Mia was feeling better than she had for a long time. Jet wanted her. She was absolutely certain of it. And she wanted him. More than she had ever wanted anyone in her life. More than she had wanted Garrick. But when she told Ella and Lori about this revelation, it wasn't met with quite as much optimism as Mia had hoped.

'That's lovely, darling,' Lori said, as they sat around the kitchen table shortly after eleven-thirty that morning, drinking coffee and eating chocolate digestives. 'It's good that you've finally accepted your true feelings for Jet and I'm sure the man has strong feelings for you too. You only have to see the way he looks at you, or the expression on his face when someone mentions your name. And let me tell you, he was none too pleased when I told him on Tuesday morning that Gill was here and was staying on indefinitely. I don't know how many times he's been taking Mattie to the beach since then. At least three times on Tuesday. Several times yesterday and twice today. Perhaps now you've told him how you feel, the poor little dog may get to laze about all day and Jet may get back to work. Poor Pete has been rushed off his feet and, of course, my darling Franklin hasn't been able to do as much as he normally would. Although he's so much better now and he's sure his wrist will heal quickly. What was I saying? Oh yes. It's lovely. But Jet isn't the most easy-going of men, you know. And he does have a reputation.'

'I know, Mum. Has he really been going to the beach so often? In the hope of seeing me, you think?'

'Why else?' Ella asked. 'That's where you two usually seem to 'bump into' one another.'

Mia beamed. 'Then that proves my point even more. He was jealous. He wants me. He definitely wants me.' She did a little jig, seated on her chair.

'Of course he wants you,' Ella said. 'Anyone could've told you that. But the problem is, for how long? He told you himself that he doesn't want a relationship, or marriage, or anything people usually want. He doesn't want any woman living with him. Are you really prepared to get involved with a man who can't and won't promise to be with you forever?'

Mia shrugged. 'Can anyone ever promise that? Dad loved Mum with all his heart. But as much as he would've wanted to be, he isn't here now.'

Lori took Mia's hand. 'That's a different situation, darling. Your father died.'

'But that's my point. No matter how much we love someone, there are no guarantees. And people love each other when they get married and actually do promise to love and cherish one another till the day they die, but have you seen the divorce rate?'

'True,' Ella said. 'But they start out believing they will spend their lives together. It's only when they meet someone else, or fall out of love with their spouse that they leave.'

'Precisely. At least with Jet, he tells you up front it won't last. But what if it does? What if every day he gets up and thinks, I'll give this another day. And another and another. Suddenly, we might find we've been together longer than a lot of married couples.'

'Only not in the same house.' Ella grinned as she and Lori exchanged glances.

'That's true,' Lori said. 'That could happen. But what could also happen is that one day he could say, 'Right, that's it. Goodbye,' and you could be left with nothing. No family, no children, no partner. At least you would have your own roof over your head, so that's something, I suppose.'

'But that could happen whether I'm with Jet or not. What if I don't feel this way about anyone else? I thought I loved Garrick but I realised this morning that the way I felt for him was nothing compared to the way I feel about Jet. Sorry, Ella.'

Ella shrugged. 'That's okay. I completely understand. I thought I loved Justin but tonight I'm going on a date with Gill and I'm already feeling happier than I have been for ages. I never thought I'd be saying that. And certainly not about a nerd with glasses and a pompous French name that ties your tongue in knots just saying it. Although I will miss Justin's buns.' She winked.

'We'll all miss Justin's buns,' Mia said.

Lori nodded. 'Hettie was in tears. She was hoping he'd perform for her hen party and she said the W.I. don't know what they'll do without him. Although The Frog Hill Hounds will continue and they're looking for a replacement. Franklin said he's tempted to apply but I told him he could forget that right away.' She laughed. 'The only stripping that Texan hunk is going to do is in front of me.'

'Hettie's hen party, did you say?' Mia looked at Lori and Ella. 'I didn't know she'd set a date for the wedding. I thought the engagement party was this Saturday?'

Ella nodded. 'It is. She told me when she came to clean this morning. She was late because she and Fred were waiting for Tom at the church and he didn't get back until around ten, obviously because you kept him chatting.' She nudged Mia's arm. 'I was coming back from telling Justin, as Lori was arriving and Hettie and Fred were walking back from the church. She'd just left by the time you came bouncing in from the beach, all excited about Jet.'

'So when is it?' Mia asked, as Lori refilled their coffee mugs. 'What? Why are you two looking at one another like that? Oh God. She's getting married on the 27th, isn't she?'

Ella and Lori nodded.

'But I thought she said it was unlucky because it was a cancelled wedding? Surely with two cancelled weddings that makes it worse? And also because it's unlucky to marry so close to All Hallows whatsitsface?'

Ella laughed. 'According to Hettie, two wrongs make a right. Two cancelled weddings, sort of, cancel each other out, and that makes the date okay again. She was a bit concerned about the All Hallows Eve bit, but she said – and I quote, "I discussed it with Hector and he's going to have a word with the spirits and explain. Plus at our age, Fred and I can't afford to wait. We could be dead at any time. And we've already told the vicar that if one of us dies before the wedding, we can have the funeral on the date instead. We'll use all the same flowers and hymns." I've always said the woman is completely barmy and it seems Fred is just as bad. Oh, but I forgot. And that's your fault for charging in and jumping up and down and saying you had to tell us something right away. Hettie wants you and me and Lori to be her bridesmaids. And get this. She's going to ask Jet to be Fred's best man, because he doesn't have anyone else he can ask. Which is pretty sad. But she says at his age, all his friends are either dead or barely able to move, and he didn't have kids, or any siblings. And, of course, Hector's going to be giving her away.' Ella rolled her eyes. 'The fact that he's dead and no one will see him except her, didn't seem to bother her. She said she would've had Prince Gustav too, but as she'd said to you, he's got short legs and he might get trodden on.'

