‘Before we start,’ Elle said, taking a deep breath, ‘I have to tell you something. It’s only going to make an unpleasant job even more unpleasant, but I’m afraid it has to be done. I didn’t tell you before because I just wanted you to enjoy last night, but Doug Grant is bringing some buyers to the hotel on Tuesday. He said he would give us one last chance, and I think I was just desperate to believe him. But now I think he was probably just toying with me. He didn’t turn up last night and I don’t think he has any intention of listening to us at all.’ Elle was trembling as she spoke. If they lost the hotel, they would have to give money back to anyone who had bid on related prizes.

But that was only the half of it. It was more the fact that she had been so sure of success, so sure that they really had a chance. She had got everyone in the community so heavily involved, and asked for so much help. Perhaps worst of all, she had given their little family hope again, when she Ned and Penny might have been better off saying goodbye to this stage in their lives and planning for the next.

Ned cleared his throat. They could all see how unhappy Elle was. He said: ‘To my thinking, Elle, there’s nothing more we can do at this stage. We’ve done our best, more than anyone could have asked, and without you and your extraordinary efforts and ideas, that wouldn’t have been possible. I can’t tell you what it did for me to see the hotel full of people again. I’ve never seen the place look so beautiful. It was like a dream. Your mother would have been so proud. If we have to leave, then that was the way to do it.’

‘We have to wait now and just hope that people speak up for us,’ said Penny. She went up and put her arms around her. ‘Oh Elle,’ she said. ‘I wish I could give you some of my happiness,’ which was a strange thing to say, but Elle understood.

She knew that her sister just wanted her to feel what she was feeling. This calmness, mixed with giddiness. The feeling of knowing that your life was full, that someone was waiting to hear whatever you had to say next, no matter how silly it might be. It was something – possibly the only thing – that Penny had wanted for all her life and she was thrilled for her.