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‘Oh?’ She tugged at a lock of hair and laughed nervously. ‘This is my stage persona. I slob around bare-faced in trackies at home.’

He smiled. ‘And this is your first gig at this hotel?’

‘I know. I couldn’t turn it down.’

‘A great opportunity,’ Matt said, knowing he ought to walk away right now.

‘Zennor’s given me – us – a break by taking us on. It’s up to us to make the most of the opportunity.’

‘So, you’ve given up waiting on tables?’ There, it was out. Too late to rein back now. ‘And the name? Marielle? You’ve changed that too.’

‘Marielle is my stage name. I’m still Roz to my friends and family.’

‘Yeah, I heard Trev call you Roz at the wedding.’

Marielle exhaled sharply but then curled her lip and laughed. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You know exactly what I mean,’ Matt said quietly.

‘Is that a threat?’ she asked, her voice rising higher.

Suddenly feeling like a Grade A bastard, Matt shook his head. ‘Of course not. I didn’t mean it to come across like that. I only …’

‘Look, I’ve always regretted what I did – what we did. After your performance at the reception, I put two and two together and guessed you’d spotted us. When I think about it now, I hate myself. I certainly never saw Trev again afterwards. If that’s any reassurance.’

‘It’s – none of my business. It shouldn’t have been back then but I cared about Zennor.’

‘Please don’t tell her who I am. I was dreading you recognising me tonight and I’ve been agonising over what to do. Then I suddenly thought I’d try to – to speak to you and give my side of the story. I’m still not sure if I’ve made a huge mistake. Zennor’s been so good to me and the band.’

‘You’re not,’ Matt said, feeling sorry for her, though he was certainly angry with Trev. ‘It’s none of my business.’

Marielle shook her head and almost smiled. ‘If you really think that, you’re kidding yourself. And I can’t believe you’re not going to tell Zennor that I was the woman all over her new husband.’

A deep sadness crept over Matt. He wished he could undo his mistakes, but agonising over the past was pointless and corrosive. ‘What good would it do?’

‘Put you in her good books?’ Marielle asked.

Matt laughed bitterly. ‘I don’t think anything will ever put me in Zennor’s good books around this. We’ve all worked hard to leave the past behind. You, me and Zennor.’ He declined to add Trev to the list. ‘Everyone needs a second chance. Let’s face it, you weren’t the newly married spouse who decided to hit on a young woman in a vulnerable position.’

‘I knew what I was doing,’ she said quietly. ‘I can’t use that as an excuse.’

‘Thanks for the honesty, but I still prefer to lay the blame at Trev’s door.’ He sighed. ‘You’re brilliant, by the way. Your band are great, too, but I agree with Zennor. You could make it on your own if you want to.’

Her eyes were on stalks. ‘Zennor said that?’

‘Yeah.’ Matt wondered if he should have passed on Zennor’s praise.

‘Shit. I – I don’t know what to say. And it’s great to hear but for now we come as a package. My cousin is the drummer and my best friend’s mate is on bass guitar. An old college friend on keyboards. I can’t let them down.’

‘I admire your loyalty,’ Matt said, thinking that the reality of the music business might shake her resolve eventually.

‘And I’m so grateful to you for not telling Zennor. Truly, I am.’

Matt felt embarrassed. ‘No need. I don’t think she’d thank either of us. Have a good second half and I’m glad you gave up the day job.’

So many emotions swirled around as he walked back into the Piano Bar: sadness, anger and a helplessness at what he should do next – if anything.

All of them had to be shoved aside when he found Trev had moved on and Dawn was at the table, holding books of raffle tickets. ‘Hello there. I hate to disturb your evening but would you mind awfully giving me a hand? We’re running a raffle and we need someone to sell tickets. Sorry, it’s old school tonight – cash only. But I can give you a float.’