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‘Cruises normally last – what – one, two weeks?’ Frankie said. ‘I would imagine once his mum’s home he’ll head off again.’

‘Mmm… maybe not,’ Valentina said.

‘Oh?’

Valentina leant in closer to the table, as close as her tummy allowed. ‘He’s split up from his wife and they’ve just sold their eighteenth-century, seven-bedroomed country home with adjoining stables and recording studio. She’s keeping the house in London. Knightsbridge. Regency style.’ Valentina gave Frankie a knowing look. ‘Very fancy. They don’t have any other homes. Apart from the one Jay bought his mum in France but that’s Mrs Costello’s, although I’m sure she’d let Jay move in with her. It’s in the Dordogne region.’

Frankie’s eyebrows shot up at Valentina’s insider knowledge.

Valentina gave her a rueful smile. ‘I don’t really have much else to do than read gossip sites and scroll Insta at the moment as I don’t have the concentration for a book. The divorce is big news mainly because his ex is forever on social media dropping cryptic and not so cryptic messages about their split. With all that going on in his life, it might mean he’s here for a while. Lying low.’

‘He did say he was between homes at the moment,’ Frankie said.

‘And can you honestly see Ma Costello turfing her one and only out on his ear when she gets back? She went to the same school of over-fussing, smothering parenting as ours did. There’s probably some throwback Italian heritage there.’

They both sat for a moment drinking their tea.

‘Although…’ Valentina paused, biscuit halfway to her mouth. ‘Jay staying could end up being very awkward for all of us⁠—’

Frankie felt herself blush.

‘—as Rocco won’t be happy and we’ll have to deal with him stomping about in one of his moods.’

Rocco! Of course. Jay and Rocco was another issue entirely! Frankie felt guilty that she’d been too wrapped up in her own head to give her brother’s feelings any thought.

‘I wonder if Rocco knows he’s back?’

Valentina chewed then swallowed. ‘I’m sure he’ll know soon enough. Drumkeldy isn’t exactly a sprawling metropolis. You know, maybe he’s had a rough time of it too. Jay, I mean?’

Frankie stared. ‘What, being a famous rock star is a tough gig?’

‘You don’t always know what’s going on in someone else’s life. It was all in this article I read,’ Valentina said with an evasive shrug. ‘Anyway,’ Valentina reached for yet another gingersnap, ‘I’ve something exciting to show you!’ Valentina fished a piece of paper out of her bag and presented it to Frankie. It was an A4-sized professional-looking coloured poster advertising the Canine Cupids Christmas Club.

‘I’ve already put one up in the trattoria, the newsagent, the hotel and on the bandstand’s noticeboard. And obviously you can call all those who’ve already expressed an interest.’

Frankie loved it. Then she noticed the date. ‘It’s for this Saturday? That’s not a lot of notice!’ It was barely any.

‘Your target audience are those who are single. What’ll they be doing on a Saturday afternoon apart from spending time with their dogs?’

‘Living their lives, doing other things. Meeting other friends?’

‘Who will also be single, no doubt! And you want to be able to hold it while it’s still light. It gets dark so early in the day now.’

‘Well…’ Then Frankie noticed the tagline. Would you like to fall in love for Christmas? ‘We can’t put that! Surely that comes under false advertising or something. What if someone sues us?’

‘It’s not promising anything, it’s asking a question. I’m sure lottery places ask, “would you like to win lots of money?”. It’s not saying you definitely will, but buying a ticket means you’ve at least got a fighting chance. Anyway, Dad’s form will cover you.’

Just then Frankie’s phone pinged.

‘Ooh, maybe it’s your first interested participant!’ Valentina said as she stood up and put on her coat.

‘Hmm, it’s an unknown number,’ Frankie said, before reading the text.

It was lovely seeing you today.

It was from Jay. She cleared her throat and glanced up at Valentina who was packing away what remained of her biscuits. Frankie scanned the rest of the message.

I do actually need some help in walking Toffee as I’m quite busy at the moment. Would you be able to fit her in two days a week?