‘So, I’m your second choice, am I?’ she teased. ‘Sam had no choice but to close,’ she carried on before I could explain. ‘He couldn’t get anyone to cover shifts. Him and Hope have gone away ahead of the final fitting for his new leg tomorrow. They said that the head start will save them the early morning drive.’

And give them an excuse for a night away in a hotel somewhere. I was relieved the pub closure wasn’t the result of bad news or anything, but I didn’t much welcome the thought of the pair taking a romantic break. Perhaps I hadn’t banished the feelings I had been developing for Sam quite as comprehensively as I had thought.

‘I would have covered for him,’ I said, making myself think kind thoughts instead of green-tinted ones, ‘I could have helped, just doing drinks if nothing else. It’s not as if the place is that busy.’

‘But you’re supposed to be here on your holidays,’ Sophie reminded me, ‘and besides you weren’t around to ask.’

That was true enough. I’d spent the best part of the last two days at the beach, out with Joe and nowhere near the pub.

‘Have you been having fun?’

‘Sort of,’ I said truthfully. ‘But it’s turning out to be the oddest holiday I’ve ever taken.’

The café bell rang out and Sophie was kept busy for a while preparing breakfasts, including mine, and serving customers. I ended up helping out by waiting tables as there was an influx of extra folk who had also found the pub closed.

‘Word has got out about the solstice party,’ Sophie told me when things died down again. ‘People are beginning to ask about the details and, I know just a little while ago I reminded you that you’re on holiday, but are you still happy to design the posters? We need to start advertising the event really.’

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘absolutely. I just need to finalize some details with you and Sam and then I’ll get them sorted.’

‘Excellent,’ said Sophie, ‘and you’re really sure you don’t mind doing it?’

‘I’m really sure,’

‘You can spare the time?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Because none of us want to eat into your free time you know,’ said Sophie gently, ‘especially now you’ve . . .’

‘Especially now I’ve what?’ I cut in.

I got the impression I had been talked about and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

‘Now that you’ve made a friend elsewhere,’ she said softly.

‘Are you saying that because I’ve made a friend somewhere else, I can’t play with the ones I’ve already got?’

‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘What I’m saying is, that the last thing any of us wants is for you to feel obliged to carry on helping when you’d rather be spending time . . . doing other things.’

‘I see.’