She’d had a lovely soak in the bath, come down and got some nice glasses out of the cupboard, arranged some dips in bowls on the coffee table, lit the candles on the mantlepiece and put out the crisps. It was funny how quickly she become quite proprietorial towards the cottage and how excited she was about welcoming her first guests to come and enjoy its hospitality. At home, she rarely invited people round to her apartment. Most people if they were coming into the city preferred to meet at a restaurant or bar.

‘That’s the downside of not having a car here,’ said Meredith. ‘I hadn’t thought about it before, although to be honest I’m not much of a driver. The thought of driving in a strange country put me off too.’

‘Thankfully, they drive on the same side of the road as us, although some of the road signs are quite different. But it’s pretty quiet round here. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,’ offered Hannah. ‘I’ve got a hire car and I’m paying for it, so I might as well make use of it.’

‘That’s kind. Alan’s offered as well. He knows Kerry quite well. In fact, we’re going for a drive tomorrow.’

‘Are you now?’ Izzy’s arch teasing brought an exasperated sigh from Meredith as Hannah eased the cork out of the bottle and poured the gently fizzing wine into three glasses.

‘Don’t you go getting ideas. You’re as bad as my girls. I’m far too old for all that nonsense. Besides, he’s only asked me because I’ve more in common with him. Similar age. Two daughters.’

‘Both single,’ said Izzy mischievously as she took a glass from Hannah.

‘I doubt very much he’d be interested in a dull, frumpy old bat like me. Cheers, girls. Thanks for inviting me, even thought I could be old enough to be mother to the both of you.’

Hannah led the way into the other room, shaking her head at Meredith’s unflattering view of herself.

‘You’re not old,’ said Izzy. ‘Not in attitude, that’s for sure.’

‘Definitely not,’ agreed Hannah. ‘And you’re not a frumpy old bat, either.’

‘That’s what my girls keep telling me.’ Meredith took the far side of the sofa, putting her glass on the table and taking a handful of crisps. ‘They’ve been trying to smarten me up and get me to do that online dating. Don’t tell them, but I tried it once. It was awful. I got myself into such a state I couldn’t even go through with it. I got all dressed up, stood outside the restaurant for half an hour, and I couldn’t go in.’

‘Oh Merry. Why not? Was he awful?’