“Chase.” Molly bent down to hug him and he licked her face and jumped on her.

“Don’t let him lick your face, sweetie. How many times have I told you not to jump!” Clare tugged at his collar. “Sit. Sit, you naughty dog.”

Molly laughed in a way Izzy hadn’t heard her laugh in a long time.

She made a fuss of the dog, too, all the time conscious of Aiden standing close by.

Thoroughly overexcited, Chase ripped himself away from Clare’s restraining hand and leaped at Flora, jumping up and planting muddy paws on her bright orange top.

“Chase!” Clare was appalled and embarrassed. “What a greeting. I’m so very sorry.”

“Oh don’t be. He’s adorable.” Instead of backing off, Flora dropped to her knees and hugged the dog. She was laughing, her eyes closed as Chase took full advantage. “Are you excited to see us? You beautiful, beautiful dog.” She stroked, tickled, made a fuss until Chase almost died of ecstasy.

Her orange top was spattered with muddy paw prints, but Flora didn’t seem to care.

Clare was looking at her oddly. “You like dogs?”

“I love all animals,” Flora said. “I always wanted a pet, but it wasn’t possible.”

Izzy stilled. She’d wanted a pet, too, but her mother had been horrified at the thought. Dogs are fine if you live in the country, but they need walking, and they leave their hair everywhere—

“Chase was a rescue dog.” Clare gave his collar a little tug. “He was a year when we had him. Believe it or not we did a lot of training, but all that goes out of the window when he sees someone he likes.”

“Can I take him for a walk, Aunt Clare?” Molly was on her knees next to Flora, fussing over the dog.

“He’d love that and frankly so would I, but why don’t you wash your hands and have something to eat first? You’ve had a long journey and airplane food and the time change leaves you feeling strange. Come into the kitchen.” Clare herded them inside. “Are you hungry? I made a stack of ham sandwiches, and the scones are freshly baked. We still have homemade strawberry jam from last summer. Flora, I’m so sorry about your shirt. You’ll probably want to change and freshen up.”

“That would be good, thank you.” Flora grabbed her bag and paused, waiting to be directed.

Izzy saw Clare glance at her father and knew instinctively that she was wondering about sleeping arrangements. Izzy had been wondering that, too. Were Flora and her father sleeping together? She didn’t know. If they were, then they’d been discreet about it. But here things would be different. There was no work, or rushing around. The whole idea was to spend time together.

Her stomach ached.