Ah, so this was it, thought Elle. He had found someone else and he didn’t want her back in town, ruining things. Well, he needn’t worry, she would stay well away.

Elle couldn’t help studying Celeste as they chatted briefly about nothing, and wondered why Penny hadn’t mentioned that Rob had met someone. She supposed her sister didn’t want to open up any old wounds. Or she simply didn’t think that Elle would care, given that the last time she was home she’d tried to make it perfectly clear to everyone – including Rob – that she didn’t.

Was she a local or a tourist? Elle wondered, thinking that whoever Celeste was, she was very striking, with delicately drawn features, big blue eyes and dark curling lashes. She hated to admit it, but she could almost see a similarity to herself in the younger girl’s face, something to do with her sharp chin, and the stubbornness that was evident in her eyes. She was quick to smile and Elle guessed that she couldn’t know that she herself had a history with Rob.

Well, she wouldn’t be the one to tell her. She wasn’t going to make trouble. That was for kids.

Elle waved Rob and Celeste off like they were old friends, and then went back inside to continue her appraisal of the rooms.

Rob had asked Celeste to drive home; he didn’t think he could trust his hands at the wheel. Elle had been so normal with him back there, so unaffected. He felt like his own feelings shone through him, like his skin was paper-thin. She must see it in his eyes.

‘Was that the girl?’ Celeste asked, with an annoying hint of pity in her voice.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘That was the girl.’

As Elle moved through the hotel, she realised she had memories that existed in each room, which now seemed to appear like ghosts.

How long had she had these stored away?

There she was with Penny, hiding underneath the lace table cloths in the tea rooms. They liked to peek out at the pretty clothes the guests wore back then: pastel twin sets, or brightly coloured shift dresses. Always with little hats, delicate watches and jewels.

Elle remembered coveting one pair of shoes in particular, a low-heeled emerald green pair of heels with diamante on the heel. She supposed they had been quite glamorous for the time. She had never been able to find a pair like it.

Back in the eighties, afternoon tea at the Bay Hotel was always an occasion to dress up for, and no matter what people believed about small towns back then, the women of Mulberry Bay had beautiful clothes and knew how to wear them.