‘What’s happened?’ Anna asked, as they sat at the bench, a bowl of crisps and some artichoke dip between them. ‘You look done in.’

Rhona took a large gulp of her drink, holding up one finger in a ‘bear-with’ gesture. Then she put down her glass and blew out a breath.

‘Bloody bank,’ she growled. ‘Bloody economy, bloody men, bloody money. When I started up I took out a loan for the kiln and I’m struggling to keep up with the payments. When I agreed the terms, I thought I’d be fine. Stuart and I – my ex – had this house in Aberdeen that we’d bought as a development property. After the divorce we agreed that he’d go ahead and do the renovations as planned and then sell it, after which we’d split the proceeds because although it’d be him doing all the work, the initial investment was all mine. But he’s only now finished the renovations – it’s taken him years – and he’s arguing that because he paid for all of them, and because the housing market has dropped off and it’ll be hard to sell, I’m not due anything from the sale.’

‘What?’ said Anna. ‘But surely he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.’

Rhona finished her drink and immediately poured another. ‘Probably not, but I don’t have money for a lawyer. It seems that he – or his new wife, more likely – does.’ She groaned. ‘I think I’m going to have to cut my losses. But business hasn’t been great. I’ve been scraping by, and with the loan to pay every month…’ Rhona shook her head. ‘I’m worried I’m going to lose it all. I can’t do that, Anna, I can’t. I’ve already started over from nothing once, I’m too old to do it again.’

Anna put her hand over Rhona’s and squeezed her fingers. ‘It won’t come to that. I won’t let it. Your pieces are so beautiful, Rhona, all they need is to find their place and they’ll take off, I know it.’

Rhona gave her a watery smile. ‘Aye, hen. Take over the pub, use all my crockery, get famous and start a chain,’ she said. ‘That’ll solve all my problems!’

Anna looked out over the bay, thinking. ‘Top-flight restaurants aren’t a bad idea for a market, you know. Maybe I can help there.’

Rhona looked hopeful. ‘You think Geoff Rowcliffe might be interested?’

Something in Anna shuddered at the idea of having to be in touch with her ex, especially at the moment. How he’d crow if he knew. She could imagine exactly how he’d react: she’d run off to the back of beyond and got knocked up straight away like the stupid woman she had always been.