Clancy turned to check out the front row, where Gerry had joined Clancy’s mum, Brenda, sitting beside Aaron’s own mum and dad. All four parents beamed back at her. He could only marvel that Clancy had so open-heartedly forgiven certain members of his family for their chilliness in the past. Yvonne and Norma had almost worn a path between De Silva House and the Roundhouse in the past year.

In the row behind, Aunt Norma, Dilys and Ernie beamed at Clancy too. Harry sat next to Rory, both looking incredibly handsome in suits. Harry’s first year at uni was behind him and Rory was well into an apprenticeship as a passenger transport driver. Anabelle and Jordy had never repaired their marriage but got along well enough to sit together, alongside the lads, for the wedding.

Finally, Clancy turned to Aaron and winked.

Aaron winked back and blew her a kiss.

The wedding celebrant cleared her throat, or possibly smothered a laugh, and murmured, ‘Is everything OK?’

Clancy took a last look at everyone, then beamed. ‘It’s absolutely perfect. Welcome to Nelson’s Bar. We’re ready when you are.’

Acknowledgements

A Summer to Remember is my fourteenth full-length novel and was the most difficult to write. I’m not sure why. I loved taking my story to north Norfolk and creating a brand-new village in the form of Nelson’s Bar. The characters came willingly into my head and we worked well together, but … the story took a bit of taming. When I felt the book was finally in shape, my editor, agent and beta reader all gave A Summer to Remember a hugely positive reception and I breathed an enormous sigh of relief.

As if to underline the novel’s individuality, for once I involved comparatively few people in my research:

I’m greatly indebted to fellow author and Romantic Novelists’ Association member Liam Livings. We didn’t know each other very well when I approached Liam for help. A mutual friend suggested I contact him when I was struggling with what Harry and Rory’s happy ending would look like. I didn’t want to be trite or to dismiss their issues and I very much wanted to make their story thread feel real. Liam wrote me long emails, providing lots to think about and options to mull over. It’s entirely down to him that things worked out as they did for Harry and Rory, and I’m as grateful to Liam as they are.

Paul Matthews advised me on the making of bespoke guitars even though, apparently, he didn’t realise he was being interviewed. You can see his own fabulous creations on his Instagram feed @turnedoutalright.

Mandy Hull shared with me her knowledge of buildings insurance as it relates to subsidence.

My thanks to the many Facebook friends who entered into long and fascinating threads about Parish Meetings, Parish Councils, Village Meetings and Village Halls. I had no idea there was so much to know or how much work is involved.

I’m also grateful to the unknown man whose video conferencing software caught him in ‘the act’. His face wasn’t in shot but he probably wasn’t pleased that the story found its way onto Twitter. If he ever discovers I put his embarrassment in my book, I hope he forgives me.