The Guestbook at Willow Cottage. Holly Martin

babies, surely you can’t resist.

      I may pop over.

      If you do, pop in and take some muffins and eggs with you. I also have some Shepherd’s Pie I made for him; they’d be plenty left over for you tonight if you didn’t want to cook.

      I saw the cows, the little ones were very cute. William said ten words to me the whole time I was there.

      Ten, really?

      Yep I counted them.

      Oh dear.

      Wednesday:

      I found an engagement ring on the beach this morning, beautiful little thing, a diamond the shape of a teardrop and two clusters of tiny sapphires on either side. It looks antique. Makes me wonder how it got there. Was the girl lost at sea, did it belong to a sailor who lost his bride to scarlet fever and wore it as a memento of his sweetheart? I wonder how long ago it was given as a token of some man’s affection.

      Hetty, you old romantic. I hate to break it to you but knowing Sally Jenkins down the road it probably belongs to her. She has been engaged more times than I’ve had hot dinners; to the same man three times and to eight others at the last count. She never marries them though. Lucky thing seems to be having men practically queuing up to offer their hand in marriage, always some rich bachelor too. At the book club last night she told us the last one, some Lord somebody or other, had the audacity to give her a cubic zirconia ring instead of a diamond one, apparently it ended up in the sea, along with the rings of the other men that either cheated or lied to her.

      I’d be grateful to get any kind of ring. I’m still tainted at the moment, the grieving widow. Half the eligible bachelors in the village and surrounding areas, of which there aren’t many, look at me like I’m an unexploded bomb and they’re scared I may go off at any time. They let me win at pool in the pub and they never charge me for car repairs just in case I might start crying again. The other half still see me as Nick’s and think it would be disloyal to him to go behind his back and court me.

      I’m not really looking for a man at the moment. It’s still hard to think of being with another man that’s not Nick. But although I’m not in the market, an appreciative glance wouldn’t go amiss, instead of the looks of pity or fear I get from most men.

      You need to get away. You’re welcome to come and stay with me in Tenby. I can take you over to Skomer. If you come in a few weeks they’ll be hundreds of Puffins.

      Olly said the same thing when he was here. He’s offered me his beach house in California. I may go there for a few weeks before the peak season hits.

      Tenby beach or California? Lord I know which I’d choose. Though I do have the added bonus of my lovely gardener, Connor. He is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. The most amazing arms, so muscular, thick strong thighs, lovely hands. I do so love a man who is good with his hands. If I was thirty years younger I wouldn’t mind having a go myself. He might be just what you need as a distraction.

      Thursday:

      Mmmm Tenby is looking more and more tempting. To see the Puffins of course.

      Yes, maybe Connor could take you over to Skomer to see them. There’s loads of secluded remote sections of the island.

      Haha, Hetty, you are wicked.

      Come for dinner tonight and we can discuss this in person rather than through the medium of this book.

      Not my fault you always seem to be out when I pop in.

      Not to burst your bubble my lovely, but I do have other people to see whilst I’m here. I’m cramming in as many morning teas, lunches and afternoon cake sessions as I possibly can with the lovely people of Wells. I’ll squeeze you in at seven tonight.

      I’m honoured.

      Friday:

      It’s been lovely seeing you again Annie. It was great chatting to you last night and I’m so looking forward to paying back your hospitality in Tenby in a few weeks. Give my love to William, that’ll freak him out.

      **********

      21st - 24th March

      Mr and Mrs Slater.

      Saturday:

      Thank you for the welcome basket and flowers. We are looking forward to a nice quiet weekend away. George is especially looking forward to the fishing. Thank you so much for the book on fishing and the bucket of ragworms you left us. I never thought I’d be saying thank you for them. They are the most hideous, disgusting creatures I have ever laid eyes on, but George is delighted. I am reliably informed ragworms are an excellent sea fishing bait.

      Mrs Slater

      The fishing is spectacular. I caught two big bass and a pollack today. We are barbequing the bass later.

      George Slater

      Sunday:

      The little beach huts are so cute. Is there any way to rent one for the day or weekend?

      Mrs Slater

      Just popped by to drop off some eggs.

      Most of the beach huts are owned by families and passed down through the generations. Many of the huts have been there since the Victorian era though there are many newer ones. They are a few on sale for around 50-60k and a handful that are rented out in the summer months. I think if you just type into Google ‘beach huts, Wells-Next-The-Sea’ you’ll be able to find a few companies that rent them out.

      Nick and I rented one for a week for our honeymoon. We slept there, even though we weren’t supposed to, on sleeping bags and air mattresses on the floor, there was nothing more exciting than waking up and opening the door and stepping out onto the beach every morning. Pure heaven.

      Annie

      Annie dear, I’m 73, George is 76, we don’t have much need for Google.

      I’ll get you the telephone number. If you let me know what dates you are interested in, I’ll email them on your behalf and find out if they have any availability and what kind of price you’re looking at.

      Monday:

      We’ve had a wonderful stay and George is most impressed with the fishing. Thanks for the help with the beach hut. We may rent one in the summer but we’ll stay here too, we’re too old to be sleeping on the floor at our time of life.

      **********

      28th - 31st March

      Mike and Sarah Littleton. And bump.

      Friday:

      What a beautiful cottage. I love the log burner. I definitely want to come back in the winter and sit by a big fire whilst the wind is roaring outside. Of course, we’ll be a threesome then. Our bump, getting bigger by the day, is due in four weeks. Mike is sure it will be a boy, I have a feeling it’s a boy too but I wind him up that’s it’s definitely a girl. He kicks a lot, so he’ll probably be a footballer. Or an Irish dancer.

      Sarah.

       Ha, I knew it was a boy, for the last nine months I’ve felt sure it was a boy. Just from the way you are carrying our bump and your cravings, the books say it’s probably a boy too. That’s it then, when we get back, I’m painting the nursery blue.

       Annie do you have a hot water bottle by any chance, Sarah’s back is hurting. We’re going down the beach now, if you read this before we get back and you have one, just leave it in the kitchen. By the way, the phone reception from the house is not great, any ideas where I can put a call through.

       Thanks Mike.

      I’ve left you a hot water bottle in the kitchen and a bottle