Elle nodded amusedly. ‘As plain as the nose on your face.’

‘How can you be so flippant? I’m being tortured, here. What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to look like a fool.’

‘Penny.’ Elle sighed. ‘The only way that you could look a fool is if you decided to keep quiet and say nothing to him. I get the feeling he’s probably tried to talk to you, but he’s too polite. You’re being too scatty, as usual. He’s crazy about you. Everyone knows it.’

‘What? Do you really think so?’

‘Even Molly has been sighing while she’s chopping onions in the kitchen, wondering when you’re going to finally get together. I almost think she’s got a bet on.’

‘Now I feel like even more of an idiot.’

‘Penny,’ Elle put a hand on her arm. ‘You’re not an idiot and I really wish you would believe that. What you’ve done for Dad these last few days – actually what you’ve done for this family over the years is amazing. While I got to go out and spread my wings, follow my dream or whatever, you stayed here and held the fort – not just with the hotel but with Mum and Dad too. I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for that.’

Penny felt a lump in her throat. ‘There’s no need to thank me. I could never do what you did, go out there and set the world on fire. I wanted to stay here, you know that.’

‘That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it, though. I suppose I never understood quite the level of dedication you had to this place, in more ways than one, but now I do. I’m not sure what’s going to happen tonight, or afterwards, but if nothing else, I hope most of all that I can make you and Dad proud.’

Penny reached over and hugged her warmly.

‘And as for Colin,’ Elle said, pulling her close, ‘I know you’re afraid, but don’t let him slip away too easily, either. Because then you’ll really regret it.’

It occurred to Penny once Elle left that her sister had been talking from hard-won experience.

After going in to see Penny, Elle turned her attention to her own appearance. Once again, it was important, this time for completely different reasons. At least the bags under her eyes had finally disappeared, and she had managed to get a couple of good nights’ sleep.