Peggy was roused from her thoughts by Brenda nudging her arm. ‘What can I get you?’ she shouted above the raucous singing.

‘A large gin in that, please,’ Peggy shouted back.

Brenda raised an eyebrow, but the gin was swiftly added to the bitter lemon and the glass returned. Peggy thanked and paid her, still wondering where on earth Rosie had got to – and at that very moment she appeared in the doorway next to the bar that led to her upstairs rooms, her lovely face flushed with some inner excitement, her blue eyes sparkling.

Peggy’s curiosity sharpened when she caught Rosie tipping the wink to Gloria who immediately began to play ‘Danny Boy’, but before Peggy could ask what was going on, Rosie had moved from the doorway and the most glorious violin music came from behind her.

Peggy turned, and there was Fran, russet hair glowing in the lamplight, green eyes fairly dancing with mischief as she stepped into the bar and made her way towards the piano.

The crowd parted like the Red Sea and there was an awed silence until Ivy broke it with a joyous screech of welcome before she sent her chair crashing and dashed across to hug her.

Peggy and the Beach View girls followed suit and swooped on Fran who was forced to stop playing as they hugged and kissed her and admired the bump pushing out beneath her maternity smock.

‘To be sure, ’tis a grand welcome,’ she said through her laughter. ‘I’m glad I managed to surprise you all.’

There was an instant babble of questions, and Cordelia pushed her way through the gaggle. ‘Let the dog see the rabbit,’ she ordered. ‘There you are,’ she said breathlessly, ‘and how lovely to have you home again even if it is only for a while.’

Fran handed the violin to Peggy so she could gently embrace the elderly woman. ‘I couldn’t be missing Rita’s wedding, Grandma Cordy,’ she murmured after kissing her cheek. ‘And I’ve so longed to see you all again.’

Peggy fought back happy tears as Fran turned to embrace her. ‘Welcome home, darling girl,’ she murmured against her cheek as she tried desperately to think where she could accommodate her and her husband. Beach View was full to the rafters.

‘Now, you’re not to be fretting about where to put us up, Aunt Peggy,’ replied Fran, who knew Peggy’s thought processes so well. ‘Gloria has most kindly rented me and Robert a room for the week, so we’ll be just down the road and will get lots of time to see each other.’

‘A whole week? Oh, Fran, does that mean you’ll be playing at Doris’s wedding next Saturday?’

‘I could hardly refuse seeing as how she gave me this wonderful instrument,’ replied Fran and then laughed. ‘To be sure I never imagined the day when I’d see Doris married again.’

‘I don’t think any of us did,’ said Peggy, and smiled. ‘Meeting the Colonel was the very best thing that could have happened to her after losing Ted and her home like that.’