And when Penny brought out the dessert and set it proudly on the table between them, Elle and the husband both looked at the woman expectantly.

‘Don’t you remember, Donna?’ he asked. ‘This is what we had for dessert the last time we were here. You loved it.’

‘Did I? You know, I barely remember what we ate that night,’ said Donna. ‘I was too busy trying to think of how to tell you about the new baby.’

Elle and Penny left them to it. They were laughing away to themselves. Elle supposed you would have quite a bit to laugh over after ten years together, things to cry over too.

She didn’t know why, but the whole night had made her miss her mother even more.

‘Yay,’ said Penny afterwards. ‘We did it! This might work after all.’

She and Elle were sitting at a table in the now empty dining room, sharing a bottle of wine and eating the leftovers of the meringue dessert.

‘Let’s not get too excited,’ she warned. ‘There were only two tables here tonight. If the place was full things might have been a bit different.’

‘Don’t be so negative,’ Penny replied. ‘The point is: we can do it. I mean, I don’t want to speak in clichés here . . .’

Elle laughed. ‘I know, I know. If we all work together . . .’

‘We can do it, I know we can.’

‘It’s promising, at least,’ Elle admitted. ‘I suppose we all feel a bit better, knowing that we can continue Mum’s work and not make a complete mess of it. But let’s wait and see what happens tomorrow at the bank,’ she said, feeling she needed to be the voice of reason. ‘Then we’ll really know the meaning of hard work.’

Chapter 8

The following day dawned as brightly as the last. In her room, Elle stood in a patch of sun streaming through from the window as she surveyed the clothes she had brought with her. She didn’t think Penny would have anything suitable amongst her wardrobe of floaty skirts and floral tops and cardies.

If only she had her array of work suits, she could really look like she meant business, fierce and determined. But how was she to know she would be going to the bank to discuss the hotel’s financial affairs and ask for a loan? She put on a grey, high-necked dress and tied her hair up in a high bun. It was the best no-nonsense look she could manage, considering. It would have to do.

She went down to the dining room for a quick bite before she left. To her surprise, there was a platter of fresh fruits on the buffet table, and she piled her plate with fruit and yogurt and took a couple of pieces of wholegrain toast.

Penny came out of the kitchen and broke into a smile when she saw Elle.