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‘Did she? I hadn’t noticed anything wrong, but if Roo said so …’ She frowned. ‘I’d have thought the plumber could take care of a trivial job like that with you being so busy.’

‘You know I like to help out. It gets the job done quicker and Dani is on an urgent repair job at the nursing home.’

‘Of course she is.’ She hid a smile.

‘Can I come in?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Zennor moved back from the step but suddenly stopped. ‘Matt, before you come in, I need to talk to you about something.’

‘Oh?’ His eyes glittered with interest.

‘Have you heard about Trev’s music night for the Surf Club? I didn’t know anything about it until Roo showed me five minutes ago.’

His brow furrowed. ‘Trev’s involved with the fundraising?’

‘Well, I wouldn’t say involved. In fact, I have no idea how it came about. I’ve only just seen the ad on the hotel page. It’s extremely short notice – next Saturday.’

Matt’s eyes flashed with – something – but then he shrugged. ‘Nope. No idea about it. Nothing to do with me, anyway.’ He pointed to the takeaway cup. ‘You know, I’m in need of extra caffeine this morning. I think I will have that coffee after all.’

Zennor exchanged her trainers for strappy sandals in the St Piran’s Spa Hotel car park and took a few calming moments. Judging by the ticket price, Zennor had assumed it would be a swanky affair. She had opted for a sparkly blue midi dress and put her hair up, hoping she wouldn’t be overdressed.

There was a new sign by the reception advertising wedding packages, which was nothing unexpected; Trev had to make his new investment pay. However, the sight of people dressed in their finest heading into the hotel inevitably reminded her of their wedding night. It had hardly been the romantic affair she’d envisaged. They were both so angry and upset and Trev had railed for months about Matt ruining their honeymoon as well as the reception.

Zennor stiffened her spine and walked into reception, expecting to see Trev at any moment. To give him credit, he had messaged her barely half an hour after she’d found out about the music night and apologised that his team had added it to social media before he could warn her. Zennor had replied, as politely as she could, that it was nice for him to let her know but he didn’t need to.

She hadn’t mentioned Trev’s message to Matt, deciding to act as low key as possible about the whole event. He hadn’t alluded to it again and had got on with the tap repair and fixing a loo-roll holder in the toilet.

Although he’d claimed he didn’t care, Zennor was far from convinced, but if studied indifference was the way Matt wanted to play things, she’d accept that. Perhaps he really had chilled with the whole Trev situation. Then again, perhaps pigs might fly over the office and land on Godrevy Lighthouse.

Nodding and saying hello to familiar faces from the Surf Club, Zennor made her way to the bar where the pianist Trev had booked through Kernow Entz was coaxing silky melodies from the baby grand.

The Driftstones drum kit, guitar stands, sax and mics were already set up on a small stage area next to the piano, but there was no sign of them.

People were standing at the bar chatting while others spilled out on to the terrace as the sun gradually sank to the horizon. Waiting staff glided around with platters of tapas and trays of cocktails. Zennor swiped a virgin mojito and was on her way to the terrace to chat to Vince, the head of youth training for the Surf Club, when Trev intercepted her.

‘Hello! You made it. Brilliant.’ Leaning in, he briefly brushed her cheek with his lips.

‘Of course I did. I wouldn’t have missed a fundraiser for the club, especially with my clients involved.’

‘Of course.’ In stone chinos and a crisp white shirt, and with a designer watch on his wrist, he looked every inch the successful hotelier with confidence radiating from every pore. He smiled urbanely. ‘It’s a sell-out, thanks to guests, locals and club members. I could have sold it twice over.’

‘That’s fantastic.’ She smiled. ‘Thanks for inviting me. You have to let me pay for a ticket though.’

‘You’re joking! You actually gave me the idea with your Gin and Jazz suggestion and what better way to launch the music evenings than with a charity spectacular?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘And there was I thinking this was all out of the goodness of your heart.’

‘It is. You know it is. I’m only joking.’ He smirked. ‘Partly.’

‘It’s certainly captured the local media’s attention.’ Zennor recognised the editor of a regional lifestyle magazine and a couple of people from online lifestyle and events sites. She had a strange feeling of being outside herself this evening, as if she were playing a part: the ex-wife who needs to show the world how she’s moved on. She was exactly that, though, so why did she feel she had to put on a performance?

‘I figured that all publicity is good publicity when it comes to the club,’ Trev said.

‘I totally agree.’ Zennor wondered if Matt would say the same.

‘Good, because I want you to approve.’

‘You don’t need me to approve anything you do.’