Jessica holds the shell high above her head, like a trophy.
‘Mummy! Look at this one. It’s perfect.’
Two golden curls escape the confines of Jessica’s straw hat and coil against her freckled face. Hazel pushes her own blonde locks back out of her eyes, fighting a losing battle against the sea breeze.
‘Let me see. Oh yes, darling. Beautiful. You’re such a clever girl. How many do we have now?’ she says, offering her shoulder bag to Jessica.
Jessica peers inside and counts out loud, ‘One, two,’…