‘Most, but not all – or at least not yet,’ Pat said. ‘David and Glynn come over from Inverness most weekends, and for holidays. David’s mum and dad owned their place as a holiday cottage all the way through David growing up, so he’s about as much a part of the village as you can get, and Glynn loves it here too. Their plan is to retire to Crovie, but they’re a ways off that yet. Rhona’s originally from Fraserburgh but didn’t want to go back after her divorce so she found a place in Gardenstown. Marie and Philip live in Edinburgh. They’re both lawyers and always busy but they love to come up as much as they can. Terry and Susan—’

‘I’m never going to remember all this,’ Anna laughed again.

‘No need to fret, lass,’ Frank said, handing her a glass of wine with one hand and deftly sneaking a roast pepper roll with the other, ‘one look at this lot and they’ll all be eating out of your hand.’

By eight o’clock everyone else had arrived – David and Glynn first, bearing bottles of wine and enthusiastic hugs for Frank and Pat. Then Rhona appeared with Marie and Philip, then Terry and Susan. They all welcomed Anna with handshakes and smiles. As time went on, she relaxed, warming to the company and the ebb and flow of chat, which soon turned to her purchase of the Fishergirl’s Luck.

‘It’s so good to know that Bren’s place will be lived in again,’ Rhona said. She was a tall woman with a tanned, freckled face, hazel eyes and dark, blousy curls that she continually pushed back behind her ears. ‘When I saw that Old Robbie had put it up for sale I was half tempted to buy it myself, but there would be no room for my workshop.’

‘You have a workshop?’ Anna asked. ‘What do you make?’

‘I’m a potter. Kitchenware, in the main – mugs, plates, bowls, that kind of thing.’

‘It’s beautiful stuff,’ Susan chimed in. ‘I love buying Rhona’s work, everything makes such wonderful presents. I think most of our friends and family own a mug or two. We’ve got a whole dinner service, and we adore it.’

A murmur of assent rippled around the group, and Rhona smiled as Pat said, ‘It’s where our tea mugs come from, Anna, if you remember them? The ones with the blue glaze. The colour always reminds me of the sea at dawn.’

‘Oh yes!’ Anna said. ‘I thought at the time that they were beautiful. What a fantastic skill to have.’