With a certain amount of trepidation, Hannah approached the hotel entrance and was immediately entranced by the beautiful stone building. It was softened by a trailing Virginia creeper that was just starting to adopt its autumn hues, turning from rich green to burgundy, as it trailed around neatly painted windows with bright-red sills.

However, it only took her mind off things for a moment. The unexpected meeting with Conor had completely unnerved her. What were the chances of running into him again? And how mortifying after doing a runner on him. Her heart had only just resumed normal service after her pulse rate had risen so high she could feel it thudding in her veins.

‘Hello there, welcome to Killorgally Hotel. You must be Hannah. I’m Bridget Byrne.’

‘Hello. Yes, I’ve come up for dinner. Sorry I’m a little late.’

‘Ach, you’re not late at all. My daughter-in-law needs to relax a little. She’s always on the go, that girl, and much as I love her for it, she could take a little time to smell the roses. Come on through. Dinner’s not for another fifteen minutes. We like to have a glass of something to celebrate the day before we eat.’

Hannah immediately warmed to the woman with her lively eyes and ready smile. Despite her age – she had to be everyone’s favourite granny – in a pink gingham pinny tied over well-worn jeans and a bright fuchsia-pink sweatshirt with matching lipstick, she looked like a mischievous pixie about to bounce into action.

When Hannah followed Bridget through to a small dining room, she found the others already assembled in one corner with a bay window overlooking a cobbled courtyard.

‘Ah, there you are, Hannah.’ Adrienne greeted her with a warm smile, this evening wearing a glamourous emerald-green silk tea dress which wafted around her slim figure. It made Hannah doubly glad she’d changed into a pretty floral dress with a flouncy tiered skirt for dinner. She felt the need of armour after the bruising encounter with Conor. ‘Conor gave you the message. Will you be all right on your own out there? I don’t want you to feel lonely or anything.’

‘I’m fine. The cottage is absolutely gorgeous. I’ll be quite happy there, especially with that lovely view out over the sea.’

‘Yes, Conor’s done a grand job on that one. He did all the renovation.’

He had? Damn, she didn’t want to admire what he’d done but there was no doubting the man had an eye.

‘Erm, can I ask? Who is Conor? I mean, does he work here? Is he your handyman?’

Fliss tutted loudly. ‘You are kidding me. You haven’t heard of Good Enough to Eat?’

Even Meredith and Alan gave her slightly shocked glances and Meredith added, ‘Or Good Enough to Eat Again?’