‘I’m not entirely sure. I’ve never heard her talk about anyone, but I know she’s very close to Hamish. And he thinks the world of her.’

‘I miss my parents.’ As soon as Ella mentioned them, tears sprang to her eyes. ‘How does that happen?’ She flapped her hand in front of her face. ‘The second I mention them… the tears.’

Callie reached over and gently touched her arm. ‘It’s normal.’

‘It’s hard, all the things you take for granted, and then the next minute they’ve gone forever.’ Ella took a swig of her drink. ‘And Dolores reminds me a lot of my own grandmother, she has a very good heart.’

‘She has indeed.’

‘How far away is the hospital?’ asked Ella, thinking if she had the whole day to herself she could visit Dolores there. ‘I could go and keep her company.’

‘Good plan, she’ll love that. The hospital is over in Glensheil. It’s not far at all. I think the buses are every hour on a Sunday, or a taxi would drop you off straight at the door. I’ll check the bus times,’ she said, scooping up McCartney after he’d finished his own breakfast and wandering out on to the balcony. She placed him on her lap. ‘I bet this little one wonders where she is.’

‘Don’t worry, McCartney. Dolores will be home as soon as possible,’ Ella soothed, leaning across and lightly patting his back.

‘He can’t hear, you know.’

Ella chuckled. ‘I keep forgetting he’s deaf.’

They sat and chatted for the next ten minutes and were just about to clear away the breakfast dishes when the doorbell rang. Callie looked over towards Ella. ‘Are we expecting anyone?’

Ella shrugged and headed towards the door. She was surprised to find Roman standing on the other side.

‘We were just talking about you,’ she said, opening the door wide. ‘Were your ears burning?’

‘What do they say? “Right for spite, left for love”?’ He touched both ears. ‘All good, I hope.’

‘Now that would be telling,’ she joked. ‘Are you coming in?’

‘As long as I’m not intruding. I’ve just come to check up on Dolores. Any news?’ he asked, stepping inside the hallway.

Whatever had put him in his reflective mood yesterday, seemed to have passed as Roman was all smiles and in a very chatty mood.

‘Coffee?’ asked Ella.

‘That would be great.’

Callie leant back on her chair and clocked eyes with Roman. ‘Good morning, you’re up early.’