‘Hiya, Hannah. I’ve been out harvesting the vegetables.’ Meredith’s words tumbled out in her usual runaway fashion. ‘Honestly, it’s heaven. Everything is just so fresh. I can’t wait to cook with them later. When I get home to Liverpool, I’m going to get myself an allotment. You have to come work in the garden.’

Hannah smiled at her enthusiasm. ‘I don’t know, I’ve been collecting eggs and there’s something rather magical about finding each one.’ She’d surprised herself saying that out loud, especially as she wasn’t one for fanciful turns of phrases.

Meredith sighed. ‘That sounds so romantic. Collecting eggs.’

Bridget smiled at both of them and wiped her hands on her apron. ‘And would you like one for breakfast? How would you like it?’

Hannah didn’t normally eat more than toast, and that was usually as she was halfway out of the door on her way to work. However, this morning she felt she deserved one, especially as she was going to be on her feet all day rather than on her bottom in an office. ‘Can I have a boiled egg?’

‘Hard or soft?’

‘Soft, please.’ She turned to Alan. ‘How were the cows?’

‘Bovine,’ said Alan. ‘And big. I tell you, I was a bit anxious but all I had to do was open the gates. The old dears know where they’re going.’

Jason stomped in wearing Darth Vader socks, closely followed by Izzy and Fliss, as Hannah sliced off the top of her boiled egg. The golden yolk inside stopped her for a moment. It was almost orange in colour, unlike the pale yellow she was used to.

Jason threw himself into a chair and moodily helped himself to some toast from the rack on the table.

‘Fancy some bacon and eggs, dearie?’ asked Bridget, turning from her post at the gas rings, that same mischievous smile playing at her mouth.

‘Those pigs stink!’ He did not look impressed. ‘And I’ve got shit all over my trainers.’

‘Don’t let Adrienne hear you,’ said Fliss with a smirk.

He glared at her and shot up two fingers. ‘I don’t give a—’

‘Children,’ said Meredith, shaking her head with an exasperated huff. ‘How old are the pair of you?’

Fliss stuck her nose up in the air and flounced over to the coffee pot.

‘I’d bloody love some bacon,’ said Jason with sudden gleeful relish and everyone burst out laughing as Bridget put several rashers into a big cast-iron skillet.

‘Oh my goodness. This is the best egg I’ve ever eaten.’ Hannah stared down at the egg cup, not quite able to believe it. ‘It really does taste amazing.’ Obviously because it was so fresh but there was also a funny little sense of satisfaction that she’d collected it and that she’d met the hen – well sort of – that had laid it.