Toby almost bites my hand off when I ring and tell him he can buy the place if he’d like. So that’s it then. Tregavara House will be partitioned into flats and strangers will live here. But at least I’m passing it on to a Trebarwith and the house will survive – which is what Alice would want. If only I could shake off the niggling feeling that I’m still letting her and the house down.

Yep, the house! I’ve assigned a full gamut of feelings and emotions to a two-hundred-year-old heap of granite and mortar. But sometimes the house’s groans in the early hours, as old walls are settling, sound like admonishments and I’ve started saying ‘sorry’ in reply. Really quietly so I don’t wake Josh and tip him off that I’m quite possibly losing my mind.

I’m also bitterly disappointed that our wedding’s off even though I keep telling myself that nothing important has changed. Not really. Josh and I still love each other and live together and we will get married one day. But right now, this wonderful house that’s been in my family for generations has to be saved from my penury. Even though leaving will break my heart.

Jacques, on the other hand, has no qualms about saying farewell to a falling-down house and heads back to Paris the day after the storm. He does promise he’ll be back as he climbs into his shiny Mercedes but I’m not sure whether he means it or he’s just being his usual charming, two-faced self.

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Jennifer doesn’t look too upset when I call into her shop on the proviso of buying a newspaper but really to check how she’s doing. In fact, she’s looking good and appears to have ditched her trousers completely – these days, she’s never seen without a nice dress, full slap make-up and blonde hair backcombed to within an inch of its life. Her bouffant hairstyle is so magnificent, Kayla keeps threatening to set it up with its own Twitter account.

‘Did Jacques get off on time yesterday?’ she asks, on her knees adjusting bottles of sun cream so the prices are more visible. ‘And I’m so sorry about the rain coming through your roof. That’s the trouble with these old houses.’

Then she goes back to her sun cream without giving me the third degree about what damage was done and the cost of repairs. Storm was right. Jennifer isn’t quite herself.

‘I don’t mean to pry but I wondered how you’re feeling about Jacques leaving?’

‘Sounds like prying to me.’ Jennifer staggers to her feet and wipes her hands down her overly snug dress. ‘I feel fine, thank you very much, and Jacques is coming back for your wedding – he’ll be my plus-one if that’s all right. I didn’t think you’d mind seeing as it’s your fault he was here in the first place.’

I nod, keeping my face as neutral as possible because I want to tell Kayla first about our change in wedding plans and selling to Toby. She’ll go ballistic so I’ve been putting it off. Storm and Emily didn’t take it too well at first but are coming round.

‘He’s giving me some space to consider his offer,’ says Jennifer, settling down on the stool behind the counter. ‘You might be surprised to learn that he’s invited me to live rent-free in a flat he owns in Paris and he’ll pay for singing lessons and set me up with some work opportunities.’

‘Wow, that’s some offer. What are you going to do?’

‘I’m considering it. Leaving this business that I’ve built up over the years would be hard but he’s offering a lot.’

‘He certainly is but…’ I hesitate, not sure how to word my next question. ‘What would he expect in return?’

‘Are you alluding to sex, Annie?’

OK, I wasn’t expecting that. ‘I just wondered… I mean, I didn’t mean to imply…’

‘We’re just old friends, though I wouldn’t rule out becoming – how do young people put it these days? – friends with benefits in the future. But it’s the singing that particularly interests me and the chance to do what I should have done forty years ago. Before… well, you know what happened.’ She gazes into the distance and her face hardens. ‘Anyway, that’s my news and I’d be grateful if you didn’t bandy it about. You’ve proved yourself to be a reliable confidante.’

‘I won’t say anything if you don’t want me to and it is an amazing opportunity, Jennifer. But how do you feel about leaving everyone in Salt Bay, people like Roger?’

‘Roger is behaving very oddly at the moment. He’s obviously imbibing rather too much of his merchandise. But I’d miss him and everyone here, including you. That’s why I’m taking time to consider Jacques’ offer. But how often do people get second chances, Annie?’

‘I got my second chance when I left London for Salt Bay and met Alice.’

And my third chance, I guess, will be when Tregavara House is sold and we move to Trecaldwith. That’s my fork in the road all decided and almost done and dusted while Jennifer is still hesitating at the crossroads.

There’s a smudge of pink lipstick on Jennifer’s top teeth when she smiles. ‘This village has been good for you, Annie, and you’ve been good for the village in return. My second chance will mean leaving Salt Bay but the village can’t stay the same forever.’

I’m so tempted to let it all spill out – about us leaving the village too and Toby having the house and our wedding being postponed and my heart hurting even though I know I’m doing the right thing. But Jennifer would only tell the whole world so I keep my mouth shut.

The bell over the shop door clangs and Jennifer slides off the stool. ‘Linda, how lovely to see you up and about after your operation. Are you here for your magazines? I’ve kept them for you under the counter.’

I slip away, leaving Jennifer to deal with her customer and make up her mind about the path her life will take.