They’d made a picnic, nothing fancy, just cheese and rolls and a little fruit, but it was Saturday and it looked like a long deliciously warm day would stretch ahead, with nothing more to do than potter about. They’d decided to wander about the Phoenix Park for a few hours and maybe lie in the grass dozing the afternoon away while the clouds above their heads made wispy patterns in the sky. Finn had picked up the wine the evening before, but they’d tumbled into bed together before they’d had a chance to open it. Well, it was a celebration of sorts. Eight months since New Year’s night.

‘I’ll take that,’ he said grabbing the basket from her arms. That was Finn all over: he wouldn’t let her lift a finger if he could do things for her and Liv loved every moment of it. It had taken a little time to get used to being spoiled instead of doing all the running, but they’d managed to settle into something a bit more even-handed as the months had rolled from winter to spring and finally into summer. Actually, they had settled into life together with an ease that felt as if they’d always been together.

The city had that summer morning feeling, as if it was taking a long deep breath before the day began, but even as they drove along the streets, the aroma of strong coffee and freshly baked bread wafted in the air, waiting for the city to swing into morning action.

‘A walk around the Glen pond first?’ Finn asked once they drove through the gates of the Phoenix Park.

‘That would be perfect.’ Liv smiled at him. She loved when they drove somewhere together, just that opportunity to take surreptitious glances across at him, watch as his hands moved along the steering wheel. It turned out she was madly in love with him. For the first time in her life, she knew what it was to fall hopelessly, crazy in love. Now, as she so often did, she luxuriated in reminding herself that this was her happy ever after and it was real, it was actually happening for her, just as she’d always dreamed it would. They parked the car in the shade and set off down the Furry Glen, the walk around the Glen pond and along one of the grassy tracks off it, took up the morning. They’d ambled slowly and stopped often to admire the geese, the foliage and the beauty of their surroundings.

By the time they dropped down on the grass beneath the shade of a huge oak, they were both ready to eat and then close their eyes against the midday sun.