‘Good, I think,’ she said as she sat down. ‘Got a bit rowdy at the end, but I suppose that’s the sign of a great evening. And by rowdy, I mean loud singing in the bar, not a scrap or anything like that. There was no need to call the police, which is always a plus,’ she clarified.

He laughed. ‘The thought of a scrap breaking out among the octogenarians and great and good of the local golfing community is quite amusing to me.’

‘Well, maybe next year.’ She smiled.

‘Yes.’ He took a deep breath and she shifted in her chair as his expression changed to one of seriousness. She steeled herself for what might come next, suspecting it to be bad news. She had, after all, been called from her shift to his study. ‘It has been quite an unsettled time since you arrived. As sometimes happens, we have been a little topsy turvy in terms of staff and I’m glad to say that we have now found our new restaurant manager, which means that Alison, who as you know has been covering the role, can go back to her job as head waitress, and we have adequate numbers to cover the restaurant, as Maxine is due back from maternity leave.’

‘I see.’ Her spirits sank. She’d heard the chat in the staff canteen and knew change was afoot, but she liked it here, was thankful to have found employment when she needed it most, and tried now to think of where she might head next and whether Lionel, as he liked to be called, might be kind enough to give her a reference. A recommendation from an establishment like this could do no harm.

‘Yep, all change!’ He chuckled. ‘I can’t tell you how impressed everyone has been by your attitude and your work ethic. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. You’re always punctual, friendly and as neat as a pin.’ Happy at this compliment, she smoothed her hair behind her ears. Having taken the nail scissors and hacked off her locks soon after arriving, her short bob was not only a way of shaking off her past, it also reshaped her for the future. ‘In all honesty, Merrin, you have sailed through your probation. It feels like you’ve been here for years.’

‘Thank you.’ She smiled into her lap; maybe a good reference would be forthcoming. Fidgeting with her fingers, she waited for the ‘but’.

‘But . . .’

Here we go.

‘With the restaurant at full staff capacity now . . .’ He paused and she waited for the axe to fall, wondered what wording he might choose to soften the blow. ‘We were wondering if you might like to try a different role in another department?’

‘Another department?’ She sat up straight; this was great news!

‘Yes, we were thinking you might like to try your hand at working on reception?’