pulled a face. ‘Dad’s gone a bit weird again. Always seems to be on my back about something. Get a summer job, get prepared for uni, go out more, stay in more …’

‘Get a girlfriend,’ Rory contributed, and they looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Glad to see them again, Clancy invited them to join her for cake and a drink at an empty table outside the B&B. They crossed the grass and ordered from one of the plastic menu cards. Nelson had a slurp from the water bowl left out for dogs then settled himself beneath the table, an ear and eyebrow cocked as he nosed around for stray particles of food. Clancy munched her way through chocolate cake, Harry coconut and Rory lemon drizzle.

Kaz came to their table to clear their empty plates. ‘Haven’t seen you for a while!’ she said to Clancy, her skin crinkling around her eyes as she smiled. ‘I wanted to tell you that we’re making progress! Informally, the planning people see no problems, though we haven’t done the formal bit yet. I don’t know about the finance though. The bank only seems to want to lend to people who don’t need to borrow. We’ve got an application in but I’m not holding my breath.’ She laughed, though it sounded forced. ‘Thing is, we’d really like to start the building in November, and be all ready for next spring.’ Kaz balanced her tray on one hand so she could cross the fingers of the other. ‘These outside tables are OK in a good summer but not too popular when the cold weather comes.’

Clancy agreed. ‘The B&B needs an equivalent indoor space where villagers and tourists could be fed and watered.’