Ella stepped into a room that was packed to the rafters. Fraser and Meredith were famous for their Sunday roast with all the trimmings, and since the increase in tourism to the area booking a table was an absolute must.

Meredith smiled up from behind the bar. ‘Good evening, how are you both doing?’ She placed a beer mat down in front of them both. ‘Julia’s in, she’s over the far side with Eleni.’

Callie looked over her shoulder and waved at her cousin. ‘Meredith, can I introduce you to Ella, she’s staying with me for the foreseeable.’

Meredith gave Ella a warm welcoming smile. ‘Of course, pleased to meet you.’ She extended her hand across the bar. ‘Your very first drink is on the house. Welcome to Heartcross! What would you like?’

‘That’s very kind, I’ll have a glass of Pinot Grigio, please, and thank you so much for the homemade lasagne the other day, it was just what we needed after our long journey.’

‘It was my pleasure, and the same for you?’ Meredith glanced towards Callie. ‘Wine?’

‘Perfect, thank you.’

As Meredith reached up for the wine glasses that were on the high shelf she shouted over to Fraser who was stocking up the crisps at the other end of the bar.

‘Fraser, come and meet Ella, a friend of Callie’s. She’s staying over the road.’

Fraser walked over and stretched his hand across the bar. ‘Welcome to the Grouse and Haggis.’

‘You’ve probably heard me talking about Allie in the past, she’s Fraser and Meredith’s daughter,’ informed Callie.

‘Yes! And her boyfriend is the supervet! How cool is that. I watched the programme on the telly.’

Fraser and Meredith beamed. ‘Yes Rory, he’s currently over in Africa, still working with Zach Hudson.’

‘Zach Hudson!’ swooned Ella. ‘I’ve watched every Netflix film he’s been in.’

‘Me too, if I’m really honest.’ Meredith lowered her voice, ‘Very easy on the eye.’

‘I can hear you, you know. I’m only standing here.’ Fraser swiped Meredith playfully with the bar towel, and she chuckled.

Ella admired the familiarity between them, and could tell they adored each other and knew each other inside and out, they radiated such warmth. That’s exactly what she thought she’d had with Alex, before he’d revealed himself to be a liar and a cheat.

‘When is Rory home, Julia was saying he must be due any time now?’ asked Callie.

Meredith placed the two glasses of wine in front of them. ‘Stuart and Alana were in earlier and they said his arrival is imminent. I think Stuart is counting the days. Molly has been covering Rory’s shifts at the practice and as far as I know, the new surgery is nearly ready over at Clover Cottage, but he’s ready to hang up his scrubs and spend his time with Alana.’