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‘I’m not sure.’ I couldn’t help but grin suddenly. ‘He was a bit of a looker, though. Made me go all funny inside.’

Amelia’s brown eyes widened, and she threw back her head and laughed. ‘Shona Bannerman! Did you fancy him?’

I wrinkled my nose. ‘Maybe a smidge,’ I admitted. ‘He was all tall and broad-shouldered, and he had a beard. Funny really, cos I’m not usually one for facial hair on men.’

‘As opposed to facial hair on women?’

I shook my head. ‘Very funny. You know what I mean. I never thought I’d fancy a bloke with a beard, but this one was really neat, and it suited him somehow. Oh, I don’t know. Just me valiantly trying to stir up my last few flagging hormones I guess.’

‘Life in the old dog yet, I’d say.’

‘Who are you calling a dog?’

‘Now who’s being funny? Hey, I think I might have seen him, you know. There was a man in the churchyard last week, eyeing up the graves. He matched your description.’

‘Was he – I’m not sure – Dutch? German? Something like that.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘I’ve no idea. When he saw me approaching, he scarpered, and I wasn’t going to go chasing after him. It was the Rowlands’ graves he was standing at. He seemed to be reading the inscriptions on their headstones. I wonder why?’

‘No idea. Maybe he’s interested in the history of this place? Although he really has no idea…’ I laughed, thinking of all the past residents of the village who still wandered its streets.

‘You say he’s Dutch or German?’

‘Or something,’ I said. ‘He had the faintest trace of an accent. It was quite sexy.’

‘My word, Shona! Your hormones really are popping.’

‘Don’t be daft. Just an observation.’

‘So, Rissa’s got foreign blood in her veins, eh? Well, judging by her own accent, she grew up in this country, so maybe he’s been living here a long time.’

‘Unless,’ I said slowly, ‘her parents are divorced, and she’s grown up in England with her mum, and that’s why her dad didn’t know where she was. Maybe they were estranged, and he wants to rebuild their relationship. Aw…’ I sighed. ‘That would be lovely. I hope they forgive each other.’

Amelia smirked. ‘You’ve made up a whole backstory for them in your head, haven’t you?’

‘I just like happy endings,’ I admitted. ‘Nothing wrong with that, is there?’

‘Nothing at all,’ she agreed, nodding towards Rissa, who was walking with Betty not far in front of us. ‘Maybe if he comes back to visit her again, there might be a happy ending for you, too?’

‘Me? What do you mean by that?’

‘Well, a highly fanciable man of foreign extraction with a sexy accent. According to you, divorced. Family ties to Rowan Vale. I mean, come on. It practically writes itself. You’re young, free, and single?—’

‘I have no idea if he’s divorced! I was just daydreaming. He could be happily married to Rissa’s mum and about to celebrate his thirtieth wedding anniversary for all I know. Although,’ I added, ‘he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.’

‘You checked?’

‘Not on purpose. I just couldn’t help noticing.’ I cleared my throat. ‘Anyway, I’m far too old for all that stuff. I’m fifty-two!’

‘That’s not old,’ Amelia said with a laugh. ‘Stop putting obstacles in your own path. About time you had a bit of romance in your life after the crappy time you had with Luke Bannerman.’

‘What about you and Tully?’ I asked mischievously.

‘What about us?’ She shook her head. ‘If you’re hinting that we should get married, you’re wasting your time.

I’ve told you before, Tully and I are very happy as we are.

He’s got his life, and I’ve got mine, and when those two lives collide, it’s very lovely and a lot of fun, but he’s hardly vicar’s husband material, and I’m definitely not milking goats for anyone. ’

I laughed. Tully was Amelia’s boyfriend, for want of a better word, of eight years.

He lived on a small farm on the outskirts of Kingsford Wold, where he kept goats and made cheese and ice cream from their milk.

It sold well in the local shops, and he was a busy man, which suited Amelia as she was pretty busy, too.

Their unconventional relationship was one more thing for Silas to complain about and, according to Aunt Polly, he did – frequently and very loudly.

‘No.’ Amelia gave a contented sigh. ‘I love my life just as it is, and I wouldn’t change a thing. You, on the other hand…’

‘Feel exactly the same,’ I said firmly.

‘Really? I always got the impression you liked being married. Don’t let Luke Bannerman put you off, Shona. I’d hate for him to rob you of any chance of lasting happiness.’

‘It’s not that,’ I said. ‘It’s just – well, I’m happy too.’

And I was, finally. After I’d signed the divorce papers, I’d wasted a whole year wallowing in misery and moping around the house we’d bought in Birmingham to be closer to Luke’s work, until one day, I suddenly thought, What the heck am I doing?

I’ve got a crappy job in a not-very-good cafe, the kids’ schools are rubbish, and I hate this house.

I’d nervously called Dad and asked him how he felt about me staying with him while I figured out what to do next and, to my relief, he’d been over the moon.

The kids were delighted at the prospect of moving to Rowan Vale and seeing much more of their beloved grandad, so we packed up and headed to the Cotswolds.

Within two weeks, I was back working at the old family teashop. Within three years, I was manageress, when the woman hired to take Mum’s place after she’d passed away decided she was ready for retirement. From that point, I’d never looked back.

‘I’ve got my dad and Aunt Polly, and a job I love. Christie’s happily married and I have two lovely granddaughters. And Pippa’s doing well at the newspaper so…’

‘So?’

‘So why would I need anything else? Honestly, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. There was a time, not long after the divorce, when I panicked a bit about ending up alone forever. But that panic’s long gone. I love my life just the way it is. Why rock the boat?’

‘As long as you mean that,’ she said cautiously. ‘Seriously, I’d hate for that man to take anything else from you.’

‘He hasn’t,’ I said. ‘He won’t. Life’s good and I’m going to make sure it stays that way.’

It had been a nice little interlude, feeling that flutter of attraction when Rissa’s dad walked into the teashop, but that’s all it was. Good to know I was still capable of feeling that way about a man, but I had no interest in taking things any further.

I was just relieved I wasn’t poor Rissa, struggling to get over someone who no longer loved her. Been there, done that. Never again.