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Oh, how easy it would be to follow him into the house she knew so well, sit around the kitchen island and laugh and gossip while the intervening years melted away. Easy. And so very tempting. But a fresh round of barking from the van reminded Frankie she needed to go.

‘I can’t, sorry.’ She started to walk away. ‘Nice to see you again,’ she said, hating how formal she sounded.

Hurrying around to the front of the house, Frankie practically fell into her van. She stalled the engine twice before successfully driving away.

Jay was back.

She never thought she’d see him again.

But he was back.

Jay Costello; first crush, first kiss… and the first, last, and only person to break Frankie’s heart.

* * *

Frankie dropped the dogs home then headed back to her barn where she found Valentina sitting on the top step, reading a local takeaway menu.

‘Aren’t you meant to be in work, after your late start?’ Frankie said as she let the dogs out the back of the van, who immediately ran over and started snuffling Valentina’s pockets.

‘Not just a late start, work was a non-start for me today,’ Valentina said, allowing Frankie to help her to her feet. ‘The thermostat is broken and the heating can’t be turned down. Or off. So, it’s like an oven in there, evidently. The engineer can’t come out until tomorrow so Todd thought it best I didn’t come in and to stay home and look after myself. He even suggested a massage. A massage? The last bloody thing I want to do is get a massage,’ she grumbled as she followed Frankie into the barn.

‘He means well,’ Frankie said, thinking many people would love a boss as thoughtful as Todd. ‘Tea?’

‘Yes please,’ Valentina said, sitting at the kitchen table.

Frankie filled the kettle with water and put a plate of digestives next to Valentina who looked at them then up at Frankie with an apologetic expression.

‘Sorry, I’ve gone off them now, I’ve been craving gingersnaps instead, but don’t worry, I come prepared,’ she added, pulling a half-eaten packet out of her bag.

Frankie made them tea then sat opposite her sister. Valentina looked at her as she crunched down on a biscuit and fondled Storm’s ear with her other hand as the retriever leant in to the cuddles.

Valentina narrowed her eyes. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, of course I am,’ Frankie said decisively before taking a sip of her tea as her sister continued to watch her with a questioning expression.

Frankie cleared her throat. ‘Although you’ll never guess who I just saw. Jay Costello; he’s back.’ She managed to keep her voice light. Valentina had never known about Frankie’s feelings for Jay and never would. In fact, no one knew how Frankie had felt, well, only her Nonna, but unless the late Anna Bartoli was contacted during a séance, Frankie was certain her secret was safe. Although Frankie found it difficult talking about Jay, she knew it would be more suspicious if she didn’t mention bumping into him.

Valentina’s eyes practically stood out on stalks. ‘Jay’s back? Back back, like for good back?’

‘Well, I didn’t get him to fill in a questionnaire, but it looks as if he’s here until his mum returns from a cruise.’

Valentina crammed the rest of her biscuit into her mouth, crunching furiously. ‘What did you talk about?’ she asked, spraying gingersnap crumbs from her mouth.

‘Nothing much, just general, how are you chat. He asked after everyone.’

‘He did?’ Valentina shifted in her chair.

‘Yes, I said we were all fine. I didn’t mention, you know…’ she gestured to Valentina’s tummy, ‘but he’ll see soon enough.’

‘Only if I bump into him,’ Valentina said. ‘And I doubt I will, we’ll hardly be moving in the same circles.’

‘I wasn’t aware Drumkeldy had more than one circle to move around in,’ Frankie said. ‘You always got on with Jay.’

‘Yeah, but I only knew him as you and Rocco’s friend.’ Valentina began fanning herself with the menu. ‘He was a part of my life from a long time ago. And not even part of my life, really. Just Rocco’s. And yours. It was always the three of you that hung about together and me occasionally. Very occasionally. But of course, that was before the, you know… fallout.’ Valentina shook her head, looking worried. ‘Oh God. This really isn’t good.’ She took another biscuit. ‘For Rocco, obviously.’

Or for herself, Frankie thought. ‘He’s not changed much.’

‘I know.’ Valentina nodded. ‘I mean, I saw him on a TV programme recently, and thought he looked exactly the same as I remembered. From years ago.’