She was determined not to lose her cool again. That fateful day seemed as if it had occurred years ago. So much had happened since then, not just the events concerning her and Rob, or the hotel, or even the record collection and her sister and falling in love, but things had happened inside that had seemed to stretch out the days and turn them into a far longer period of time.

She was still in mourning for her mother, of course, still thinking of her each day when she woke up. It seemed easier to feel at peace with her grief here in Mulberry Bay, than it had been in London. Here, she could touch the things that Anna had touched and recognise her familiar smile in Penny’s. She now had first-hand knowledge of how hard her mother had worked and what her daily routine had been like.

She had also come to terms with her love for the beach town, and her desire to stay there. She knew now that no matter what happened with the hotel, she would find some way to stay close to her family.

This time Doug had led her to a more formal office upstairs and had left her alone there while he went to get some papers. She looked around at its polished surfaces and dustless, tinted windows without envy. She had worked in many nice buildings, but she had acquired a taste for something else now.

He came back into the room and seemed to have lost some of his high-shine. Elle thought he actually looked quite tired. Gone was the man who had sat in front of her like an imperturbable, self-satisfied seal. Could he . . . Elle wondered, with a spark of hope, be on the very edge of giving in?

‘Well,’ he said. ‘You seem to have a lot of friends, Ms Harte.’ He waved a handful of letters. ‘Can you believe this? In the last few days I’ve received personal pleas from practically half the town. “Dear Mr Grant,” he read, “I celebrated my 16th birthday at the Bay Hotel. The memories of that day are still dear to me . . .” blah blah blah. “My late wife and I dined at the Bay Hotel under the excellent service of Ned and Anna Harte for many years . . .”, “I celebrated my grandmother’s very last birthday at the Hotel, an occasion that is remembered with great fondness by all our family.”’ He threw the letters down in disgust. ‘Who would have thought that people were so attached to a wreck? I’ve even received finger paintings from the local primary school, for goodness’ sake.’ He looked at Elle as though he expected her to sympathise with him. She was smiling inwardly.

‘It would seem, in this case,’ he said, ‘you’ve got me cornered. I have to give you a loan or risk losing half the town’s business.’