‘I don’t know what she means,’ Anna said to Frank, as they discussed it. ‘How am I doing damage? Is it because so many more people are visiting and staying? That’s a good thing, isn’t it? Without people renting these places, how would their owners pay for the upkeep?’

‘Ignore it, love,’ Frank advised her. ‘Padgett is one of those people who’s always angry about something, usually some terrible injustice that she feels has been inflicted on her. She and Dougie go way back.’

‘Oh, I see,’ Anna said. She’d thought she’d finally escaped McKean’s ire. He’d been mercifully quiet for weeks. She wondered whether there was any mention of Jean Padgett in Bren’s cookbook.

‘Don’t let it bother you,’ Pat advised her. ‘What right does she have to complain on our behalf? Frank and I will write a letter of our own, saying how much we love what you’re doing. We’ll ask the rest of the Usual Suspects to do the same. That’ll put her in her place.’

‘Oh no, please don’t,’ Anna said.

‘Looks like the mystery of who called the council on you has been solved, at least,’ Frank pointed out. ‘She also takes the health and safety division to task for not doing their job properly and shutting you down. She all but accuses them of corruption for giving you your five-star rating!’

Anna resolved to do what Frank said and put the letter behind her, but that proved impossible when the BBC’s area office sent a film crew to do a piece for the local news. She tried to be accommodating, even letting them film as she prepped for the Friday service, answering questions as she worked. When she mentioned how supportive the local community had been, though, the reporter interjected.

‘Not everyone’s happy about “Lunch at the Fishergirl’s Luck” though, are they?’ he said. ‘We spoke to a woman called Jean Padgett, who was unhappy enough to write to the local paper about what you’re doing here.’

‘I’m sorry that Ms Padgett’s unhappy,’ Anna said carefully. ‘But she doesn’t live here, or know me or the locals who are in favour of the lunch club. Perhaps if she did, she’d see that so far it’s been nothing but positive for the village.’

‘I know your friends are supportive, but that doesn’t tell the whole story, does it?’ the reporter pressed.

‘What do you mean?’ Anna asked, although she had a horrible feeling she already knew.

‘Well, Mrs Padgett put us in touch with an old acquaintance of hers who does live here. His name is Douglas McKean. We went to see Mr McKean before we came here. Are you aware how unhappy he is with the situation?’