Despite the elements beating against the walls, Anna slept heavily through the night. By the time she’d woken the next morning the worst of the storm had huffed itself out, leaving behind it a scattering of debris and a stiff breeze. Anna opened her front door to see Pat sweeping the path in front of the Weaver’s Nook, the sky overhead leaden and grey.

Pat looked up as Anna stepped out of the Fishergirl’s Luck. Anna was struck by how tired her friend looked.

‘Morning,’ she said. ‘That was a rough one.’

‘Wasn’t it just,’ Pat said, wearily. ‘Did you get any sleep at all?’

‘I slept really well, actually,’ Anna said. ‘I always feel safe in the Fishergirl’s Luck, no matter what’s going on outside.’ Or even inside, she thought.

Pat smiled, but there was a shadow in her eyes that Anna hadn’t seen before. ‘Long may it last.’

‘Pat? Are you all right?’

‘There was another slip above the rental. Not a big one, there’s not much damage, but it’s a reminder of what could happen that we could do without. Not to mention it’s another excuse for Frank to conveniently forget he’s not the young man he used to be. He’s up there now, scrambling about as if he’s half the age he actually is, despite everything the doctor said.’

‘I’ll come and help,’ Anna said immediately, and then realized something and had to think fast. ‘Although – I’ve twanged something in my back. I’m not sure how much heavy lifting I’ll be good for.’

‘Don’t you worry, love. Glynn and David are here if we need them. We’ll manage.’

Anna looked out over the sea. The water was choppy, its depths stirred by the storm into shades of blue and green she’d not yet seen.

‘I didn’t expect summer storms when I moved here,’ she said. ‘I assumed that winters would be hard to deal with, but beyond that I hadn’t thought. Will we get more?’

‘Probably,’ Pat told her. ‘They’ve been getting worse every year, although this is the worst season we’ve had that I can remember. Let’s hope that’s it for a while, though. It wouldn’t do for you not to be able to run lunches when we’ve had more people asking about you.’

Anna turned back. ‘Really?’

‘Oh, yes. Out of the five bookings we’ve got this week – including for the other house – four of them asked about the Fishergirl’s Luck.’

‘Wow. Guess I’d better be prepared then.’

Pat finished sweeping, and Anna could see how weary she was. It worried her, a nebulous fear. She was suddenly acutely aware how important the people she knew here had become to her.