He tilted his head to one side. ‘It’s been terrible, Ells. I must have had some sort of breakdown. All I know is, I couldn’t cope anymore. I felt like the world was closing in around me and I couldn’t breathe. Work was off the scale, the pressure of more shifts at the hospital, I couldn’t keep up with the schedule.’

Who the hell did he think he was kidding? Ella was shaking her head in disbelief, yet trying to keep every emotion under control. He wasn’t even a doctor. Did he think she’d just sat back and never reported his disappearance to the police? What exactly was his game, because he was taking a huge risk turning up here.

‘I felt numb, like my life was unmanageable,’ he continued.

Ella wanted to stand up, shout ‘Bravo, give this man an Oscar,’ but instead she said, ‘You poor thing. I can’t believe this.’ She saw Alex’s mouth hitch into a tiny smile. Did he honestly think she was falling for this baloney?

‘I had a breakdown, checked into a centre, had to get myself right.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that, Alex. And did you not think to ring the woman you were living with and engaged to?’

‘I was a broken man; I didn’t want you seeing me that way. All I can do is beg for forgiveness. I love you, Ells, and I’ve missed you.’

‘How did you find me?’ Ella was curious how he’d ended up here.

‘You’re famous, all over the news for organising this prestigious event that’s going on right here. Dolores Henderson is a huge star. I’m so proud of you! She’s a friend of yours too? It’s amazing. I always said you were destined for great things.’

‘No, you didn’t.’

Ella’s bluntness didn’t deter Alex’s sob story in any way, shape or form.

‘I want a part of this life with you. I want us back. We were in love, about to get married. We are two of a kind, Ella, destined to be with each other.’

Ella had a million and one questions whirling around in her head. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Callie using the landline behind the bar.

‘Will you excuse me for a second, I really need to use the bathroom.’ As Ella stood up a fork of lightning rocketed through the sky, lighting up the windowpanes. The thunder boomed almost instantly and the lights inside The Lakehouse began to flicker. The whole room gasped.