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Hannah softened. “Carl is a nice guy. I was just bored.”

“Bored?” Lottie put her head to one side. That was not something she related to. She’d not had many relationships in the last twenty years, but she could safely say that she had never found any of them boring. Passionate? Destructive? Heartbreaking? All of those, in various combinations. But never dull. “That’s sad.”

Hannah furrowed her brow. “I think most relationships get boring eventually.” She took a mouthful of wine before speaking again. “All the ones I’ve had, anyway.”

Lottie raised her eyebrows. She was confused. “But you’re fascinating.” The words came out before she’d realised.

“I am?” Hannah put her glass down and tilted her head.

“You’re a bit of a mystery,” admitted Lottie. “You always were.”

Hannah gave a smile but said nothing for a moment. “And you were always the life and soul of the party.”

Lottie nodded, remembering the fun she’d had as a student. “Do it while you can, that’s what I say.” And she meant every word.

“But then you got pregnant?” Hannah was clearly curious. There was a sparkle in her eyes that Lottie hadn’t seen before. It focused attention on her sharp cheekbones.

Lottie laughed. “How? Immaculate conception?” She shook her head.

“Oh, I just thought…” Hannah’s cheeks reddened. There was something attractive about her vulnerability. Lottie had never seen her like this on the television. She’d certainly never seen her that way at university.

“Ah yes, life and soul of the party and a teenage pregnancy, huh?” Lottie chuckled. “No. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly had my purple patches with the girls. But I wouldn’t have been able to get pregnant that way.”

Hannah looked away as if embarrassed. Lottie didn’t think it was homophobia. Surely not, in someone who worked in the media and was used to life in a city as large and varied as London. But when she drew attention to her sexuality, Hannah seemed to flinch and struggle to respond normally.

Lottie’s phone rang. She looked down at the screen and then apologised to Hannah. “It’s Zack. He’s coming home in a day or two, so he’s probably letting me know his plans. I won’t be a moment.”

Hannah, if anything, looked grateful to be let of the hook.

“Hey Zacky, you OK?” Lottie enquired.

“Yeah, we’re good.” Zack sounded as laid back as always. “But after your call we checked the weather. We’ve seen the storm that’s coming has been upgraded and a more severe weather warning is coming our way.”

“Oh dear.” Lottie furrowed her brow. This wasn’t an unusual turn of events in the Highlands, especially during the winter. “I don’t want you and Tom taking any risks to get here.”

“Well, I was just going to wait and see, but Tom’s adamant we should bring our stay forward so we can get to you before the storm comes in.” There was a sigh in Zack’s voice.

“I’ve always liked Tom,” said Lottie with a smile. “So, what are you thinking?”

“Tomorrow too soon for you?” asked Zack.

Lottie beamed. Having her two children home with her for an extended Christmas break sounded ideal, storm or no storm. “Never! Everything will be ready for you.”

“Sweet,” said Zack. “I’ll call you when we’re close.”

“OK, but make sure you have a shovel in the car boot and plenty of warm clothing, just in case,” said Lottie, adopting her most parental voice.

“Yes, ma’am,” joked Zack.

Once the call was over, Lottie updated Hannah.

“And Zack’s your son?” Hannah clarified.

“My nephew, actually,” said Lottie.

Hannah’s face showed more confusion, and Lottie took pity on her. Hannah had never shown any interest in her whatsoever when they knew each other as students. This was new.

“Zack and Freya are my niblings. Their mother, Meg, was my sister, and their father, Adam, my brother-in-law. Not long after I graduated, Meg and Adam were both killed in a car accident.” Lottie took in the widening of Hannah’s eyes. “My parents had Meg and I quite late in life, and I was the youngest. They weren’t in any position to take on a baby and a small boy, and my brother-in-law had no family to speak of. So, the only option was for me to step in. So I did.”