‘Well, we weren’t expecting this.’ Fraser slapped Rory on the back. ‘But it’s good to have you home, son. Let me get you both a pint.’

‘That’s music to my ears.’ Rory laughed, taking a swift glance around the pub and waving towards Julia, Felicity and Isla who were up on their feet and heading towards him. Ella and Callie watched as the old friends reunited.

After hugging Rory to death, Felicity and Isla came back to the table. ‘All we need now is for Allie to come home and all the gang is back together.’ Isla looked happy as she sat back down.

‘And here’s Flynn now and Gianni,’ Julia noticed them walking in the back door. Immediately Flynn made his way over to Julia and kissed her. He turned back to say something to Gianni when everyone noticed Zach, with a wide grin on his face, welcoming Gianni like a long-lost friend. ‘Gianni!’

‘I can’t believe it,’ chimed Gianni in a loud Italian accent. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Never mind me, what are you doing here?’ replied Zach, thumping him on his back. As thick as thieves, they disappeared over towards the bar whilst Flynn pulled up a chair next to Julia.

‘Honestly, I feel like I’m in a weird dream, just pinch me.’ Ella offered her arm to Callie. ‘I’m dreaming I’m in this quaint pub in the Scottish Highlands with a legendary actor, a TV supervet and a famous chef.’

Callie pinched her arm.

‘Ow! That hurt!’ Ella rubbed her arm.

Everyone laughed.

‘This is so surreal.’ Ella was still staring over at Zach.

‘Welcome to Heartcross!’ exclaimed Julia, holding up her glass as they all clinked them together.

‘How’s Dolores?’ asked Flynn. ‘Callie mentioned you’d been to visit her at lunchtime.’

‘Low blood pressure, doing good and hopefully home tomorrow, and I had the best history lesson about The Lakehouse, which was apparently the place that launched her career. Do you know Dolores still has a little black book full of all the artists’ telephone numbers that performed at The Lakehouse, including some of their sons and daughters who followed suit?’

‘That woman has a remarkable talent,’ replied Flynn, accepting a drink from Fraser who’d just brought him a pint over. ‘Dad was telling me the Dolores Dinner evenings were always packed out. First your meal, then you watched your favourite artist perform. Win–win.’

Ella slapped the table, and everyone looked at her. ‘I think I’ve just had a light-bulb moment.’ Ella’s eyes were wide, which matched the grin on her face. ‘This afternoon Dolores was telling me how she would love to perform at The Lakehouse one last time, so with the TV crew coming in tomorrow and reporting on the history of The Lakehouse, why don’t we have a trip down memory lane?’