‘Well, don’t tell her that if you get the chance,’ said Sophie. ‘She already thinks you’re some kind of wonderful, so I would go with that if I were you.’

I rather liked the sound of Sophie’s daughter.

‘I hope I will get to meet her,’ I said. ‘Is she likely to put in appearance anytime soon?’

‘Oh yes,’ Sophie nodded. ‘Although she hasn’t told me exactly when she’s coming home.’

‘She lives in Wynmouth too?’

‘That’s right. She’s off on her travels at the moment, trying to fathom out ideas for her own business. She’s just flown back from Jamaica.’

‘Oh wow,’ I said, remembering the beautiful images of the Caribbean I had looked at while trying to find my alternative holiday spot before Sam mailed to tell me I could book the cottage. ‘Has she been on holiday?’

‘She’s been visiting family,’ Sophie explained. ‘Getting to know her cousins and now she’s with Blossom, the aunt I mentioned with the curried crab recipe. She owns a bakery in Norwich so my girl isn’t too far away now. I’m hoping she’ll be home soon. I’ve missed her.’

‘It sounds to me like you have a very entrepreneurial family, Sophie.’

‘We’re a resourceful bunch of women, that’s for sure,’ she laughed. ‘And all pretty gifted in the culinary department – if it isn’t too conceited to say so.’

Given how delicious my curried crab and rum-laced hot chocolate had been, I didn’t think that was conceited at all. It was more a statement of fact.

‘But what about you, Tess?’

‘Me?’

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘what are your family like?’

I didn’t really know what to say. My current experience of family life wasn’t anywhere near as comforting as hers.

‘Well,’ I said, dropping my gaze. ‘I haven’t got much. No aunts or cousins or anyone. It’s just me and Dad really.’

‘No Mum?’

‘No,’ I said, my voice catching, ‘she died a while ago.’

‘I’m very sorry to hear that,’ said Sophie, reaching across the counter and giving my hands a squeeze.

I nodded and blinked hard.

‘Please don’t be nice to me, Sophie,’ I said, sitting up straighter and trying to smile. ‘Otherwise you might find me crying all over you.’

During the last few months I had learned, mostly thanks to my punishing work schedule, how to keep a tight lid on my emotions, but Sophie’s warmth and genuine kindness felt capable of undoing my efforts in moments. Her daughter was a very lucky woman to have such an inspirational and kind-hearted mum by her side.

‘And would that matter?’ Sophie whispered.

I shrugged.

‘Sometimes having a good cry can be the best medicine in the world,’ she said softly. ‘Personally, I think a good howl is very much underrated, whether it’s needed to purge you of sadness or temper, or even both.’