Fortunately, she did come in and though it pained me (even though it shouldn’t) to see her and Sam hug, I was pleased of her presence. It was just beginning to dawn on me that, given Joe and Sam’s dreadful history, it wasn’t going to be easy juggling the two friendships, but I didn’t want to give up either of them.

Sam might have been on the scene first, but Joe needed a pal right now, someone who understood the trials of working with family and who hadn’t been around during the fallout after the crash and that person was me, so Sam would just have to get used to it. Besides, he had Hope on his team, so I knew he’d be fine.

‘Morning, Tess,’ she beamed, once Sam had released her.

Her smile lit the place up, just like her mum’s did.

‘Oh, sorry,’ she apologized as a massive yawn caught her out and she arched and stretched her back, ‘I’m just so tired this morning. It’s not a good way to be starting the week, is it?’

I refused to think about what she had done, or who she had done, during her weekend away which had caused her fatigue.

‘A walk in the sea air will soon sort you out,’ said Sam. ‘Why don’t you go down to the beach? It’s going to be a beautiful day. I’m sure Tess wouldn’t mind burning off the calories she’s just wolfed down, would you?’ He smiled at me.

I felt a little peeved that Hope’s presence had restored his good humour so quickly when it had refused to show up for me.

‘That’s a great idea,’ agreed Hope as she helped herself to coffee. ‘Let’s go for a wander before the tide comes in, shall we, Tess?’

‘In a minute,’ I said, ‘I want to talk to you both first.’

‘Oh yes,’ said Sam, still smiling, ‘sorry. I forgot you’d said that.’

Once he’d known Hope was in the vicinity, I don’t think he’d listened to a word I’d said.

‘Is it about the party?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ I said, trying to not to feel offended by her other half ’s limited attention span. ‘I was talking with Sophie yesterday and promised to get the posters and flyers sorted.’

‘In that case,’ said Hope, ‘we’d better get our heads properly together and finalize the details, hadn’t we?’

‘That’s what I was hoping,’ I told her. ‘It would be good to confirm things so I can add them to the posters. I’ve already got a list from your mum, and I’ve had an idea about something else we can do.’

‘Go on,’ said Sam, leaning over the bar.

Now I finally had his full attention I found I didn’t want it. I avoided his hypnotic gaze and focused on Hope.