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‘You’re eating for two,’ Aunt Cara said.

‘Two; not forty-two,’ Valentina said.

‘You need to keep your energy up!’ Matteo called out from the other side of the table as he sat down between his two daughters. ‘Your nonna and I had just opened the trattoria when she found out she was expecting this one.’ He patted Maria’s hand fondly. ‘And if she didn’t eat food every two hours, she felt faint! So eat up!’

‘Did you manage to get any new clients after giving out your number at the wedding?’ Valentina asked as she skewered a piece of marinated artichoke, despite her assertions of being full.

‘It’s really strange!’ Frankie said. ‘At the wedding, Colin mentioned I’d been instrumental in getting him and Helen together. Now, it seems, people don’t just want me to walk their dogs, they want me to act as a matchmaker based on their dogs’ choices!’

‘Oh my God! I LOVE IT!’ Valentina squealed as she dropped her fork. This outburst grabbed everyone’s attention and Frankie found herself explaining her situation to her family, who also loved the idea.

‘You could run it separately to your other dog walks. Have puppy dating evenings!’

‘Canine Cupids!’ Maria called out to the family’s approval. ‘Even better; Christmas Canine Cupids!’

‘Maybe Rocco can use your services to get a girlfriend!’ Aunt Cara called out.

‘He’s got no problem getting girlfriends, he just doesn’t want to keep them,’ Uncle Stefano boomed back, to much laughter.

Rocco sat shaking his head, used to his family’s desperate attempts to get him to settle down and his stubborn determination to stay single.

‘Frankie doesn’t date either!’ Rocco said.

And that caused everyone to focus on her. Frankie narrowed her eyes at her brother as he made a rude gesture back, which was caught by his aunt who cuffed him on the back of his head.

No matter how old they all were, nothing really changed in the family dynamics as they all quickly reverted back to type. And, watching her chaotic, loud, warm-hearted family, Frankie didn’t ever want it to change.

* * *

‘As your sister and accountant, I think you should definitely look at branching out your dog-walking business,’ Valentina said as she and Frankie finished loading the dishwasher. ‘It’s a great point of difference.’

‘Yeah, sis,’ Rocco agreed, handing the last of the washed pots to Lisa for her to dry. ‘I saw a card up in the newsagents advertising another dog walker. You don’t want to risk being squeezed out.’

‘I’m sure there are plenty of dogs to go around,’ Frankie said, but she too had noticed a rise in dog walkers advertising in the area.

‘This would be a great point of difference,’ Frankie’s father said as he packed up some leftovers. ‘You’d need to draw up some agreement which wouldn’t hold you responsible if a dog owner had a disastrous date. Obviously I’ll do all the legalities for you. Pro bono, of course.’ He winked.

‘I think he should charge you double,’ Rocco said, flicking a dish towel, which Frankie avoided by darting out of the way.

‘Luckily, it’s dad’s law firm and you just build houses!’ Valentina retorted.

‘I design houses!’ Rocco said wearily.

‘I could do another TikTok for you, to help advertise,’ Nick offered as he wiped down the kitchen counters.

‘How many views did your last one get?’ Valentina asked.

Frankie had reluctantly agreed to let her cousin Nick post on the social media site as a way to boost her profile. She’d felt very wooden, trying to talk “naturally” into her phone and ended up rambling on about loving dogs, losing the place, and laughing in embarrassment. She’d never checked her account to see if anyone had commented on it.

Nick got out his mobile. ‘You’ve just over eleven hundred views.’

‘That’s a lot.’

Nick pulled a face. ‘You’re not a viral sensation.’

‘Maybe you could use Frankie’s business for your media assignment, Nicky!’ Cara said as she packed some food into the bottom of a cool bag. ‘You’ve to pick a local business. You don’t get more local than your cousin!’

‘That’d be gas!’ Nick nodded appreciatively.