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Frankie stood leaning against the door on the top step, her breath clouding in front of her. She loved autumnal days like this; crisp and frosty, with the sun bright and low in the sky, bringing the orange and browns of nature’s palette to life. Pulling her dressing gown tighter around her shoulders against the cold, Frankie also loved that her barn had underfloor heating and a highly efficient log burner.

* * *

An hour later, once she’d showered, dressed, fed the dogs and made herself a coffee, Frankie heard a car pull up, followed by excited barking. Helen and Colin appeared, waving in at her through the picture windows as they walked past the front of the barn, with Colin almost tripping over Monty as the dog ran in circles around his owner, desperate to get to see Frankie and her dogs.

Helen handed Frankie a bag containing the dogs’ food. ‘I’ve popped in a note of how much they take and when,’ she said.

‘How’s married life?’ Frankie asked as she took the food through to the boot room which was through a door at the end of the conversion and contained a separate washing machine for dog towels and a shower to help clean even the muckiest of dogs after a long walk through muddy fields.

‘Brilliant.’ Helen beamed.

‘It’ll be even better when we’re sipping cocktails in the Dominican Republic!’ Colin added, rubbing his hands together in gleeful anticipation.

‘Thank you again for inviting me to your wedding, I had a lovely time,’ Frankie said.

‘It’s a shame you left before I threw the bouquet!’ Helen said.

Frankie shook her head good-naturedly. ‘I would not be next in line for marriage even if I caught a hundred bridal bouquets. I’m happy with my dogs.’

‘So cynical for one so young. You’re barely thirty!’ Colin said, rolling his eyes. ‘Maybe you’ll meet someone who will change your mind,’ he said with a knowing look. ‘I saw you and Ben having a chat. He’s a great guy. Good job as a producer on a politics series. And he’s very smart. Lovely flat in London, nice close family.’

‘Ooh, and does he have his own teeth and an acre of land?’ Frankie dead-panned.

Colin looked a little lost as Helen chuckled and squeezed his arm.

‘She’s pulling your leg! Your attempts to matchmake are a bit obvious, love.’

‘I’m only suggesting they meet for a drink. He’s at our house, you know, while we’re away.’

‘Yes, he mentioned that,’ Frankie said, trying to keep a straight face at Colin’s well-meant efforts.

‘I don’t want him to be lonely. He’s a bit of a workaholic if left to his own devices.’

Frankie gave a sharp intake of breath and pulled a face. ‘Ooh, I don’t know if I like the sound of a workaholic.’

‘He has other interests too,’ Colin added hastily.

Helen rolled her eyes and took a firm grip of her new husband’s arm. ‘Come on, Cupid, we don’t want to miss our flight. I’m sure Frankie will meet up with Ben if she wants to.’

‘Can I help it if I want everyone to be as happy as us? Right, we’d best get going. Bye, dogs!’ he called out. Monty briefly looked up from sniffing a stick, while Lady was too busy chasing Gilbert to notice her owners were leaving.

‘Have a wonderful time. I’ll send you pictures of these guys if you send me pictures of beautiful sandy beaches.’

‘Deal!’ Helen called back before shutting the car door.

Frankie waved them off as they steered down the driveway just as Frankie’s sister, Valentina, passed them, driving toward Frankie’s barn.

‘Hiya!’ Valentina called as she stopped her car and got out. ‘Was that the newlyweds? How was the wedding?’

‘It was great! And thank you for the loan of the shoes, they went perfectly with the dress.’

‘No problem, you can keep them if you like. I won’t be going anywhere I’m likely to need them for the foreseeable,’ Valentina said, patting her tummy which, at almost eight months pregnant was showing a very prominent bump. ‘That’s why I have to live vicariously through you,’ Valentina added as she followed Frankie inside, dumping her bag and sitting at the large oak table in the kitchen area.

‘And how is my little niece or nephew?’ Frankie asked.

‘Craving digestive biscuits,’ Valentina said with a hopeful smile.

Frankie fetched the biscuit tin.