‘I’d hardly call it wonderful. You’ve heard what’s happened. I’ve had yellow vests blockading the riverside clearing, had our money stolen … and found again in the worst place, and lost the best employee you could ever have known.’

‘And Fabien,’ he says.

‘Yes, and Fabien.’ I clear my throat.

‘All I can see is what a great job you have done, with your business, my business, and with Stephanie, JB and Tomas. Rhi and I know what it’s like to bring up teenagers. They love you, and they leave you. But they always want to come back.’

‘But you don’t understand! I let her go – she thought she had to!’

‘These things have a way of sorting themselves out. Be kind to yourself. You did a great job. It’s how life is,’ he says, topping up our little wine glasses. Somehow having two petit glasses doesn’t seem as bad as having one big glass at this time of day.

‘So … I have a proposition for you,’ he says, taking another swig of wine. ‘Rhi and I have decided it’s time to hang up aprons … and scissors.’ She nods in agreement. ‘We plan to go on a holiday, a long holiday.’

‘What? Rhi?’ I’m filled with joy for my friend, who has broken out of her life back home. She has chained herself to her business since her children left home, yet it runs itself without her, as she’s discovered by being here. I stand up to hug her. ‘I’m so delighted for the two of you, I really am.’ And I hug Henri again. I always knew he would make someone a lovely partner. But not me: I had to go and fall in love with the one man I can’t have and now he can barely look at me.

‘But we can’t make that happen if I’m running this place and Rhi is overseeing her salon. We’ve spent my time in hospital realizing what we have and what we need to do to change our lives.’

‘I’m sure the kids will hate us for it,’ Rhi puts in, ‘but I’m older than you, Del. The kids have gone and only get in touch when they want money. But it’s time we made the most of what we’ve earned, not just build up their inheritances!’ They smile understandingly at each other.