After we had eaten and drunk our fill, it was time for some toasts, announcements and speeches. Had my life not been so utterly changed by the father and son sitting either side of me, I would have been dreading that part, but as it was, it felt like a most appropriate way to end what had turned out to be a most exciting and transformative season at Wynter’s Trees.

Ned tapped a spoon against his glass and everyone fell silent.

‘I would just like to say,’ he began, reaching for my hand, ‘a huge thank you to you all for making these last few weeks at Wynter’s Trees so wonderful and for making the beach hut project such a huge success.’

We raised our glasses and toasted everyone around the table.

‘And in turn,’ Sue quickly chimed in, ‘we’d like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to move here, Ned. We all thought the plan was going to be shelved before you stepped in.’

‘Hear, hear!’ the rest agreed.

‘It’s worked well,’ Ned smiled, ‘so well in fact, that Liza and I are going to discuss the possibility of opening the huts on further occasions throughout the year, so if you’d be interested in selling here again, please let us know before you leave today. We haven’t thrashed out the details yet, but we will soon.’

An excited whisper wove its way around the table after that announcement.

‘I’d also like to take this moment to welcome a new member to the Wynter’s Trees team,’ Ned continued and everyone stopped talking.

Chelsea gave Liam a nudge and he turned bright red.

‘He’s part of the team already,’ Ned explained, ‘but from next year, when he leaves school, he’ll be joining us here on a permanent basis.’

Everyone’s gaze turned from Ned to Liam.

‘Welcome Liam,’ said Ned, raising his glass.

This time the reaction wasn’t confined to a whisper and Liam found himself the centre of attention and the recipient of kind words, well wishes and congratulations from everyone present.

‘Thank you,’ was all he could say, but the look on his face told us all how proud he was, and that went for Chelsea too.

Ned looked at me and smiled and I shifted a little in my seat, panicked that I was next on his list, but thankfully he let me off the hook.

‘And last,’ he said, ‘but by no means least, I’d like you all to raise a glass to my dad, David.’

David shook his head.