‘Maybe, but it will always be here to come back to, won’t it? I’ve decided I’m going to let Sian and Ralph live here while I’m gone. They were lucky his dad let them stay with him once they got engaged, but they need their privacy, their own space, and there’s been nowhere suitable without them having to drive miles in and out of town. My cottage is so near to the surgery, and I feel I owe them …’

‘You’ll charge them rent though?’

‘Yes, but not too much. And they’ll take on all the bills. The rent will top up my student loan and help me pay my way in London, Mum will happily give me a room to sleep in when I’m home in the holidays, and they can all fight over Flo. She can stay here or move to Mum’s, or live between both homes if she chooses. They all love her just as much as I do. No, selling the place was never really an option. Not when it was my gran’s …’

‘It looks really quaint.’

‘Oh, Simon, have you not been here before?’ Madi said, opening the door and swinging her legs out of the car.

‘No, first time. The cottage, the village … and meeting Prue’s parents on their home territory. It’s all a bit scary, to tell you the truth.’

‘It will be fine, believe me.’ She stood up and stretched, the two of them following her out of the car. ‘Shelling could not be a more welcoming …’

Before she had even finished her sentence, the door of the neighbouring house flew open and a small chestnut-brown dog came running down the path, its ears bouncing up and down like little furry flaps.

‘Madi, you’re back!’ Tom, hurrying out of his gate just a pace or two behind the dog, opened his arms and engulfed her in them, almost pulling her off her feet.

‘Hello, Tom.’ She pulled back, taking in his familiar face and excited eyes, before kissing him warmly on the cheek. ‘And who is this little beauty?’

‘This,’ Tom said, reaching down to pick up the little dog and nuzzle its neck, ‘is Flush. She is four months old, an absolute bundle of energy, and she’s keeping me very much on my toes.’

‘She’s adorable.’ Madi held out her hand to be licked, which Flush did with great enthusiasm.

‘You’ve made a friend there, Madi,’ Prue said, opening her gate as Simon took their bags from the car and carried them to the step. ‘Flo’s not been quite so keen. In fact, she’s kept well out of her way since she arrived, but she’ll get used to her. I mean, who couldn’t fall in love with a furry little angel face like that? Even a cat would have trouble resisting.’

‘I see she has you in the palm of her hand, Tom.’

‘Or paw!’ Tom said, moving towards Madi’s car and insisting on carrying what was left of the luggage.