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Milly the hobby farmer waves from the other end of the table. ‘Benedict stayed behind to keep an eye on Belle,’ she says, holding up crossed fingers. ‘The calf should arrive any day now.’

I feel obliged to follow Alex as he walks around the table and introduces himself to everybody. I’d forgotten how sociable he was. Did I like that about him, the way I was pulled along in his wake? I don’t much like it now. We meet four people I haven’t met before and he jokes that, by the end of the evening, he’ll know more people in Summerfield than I do.

The woman seated next to Audrey smiles as she holds out her hand. ‘Dr Flanagan. How delightful.’

There’s not much room at the end of the table. Alex holds out Julia’s chair and, with a smile of thanks, she takes a seat and I sit next to her, with Jimmy next to me. Cameron and Alex sit opposite.

‘It seems you think Summerfield will suit some of your doctor mates,’ Jimmy says to Alex. ‘Do you think you could live here too? What do you think of the place?’

Alex laughs. ‘How can I answer that with Summerfield locals at the table?’

‘Amelie too,’ Jimmy says. ‘She was raised in Summerfield.’

After counting slowly to three, I push the menu aside. ‘When my family left, I was twelve.’

‘Old enough to be country at heart,’ Jimmy says proudly.

‘I always thought you were city at heart.’ Alex is incredulous. ‘How did I not know this?’

‘She might not have happy memories.’ Jimmy grimaces. ‘Got a fair bit of bullying, she did.’

Cameron stiffens. ‘We order at the bar.’

‘Amelie?’ Alex is concerned. ‘Why were you bullied?’

Jimmy is pointing to my eye when Julia cuts him off: ‘I’m having the schnitzel.’

‘Amelie?’ Alex again. ‘Why?’

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

‘She was academically gifted,’ Cameron says. ‘That made her different.’

Alex nods. ‘Ahhh.’

‘Those parents of yours wouldn’t have helped either.’ Jimmy sips his beer.

‘Let’s move on to happier times.’ Julia smiles nervously. ‘A doctor and a vet. How did you two meet?’

‘We were at university together,’ I say.

‘We met at an awards ceremony, didn’t we, Am? You were Dean’s Scholar in vet science, I was Dean’s Scholar in medicine.’

‘How long were you together?’ Julia asks.

‘Two years.’ Alex smiles. ‘A long time but not long enough.’

Jimmy nods wisely. ‘Good to see you’ve stayed friends.’

Could I ever be friends with Cameron? I’d always want more.

I spring to my feet. ‘I’m hungry.’

As everyone else gets up, Alex looks at Cameron. ‘Did you go to school here?’

‘Mostly.’

‘I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere. Where did you finish your schooling?’