Elle smiled. Trust her mother to remember her old friend’s likes and dislikes. ‘There probably hasn’t been a party quite like that there in a while . . .’

‘No,’ said Hazel. ‘It’s a shame, but I’m afraid that’s the way things are going around here now. Everyone looking for bigger, fancier places in the city. That’s why we’re planning the garden café and a gift shop and hoping it’ll bring day-trippers in. Oh Alex! Listen, I’d better be going,’ she said, moving towards her son who had got his trousers all wet. ‘Let’s catch up properly soon?’

‘Of course,’ said Elle. ‘It was great to see you. Maybe I’ll pop into the garden centre one day, take a look.’

‘Do that. We’d love to show you around.’

But Elle wasn’t sure that either of them really meant what they were saying. And she waited until she was sure she wouldn’t catch up with Hazel and Alex before she started her own walk back to the hotel.

She came in from the beach to find Penny staring dejectedly at a pile of failed meringues. ‘I think they’re supposed to be . . . not quite so flat,’ she said, unhelpfully.

‘Well, obviously,’ her sister moaned. ‘These are a complete disaster.’

‘Well, the dinner guests won’t be here for a few more hours anyway. Let’s just try again.’

But the next batch was hardly better, and in fact ended up a strange grey colour.

‘It’s no use!’ Penny cried, ‘I’m just no good at this kind of thing.’ She put her head down on the shiny metal bench and Elle realised that she was actually crying.

‘It’s just a dessert, Penny,’ she said. ‘It’s no big deal. Hardly the end of the world.’

‘It is important!’ her sister sobbed. ‘People come to this hotel for something special. It means something to them, and it should mean something to us.’

‘Well, where’s Molly today?’

‘Off till tomorrow. There’s only one table tonight so I thought it would be OK. But they want this special . . . thing they had last time they were here.’ Each word was cracked by sobs and Elle realised that Penny was probably exhausted from the strain of holding herself, and everyone else together.

Ned walked in, looking for a snack. He was only eating in dribs and drabs these days, a morsel here and there. ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked, looking uncomfortable.

‘Penny’s been trying to make a special dessert that some guests have requested for tonight. Apparently Mum made it for them years ago and they want it again. Meringue something.’

‘Well, these aren’t right,’ said Ned, holding up a meringue.

‘We know that, Dad,’ Elle glared at him, patting Penny’s back.

‘I might have a go at it.’

‘You?’ Penny gasped, in between sobs.