‘Don’t say that!’ Ella was close to tears, but seeing how happy Dolores was at this moment in time made her heart swell. ‘Roman’s waiting downstairs, are you ready?’

‘I’ve been ready for years, but it’s times like this I bloody wished I had dabbled in Botox.’

Ella laughed. ‘Dolores, you should be bottled.’

‘Please don’t pickle me when my time is up.’

Walking out on to the High Street, Dolores looked like a movie star. Her dress floated behind her whilst her natural hair bounced lightly above her shoulders. She looked the picture of happiness. Hamish appeared in the shop doorway. ‘I’m glad to see that wig has finally disappeared.’ Dolores spun round and gave Hamish a huge beam. ‘Thank you for being the best son.’ She held his hands.

‘Don’t go going all gushy on me now.’ He kissed his mother on her cheek. ‘No go and get Charlie – it’s been a long time coming.’

‘Thank you, son.’

Ella fanned her face with her hands then stepped forward and hugged Roman, who was waiting by Bette. ‘What’s that for?’

‘Just because I feel like I’ve found my prince and now Dolores is about to get hers.’

‘You daft bugger,’ he said, tilting her face towards his and kissing her on the lips before turning towards Dolores. ‘Your carriage awaits.’

He swung open his arm and Dolores wrinkled her forehead. ‘I think it’s about time to treat yourself to a new car. Bette looks older than me,’ she joked, accepting Roman’s hand as he helped her into the front seat.

He laughed. ‘Yes, it may be about time.’

Ella strapped herself in the back seat but shuffled to the edge and leant forward, with her elbows resting on their head rests. Roman set off up the road and headed towards the bumpy track along the side of the river.

Ella was feeling nervous for Dolores. She had no clue what had kept Dolores and Charlie apart for all these years, but at long last they were going to have their own trip down memory lane. ‘What’s the first thing you are going to say?’ asked Ella, feeling the nervous tension in the air.

‘I’ve no idea,’ replied Dolores. ‘I’ve rehearsed this moment over and over in my head but now my brain decides to go to mush.’

‘Here we are.’ Roman glanced over his shoulder at Ella and parked Bette at the side of The Boathouse.

‘Do you want to get out of the car, or shall we stay inside until we see another car?’ asked Roman, switching off the engine, but Ella interrupted before Dolores could answer.

‘Here we go.’

Driving towards them was an electric-blue Bentley. ‘Now that’s posh – and we’ve arrived in Bette.’ Ella was staring at the car out of the windscreen.