‘Do you know what’s going on?’ I mouthed to Hope as Joe pulled me further inside.

She shrugged in response, looking as clueless as I was and then came over.

‘No idea,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Joe sent me a text a few minutes ago, asking me to come and wait in here and it was already packed like this when I arrived.’ She turned to Joe. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ she asked him, laying her hand lightly on his arm.

It was the tiniest gesture, but it spoke volumes.

‘I will be in a minute or two,’ he smiled at her.

My guess was that he had gathered everyone together, somehow with Sam’s help, to confess about the Sunny Shores deal, but what I was thrown by was the fact that he was looking so calm about it. He took Hope’s hand and squeezed it before following Charlie further into the room.

‘Have you seen . . .’ I began to ask Hope but then hesitated, not quite sure how to frame the question. I supposed there was only one way really. ‘Have you seen your mum and dad?’ I swallowed.

It would have been too much of a mouthful to say ‘your mum and my dad’ and besides, it wouldn’t have been accurate either because as it turned out, the man who was my dad, was every bit as much hers.

Hope looked at me and bit her lip.

‘God, that sounds strange,’ she whispered, and I was pleased I wasn’t alone in thinking it. ‘Don’t you think?’

‘Just a bit,’ I agreed, ‘but I daresay we’ll soon get used to it.’

That made us both smile.

‘I haven’t seen either of them,’ she then told me. ‘I tried the café phone earlier, but Mum didn’t pick up and she’s not answering her mobile.’

‘Perhaps they’ve gone somewhere together then,’ I suggested. When I thought about it, I rather liked the idea of the two of them being together. Dad deserved to have some fun and happiness in his life and I was certain Sophie could supply both in abundance. ‘They’ve got plenty to talk about, after all.’

Hope nodded in agreement but didn’t have time to comment further as Joe clapped his hands and the room instantly fell silent.

‘I think you’d better come and stand up here,’ Sam said to Joe, ‘both of you,’ he added. ‘That way everyone will be able to see and hear you.’

I felt my mouth fall open in shock. First, the pair had been civil to one another, in spite of their earlier argument, and now Sam was inviting both Upton brothers up behind the bar. Hope and I exchanged a look, both of us clearly as amazed as the other.

‘Thanks,’ said Joe, weaving his way across the room with Charlie close behind him. ‘That’s a good idea.’