‘No, everything did not go well,’ Elle raged. ‘In fact, it was a disaster. Every single person in town looked at me just like you’re looking at me now, as if I’m some kind of impostor. No one seemed to have the faintest idea about what I was asking. So much for banding together to help out, Rob. They refused to understand.’ She ran a hand through her hair. ‘You can forget about it. Forget about this hotel, Mum’s legacy being the heart of this town. It means nothing to them. I’m sorry, I tried – I really tried, but it’s all ruined.’ They heard her voice crack on the last sentence and then she rushed inside.

Elle never let people see her cry if she could help it.

‘Well if you ask me,’ said Colin into the silence that followed. ‘I’d say that suit was her first mistake.’

Penny walked Rob to his car. ‘I don’t know what we’ll do now,’ she said despondently. ‘I’m all out of ideas.’

‘It’s so strange that everyone would turn her down flat like that,’ he said, shaking his head in confusion. ‘I know for a fact that Jim and Della wanted to help, Wally and Arthur too. And Luca was talking about how he owed so much to Anna for letting him use the hotel’s freezer last summer when his broke down.’ He scratched his head. ‘I can’t believe it could’ve been just talk.’

‘I suppose it’s easy for people to wring their hands and say how terrible it is, but then when presented with a chance to change things they get cold feet.’

Rob looked grim. ‘I just wish I could do more.’

‘You’ve done more than enough,’ said Penny. ‘We wouldn’t have got this far without you. I know how hard it’s been for you too with Elle . . .’ she trailed off.

‘Yes. Maybe I should have learnt something the first time round.’

‘Perhaps all’s not completely lost. I know that she can be—’ He cut her off. ‘Thanks Penny, but I think it’s best if I go back to living my life the way I know how. Of course I’ll still help out with the roof and the painting and any other way I can, but I just can’t be around your sister too much. It’s time to move on.’ He shook his head. ‘I should have told myself that years ago.’

Penny watched Rob drive away, and thought about how powerless she was to stop any of these things happening: her mum dying, Rob getting hurt, losing the hotel. Knowing she was powerless didn’t make her feel any better about any of it, though.

That night Ned went up to the top floor and knocked on Elle’s door. He hoped he had given her sufficient time to calm down.

‘Come in,’ she said.