‘The whole park’s being given a revamp, and Marty has been brought in to oversee the work.’

‘Ooh, it’s Marty now is it? That’s a bit familiar,’ Diamond teased her sister.

Ruby was excited by the changes. The holiday camp had grown tired and shabby, and guest numbers had dwindled over the past few years. Marty had ambitious ideas, including plans for a whole new programme of entertainment. He had already booked a Wall of Death stunt motorcyclist for next season and had asked Ruby to help him seek out other new acts. She was both flattered and proud that she had been given more responsibility.

‘I’ve found three sisters who do a mermaid act,’ she told Diamond. ‘They perform synchronised swimming to music in an aquarium and their costumes are gorgeous!’

Jack could barely contain himself. ‘Shame there’s not four of them. They could call themselves Diana Bass and The Sardines!’

Diamond threw a tea towel at him, but he wasn’t finished yet. ‘Maybe I should offer my services. My Tom Jones impersonation is legendary. Our Gareth says I could moonlight as a professional doppleganger,’ he said, swivelling his hips.

‘Your Tom Jones impersonation is only legendary for sounding nothing like him and our son is as tone deaf as you are,’ countered his wife as she took two plates of eggs and chips from him and served them to one of the tables.

‘There is someone in the family who can sing though.’ Diamond returned with a stack of empty plates and passed them over the counter to Jack along with a chit for a new order of two bacon rolls and a pot of tea. ‘Jeanie’s got a lovely voice and she looks more like her mum every day.’ Jeanie was their niece and the daughter of their late sister, Emerald. ‘She’s doing ever so well at her new job, according to her dad. Not sure how long she’ll stick it though. She’s a livewire, that one, and the secretarial college sounds a bit dull if you ask me.’

Ruby checked her watch and drained her coffee cup. Her lunch break was almost over. Diamond handed her a large slice of chocolate cake in a paper bag. ‘Here. Take this to have with your afternoon tea.’ She winked cheekily at her sister. ‘You can share it with Marty.’

Ruby took the cake from Diamond, but she wasn’t going to eat it. She would save it to give to Treasure when he came home from school. He hadn’t said anything to her, but then he didn’t need to. She was his mother. She knew that something was wrong.

The bell above the door rang and Jack waved at the young woman who rushed in from the rain.