The next two visits, to The Grain Store Bakery and Pebbles Café, proved to be much the same, as was Elle’s pitch to Luca at Scoops Ice creams and Johnny’s Fish & Chips shop. People seemed to be confused as to what she was proposing, or disliked something about the idea itself.

She couldn’t work out what was wrong with them. ‘I don’t know,’ said Luca, Johnny’s handsome Italian brother, standing in his cheery little ice cream shop near the beach. ‘Something about it just doesn’t sound right to me.’ Though he did offer Elle a scoop of pistachio ice-cream, her favourite.

Next on the list was Ryan’s Antiques and Restorations. Her old schoolmate Wally was away, so Elle went through her pitch with his father, by now feeling like she was reading from a script, without hope.

Arthur had started shaking his head almost as soon as she walked through the door. So much for everyone crying out to help them!

‘Girlie,’ he said as Elle walked away, ‘Come back and see us when you can sit down and chat like a civil person.’

Elle was enraged. She had been perfectly civil, and she hated being called ‘girlie’. That man had always been a bit nuts anyway.

Last stop was Hazel and Glenn at the Orchard Garden Centre. The plan was to ask them to donate some plants and expertise so that the hotel’s gardens could be reimagined. Elle had a vision for a paradise to exist behind the property overlooking the sea. A real oasis amongst the eucalyptus trees, where you could find lots of private little nooks to sit in and read or dream.

She sighed as she pulled up the long driveway past the apple and pear trees. At least her old friend would be a friendly face.

‘Welcome, welcome! Let us show you around, and then we can have a good natter,’ said Hazel effusively.

‘Oh no,’ said Elle. ‘I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I can see from here how beautiful everything is.’

‘OK,’ said Hazel, looking a little crestfallen. ‘Come and meet Glenn then.’

Her old friend’s husband was a handsome, muscular man with a huge grin. He was carrying little Alex on his shoulders. ‘It’s fantastic to finally meet you, Elle,’ he said. ‘Hazel’s told me lots about the mischief the two of you used to get into growing up around here. She’s looking forward to a proper catch-up.’

Elle smiled politely. ‘We’ll have to keep that for another time. I’m here to talk business today, I’m afraid.’ She chuckled lightly, but even to herself she sounded fake and a little condescending. She just didn’t want to ask more of people than they could give, especially when she knew how busy they must be.