As she made her way up the driveway towards the building, determinedly averting her gaze from the For Sale sign, Elle knew this notion was silly, knew that it had in fact been built by a rich man as a gift for his betrothed, the perfect token for his lovely bride-to-be. Maybe that was part of it, though, that the house had been created in a spirit of love, and everything that had happened there since, aspired to the same ideal. What she was doing now was born of love: love for her father and sister, love for the hotel itself and the town it sat in, love for . . .

There was Rob, on top of the roof. She could see the back of his shirt was wet with sweat from this distance. What was he doing, working like that in the midday sun? He would kill himself up there.

She pulled up around the side of the building, and he turned at the sound of her car door slamming. He shaded his eyes and looked down at her, and Elle could not think of a single thing to do except raise her hand in greeting. His arms stayed by his side, a hammer dangling from one hand. They seemed to stand there a long time, just saying nothing, before he turned away and continued with his work.

He hadn’t acknowledged her at all. Well, she shouldn’t be surprised. From what Penny had said, it seemed that Rob was finished with her completely, even with her friendship. She didn’t know what she had expected from Rob, but it wasn’t such an open declaration of hostility. She had never known him to be like that before.

Elle entered the shadowy doorway, hoping for a warmer reception from everyone else. Even though she still thought the entrance hall needed gutting, she was glad to see it. She ran her hand over the smooth wood of the reception desk, calming herself.

Penny, alerted by the ding of the bell on the front door, ran from the ballroom where she was sorting through bits and pieces, to find her sister standing by the reception desk as though she herself were a guest wanting to sign in.

She couldn’t even find words of exclamation, an unusual occurrence for her.

‘I’ve come back,’ said Elle simply. ‘And I’ve got an idea.’