‘Thank you, and I’m glad things are working out for you. I may not have known the old you but I’m looking forward to getting to know her now! Let’s start by having a chat over that tea, shall we, Grandma!’

Madi swiped at his arm. ‘Cheeky! Not for a few months yet, I’m not. And it all happened so quickly, the IVF treatment, only their second go at it, and the miracle of it working, that I’ve hardly had time to get used to the idea.’

‘A good feeling though? Hair, and work, and having your son back in your life? And a new little arrival to look forward to?’

Madi followed Tom up the path, Flush licking at his ear. ‘Oh, yes. The best feeling in the world.’

‘So, where exactly are you taking me?’

Tom held the passenger door open and ushered her towards his car, Flush jumping about excitedly from behind a wire barrier set up in the back.

Madi had slept amazingly well in one of Faith’s cosily decorated spare rooms, surrounded by flowery fabrics and enveloped in a thick duck down duvet and fat feather pillows. She was still feeling heavy from eating one of the village pub’s famous pie dinners last night, where she had met up again with Patty and lots of the other villagers keen to remake her acquaintance and talk about the ‘awful incident’ they’d read about in the papers. And then, at around ten o’clock this morning, finally emerging from her room, she had been presented with a huge farmhouse-style egg and bacon breakfast. Now she still felt full to the brim, despite the fact she had eaten it more than three hours earlier.

‘Please tell me we’re not going somewhere for lunch? I couldn’t manage a mouthful.’

‘Not lunch, no.’

‘Then where?’

‘Never you mind. It’s a surprise. Now, come on. Your carriage awaits.’

The car sped along the narrow tree-lined country lanes she remembered so well. They all looked surprisingly similar and her sense of direction had left her somewhere at the end of the village street. She had no idea at all where they were headed.

‘So, how are the plans to rebuild the village hall? And you never did tell me what came of the enquiry.’

‘Wheels turn slowly, Madi. You must know that. The fire was declared an accident. The insurance is paying out, but it will be a while until we have a usable hall again.’

‘Such a shame. Especially for all those kids who were so keen to put on a show. How is young Donny, by the way? Still ringing the bells?’

‘Ha! No, it seems he has something more interesting to do in the evenings these days.’

‘Oh?’

‘You remember little Chantelle, one of the singers in the girl group? It would appear he’s sweet on her. Has been for a while. In fact, I rather suspect that was why he was still hanging around on the night of the fire instead of scooting straight off home. A bit of courting behind the bike sheds, if you know what I mean!’