Of course, she knew that her little project wasn’t the only thing he had going on in his life. For one thing, he was supposed to be writing a novel.

‘Don’t worry, I have every intention of returning as soon as possible,’ he added then. ‘But I’ve had an idea for my story . . .’

‘Of course,’ she mumbled, trying to put her disappointment aside and concentrate on the task in hand. A sudden knot the size of a tennis ball had appeared in her stomach. She swallowed hard, willing herself not to get too affected by this. He was leaving, like so many others . . .

Penny turned back to her computer, determined not to let her disappointment distract her from the task in hand. She would try and take a leaf out of Elle’s book and try to remain unmoved.

But there was no doubt that if Colin couldn’t go to the meeting with her, a crimp was placed in her plans. First, she couldn’t guarantee the album’s authenticity, and secondly, as he pointed out, she certainly couldn’t go and meet a complete stranger on her own.

‘So, I need to go back to Sussex and put some things in order before I return.’

‘You’re coming back?’ Penny didn’t want to sound too hopeful.

He chuckled. ‘Yes. And I know what I’m going to write about now. This. Your quest.’ He indicated the list displayed on Penny’s PC. ‘The very notion has been burning a hole in my brain since you first mentioned it. I want to discuss it with my publisher and as I said, I need to make arrangements to stay a little longer.’

Suddenly everything looked so much brighter. Penny didn’t want to ask him what would happen if the hotel sold, where would he stay – she was just a little taken aback by how relieved she felt upon realising she would see him again.

‘So you’ll have to cancel the meeting until I get back,’ he continued.

‘But I can’t wait . . .’

‘Or you’ll need to get someone else to go with you. What about Rob?’

‘He’s already going out of his way to fix up the roof for us, I couldn’t ask him to drive all the way to Galway with me.’

‘Then that leaves the obvious, doesn’t it?’

She looked at him, confused.

‘Ned. Tell him what’s at hand. And if you insist on going to meet this stranger, there’s surely no better person than your father to go along with you.’

Chapter 23

When Elle took her leave of Hazel she felt at least a little more confident that she hadn’t returned to the town in vain. If nothing else, she had repaired her friendship with her childhood friend.