She looked closer at the markings inside the cover – someone had definitely scrawled something – but then Penny’s heart began to beat hard. She recognised that writing, and then recalled something her father had said the day Colin discovered the collection, and she had asked Ned about writing his name on an album to claim ownership. She thought of his words. ‘I would have never been so stupid to write on an album. I mean, I would have never been so stupid to write on an album cover.’

He would have never written on the album cover – and neither would her mother – Anna would have known how Ned felt about something like that. But Anna might have taken the opportunity to write a message to her soon-to-be-husband on their wedding day, inside the present that she was so excited to give him. Especially because she believed that he would never give it up, never be parted from it.

And when Penny read the handwriting inside the album sleeve, she realised that was exactly what her mother had done.

September 26, 1975

My Darling Ned:

I know you love this song – probably because you have a thing for a girl called Anna. But on this most special of days know that I cannot wait to wear your ring. I will never take it off from now until I draw my last breath. No matter what life throws at us, what challenges we encounter, I will love you. I am yours and you are mine. You are my soul mate, and I hope you know that you understand me, as much as I understand you. I cannot wait to begin our lives together – I know we have so much to be excited about. I promise I will love you forever and no matter what, I will always be part of you.

Your Anna

Swallowing hard as she looked over this private message that had been communicated between her parents, Penny felt tears well up in her eyes at the same moment that Colin sidled up next to her and put his arm around her waist.

She snuggled closer to him as the song continued to play. And she knew without a doubt that her mother was present right at that particular moment. She had been there through all of this – the search for the records, the ups and downs with the hotel – and would continue to be.

Chapter 44

The hotel had come through its disastrous, chaotic state and soon you could see faint outlines of what it might one day be.

‘I’ve forgotten what it’s like not to live in a construction zone,’ said Penny to Elle. They were sitting down on the beach, avoiding the constant hammering which came with the renovation of the entrance hall.

‘I know, I’ve almost grown accustomed to the constant noise. We’ll probably get headaches from the silence when it’s all over.’