Mia grinned. 'It's a shame she won't fit into my dress. She could've had that. I wonder if she'd like my idea for Prince Gustav. Jet could hold the cage, or maybe one of us could. Shall I mention it to her?'

Lori laughed. 'Yes, darling. You do that.'

'Oh please tell her to insist Jet does it. I'd love to see his face. One love rat carrying a real rat. That's priceless.'

Mia grinned. 'Excuse me, Ella, but would you please not call the man I love, a love rat. It brings back memories of my ex in London.'

'Oh.' Ella laughed. 'I've just thought of something else she said.' She shook her head. 'I don't think she did much cleaning today, but I paid her anyway. She said that there's a cave the other side of Rainbow's End. The tide comes in, so you have to be careful, but if you go there on All Hallows Eve and call out the name of the man you love, and the name comes back to you, you'll live happily ever after with that man. But if the name doesn't come back, you won't. Obviously, we're all going to try it, aren't we?'

'Are we?' Mia said.

'What? Worried you'll say Jet's name and you'll be met by stony silence?'

Mia tutted. 'It's a cave. The echo will come back no matter what. I'm not in the least bit worried about that. I am, however, concerned about the tide. Being trapped in a cave on All Hallows Eve is not my idea of living happily ever after.'

Lori nodded. 'That's a good point, darling. We need to check the tides. We'll make sure we go when the tide is going out. That way we'll have plenty of time to get in and out and safely home.'

'So what's the plan for Jet?' Ella asked. 'How are you going to get him to realise he wants to spend his life with you? That is your plan, I assume.'

Mia shook her head. 'I don't have a plan. I'll just have to hope that he comes to that conclusion of his own accord.'

'Good luck with that,' Ella said. 'And by the way, have you seen Gill since he went out this morning? I hope he hasn't changed his mind and run away already. Oh, maybe that's him now.'

'I'll get it,' Lori said, getting up. 'I told Franklin I'd be home by lunchtime and it's almost twelve now.' She kissed Mia on the cheek and Ella on her head. 'Have fun you two.' She walked to the door and Mia and Ella could hear her voice and Gill's.

'I forgot they haven't met,' Mia said. Lori hadn't visited the cottage since Jet had come for her on Monday, and although they'd spoken frequently on the phone, it had slipped Mia's mind that they should meet, what with everything that had been going on.

'Your mum is lovely,' Gill said, when he joined them in the kitchen.

'Sorry. I should've introduced you,' Mia said. 'But you already feel like one of us and it completely slipped my mind.'

'We thought you'd got lost,' Ella said. 'We were about to send out a search party.'

He grinned. 'Sorry. I wasn't aware that this village has no phone signal and I'd walked halfway up Frog Hill, only to be told by a villager that I would have to go to the very top, or ask the vicar for access to the steeple.'

'Good thing it wasn't a Monday,' Ella told him. 'Although that would only matter if you went to Frog's Hollow, not the top of the hill.'

'No doubt you're going to explain that to me,' he said.

Ella did, but he shook his head and laughed when she'd finished. 'Superstitious nonsense.'

'You tell that to Hettie.' Mia got him a mug and poured him coffee without asking if he'd like some. 'The curse killed her husband. A car hit him, tossed him in the air and he landed on his head. Although she still talks to him.'

Gill laughed, taking the mug she handed him. 'Thanks. I'm beginning to wonder what I've got myself into. Anyway. I came back down and went to the church. I wanted to meet Tom after everything we discussed, and thought the phone was as good an excuse as any.'

'And?' Ella asked. 'What did you think of him?'

'He seemed friendly enough, especially when I mentioned that you and I were going on a date tonight. He asked where I was taking you and who would be staying with Mia while we were out. He told me to say that he would be extremely happy to pop round and spend the evening with you, Mia. Better to be safe than sorry, I believe he said.'

'I bet he did.' Ella smiled at Mia. 'If you'd rather we didn't go out, we can postpone it. Or have a date night at the cottage. Gill can cook me a four-course meal and you can hide yourself away in the attic with those diaries. We'll bring you up a tray.' She winked at Gill.

'I'm perfectly happy to cook something special,' Gill offered. 'But I wouldn't want Mia to shut herself away in the attic.'

'Don't be ridiculous.' Mia shook her head. 'You've cooked for the last two evenings, Gill. You both deserve to go out on a proper date. I'll be absolutely fine. I'm looking forward to a quiet night in and to read more of the diaries. You two go out and enjoy yourselves. I can call Hettie and Fred if I'm worried, or Mum and Franklin.' She grinned. 'Or maybe I'll call Jet.'

'From the look on your face,' Gill said, 'something more has happened with regard to Jet. Am I allowed to enquire what?'

Ella told him briefly and he smiled. 'I'm looking forward to meeting him.'

'He wants to meet you,' Mia said. 'You'll see him at Hettie's engagement party on Saturday.'

'The woman who talks to her dead husband is getting married?'

'Yep.' Ella grinned. 'And he's giving her away. Plus Prince Gustav will also walk down the aisle with her. But he'll be in a tiny, ornate cage.'

'Prince Gustav? I'm utterly confused,' Gill said.

'Welcome to our world,' said Ella.