Summer at West Sands Guest House: A perfect feel good, uplifting romantic comedy. Maggie Conway

so badly needed to decide what came next. Or perhaps not to think at all. Simply to be herself again and not Colin’s wife – she needed to try and remember what that felt like.

      Now, as Molly continued to drive eastwards across the country, the rain eventually stopped and the clouds parted to make way for a pale blue sky. A good omen, she thought, feeling her shoulders loosen. She flicked on the radio, humming along to the music, feeling her spirits lift at the thought of the guest house by the sea filled with noise and family.

      Soon she was passing through little fishing villages, navigating her way through narrow, windy roads and looking out onto sandy beaches and picturesque harbours. Approaching St Andrews, Molly slowed down, recognising the skyline of the grand, stately university buildings and other familiar landmarks of the town.

      Molly had been delighted when Stuart had told her the guest house was at West Sands beach. Slowing down as she drew closer to the house, Molly let out a little gasp. A rather grand-looking Victorian house, it sat opposite a sweep of white sand with the sea stretching into the distance. Dark green ivy tumbled down the soft redbrick walls and the windows glittered in the afternoon sunshine. Terracotta pots brimming with small creamy flowers stood either side of the glossy blue front door.

      The wheels crunched on the gravel driveway as Molly brought the car to a halt and she smiled, seeing the small welcoming party that had formed at the door to meet her. She felt her heart squeeze with love for them. Stuart lifted a hand and waved to her, his other arm around his wife’s shoulders. Seeing Stuart and Anna standing there reminded Molly of her parents. Like them they looked so happy and made it look easy – they did marriage well in this family, all except her it seemed. If she didn’t love them so much it would be easy to feel envious. She was barely out of the car before they swooped down on her with hugs and kisses.

      ‘You’re here!’

      Wrapped in the warmth of Anna’s embrace, Molly’s suddenly shaky equilibrium was painfully tested but she swallowed down the tears that threatened, determined not to lose it now. Luckily the moment passed as her brother pulled her in for a gruff-like brotherly hug.

      ‘Good to see you, little sis.’ Molly grinned up at him, so happy to see her brother. At thirty-five, he was six years older than Molly. Growing up there had never been any rivalry between the siblings even though Stuart had given Molly enough reason for there to be one, at least academically. Instead she was proud of her brother’s straight A record and subsequent offers from the country’s top universities.

      Tall, dark and totally oblivious to the effect his looks had on women, Molly had assumed the role of protector, vetting who was suitable. Operating on the premise that no one was good enough for her brother, Molly had been prepared not to like Anna, the first girl Stuart had ever brought home. But any fears Molly had were quashed within seconds of meeting her and she had pretty much charmed the whole family.

      Not only had she been good for her brother – she had lovingly pulled him back from a life of crumpled corduroy and tweed jackets – she had become a good friend to Molly, too.

      Molly turned to her eleven-year-old niece Lily. Wearing jeans and a sparkly T-shirt and sharing her father’s reserved nature, she had held back slightly. She gave her aunt a shy look and Molly enveloped her in a hug. Luke, on the other hand, had no such reservations and stood beside Molly grinning up at her.

      ‘Look at you! You’ve grown!’ Molly exclaimed, ruffling his blond hair. Luke held himself tall, beaming a cheeky grin. ‘I’m five now,’ he announced proudly.

      Stuart opened the boot and lifted her bag out. ‘Brought your golf clubs, I see?’ he chuckled.

      ‘How could I not when I knew I was coming here. Thought I might see if you had time for a game.’

      ‘What and be humiliated? Not likely.’

      Molly laughed, shaking her head. ‘I’ll be totally useless now anyway, I haven’t played for so long.’

      It had always been a bit of a family joke that Molly was the son their father had always wanted. With his aversion to the great outdoors, Stuart preferred spending his time with his head in a book while Molly would be out tramping the golf course with their father.

      Luke suddenly grabbed Molly by the hands, pulling her towards the house excitedly.

      ‘Give Aunt Molly a chance,’ Anna chastised him good-naturedly.

      And in that moment, as Molly was swept into the house, she couldn’t think of a single place she’d rather be.

      ****

      ‘That was delicious,’ Molly said gratefully, feeling nicely full from the paella Anna had made. The crisp Sauvignon Blanc had also gone down a treat. Sitting at the large oak table in the dining room, Molly felt herself start to relax as she caught up with Stuart and Anna.

      It had turned into a beautiful evening and the adults smiled, hearing the shrieks of delight floating through the French doors from the garden where Lily and Luke were playing.

      ‘You certainly know the right presents to bring your niece and nephew,’ Anna commented sagely.

      ‘Couldn’t really go wrong with water guns, could I?’ Molly grinned.

      Stuart had been bringing Molly up to date about his new job at the university, which to all intents and purposes he’d already started. He and Anna had known for a while now that there was no such thing as long summer holidays for university lecturers and that the academic grindstone never truly stopped.

      ‘I’m working on proposals for a funding initiative and supervising some students completing their final projects. I’m also preparing a workshop on the study of Medieval Scotland,’ he explained with his usual enthusiasm as he topped up their glasses.

      ‘Think I get the picture – no rest for the wicked,’ Molly teased. ‘So you’ve already met your colleagues?’

      ‘Most of them, they all seem very nice,’ he murmured vaguely. Molly smiled to herself. Often suspecting her brother’s mind was somewhere in the fifteenth century half the time, she knew that even if his colleagues were awful, he probably wouldn’t notice or comment.

      With a sigh, Molly sat back in her seat and took a sip of her wine, her eyes sweeping the room. Buttermilk-coloured walls complemented the oak furniture and a large seagrass rug sat on the wooden floor. There was a small side table piled with brochures and local maps for visitors and a small indoor bay tree sat next to a comfy cream wicker armchair. The room oozed comfort and style.

      Following her gaze, Anna smiled. ‘Isn’t this house just perfect?’ she said.

      Molly had felt it as soon as she stepped into the house earlier: an ambience which seemed to draw you into its warm embrace. And judging by the toy-strewn floor – she’d already had to avoid stepping on Luke’s cars – the children had made themselves very much at home.

      ‘So it’s Ben’s wife Eva that runs the guest house, is that right?’ Molly asked.

      Anna nodded. ‘She used to run this house as a bed and breakfast but she lives next door now with Ben and her son Jamie. Obviously she knew our situation and she explained that as this was her first summer renting out the whole house, a longer let suited her perfectly. So, we’ve been so lucky to get it for as long as we need.’

      ‘A case of good timing.’

      ‘Definitely. Eva came round and had a coffee and stayed chatting for ages. She’s just set up her own interior design business and her son Jamie is a year older than Lily so she’ll be going to the same school as him.’

      ‘Ben teaches physics, is that right?’

      Stuart nodded. ‘He’s been showing me around the university and introducing me to a few people which has been really helpful.’

      Molly nodded with a smile. ‘Well, I’m glad to hear it’s all working out so well.’

      ‘And