‘Now,’ Liv said when she’d popped the tea and toast before Barbara. ‘I’d better get going; my mum needs me back at the farm. I was only meant to be gone for half an hour.’ It was a lie, but it was her only chance of getting out before Barbara had her doing a spring clean of the entire house. She had already given two broad hints about the fact that her vacuum cleaner was broken and she really couldn’t see her way to going down on her hands and knees in the sitting room to pick up the crisps Eddie had accidentally spilled the previous evening. ‘Don’t worry; I’ll pick up the shopping money from Eddie,’ she confirmed gaily as she left Barbara chewing thoughtfully on a slice of toast.

She knew she wouldn’t of course, not unless Barbara actually thought of handing the cash to Eddie and then, Eddie actually thought of handing it to Liv. That was the problem with artists. Eddie was so wrapped up creating beautiful things that the microeconomics of the real world never really occurred to him.

‘Ah, so you’re doing house calls now?’ she heard a voice call to her as she made her way back to the car. She looked up to see Pete making his way along the road. Liv felt her heart lift when she spotted him.

‘Yes, next stop the maternity ward!’

‘Seriously?’ He looked confused.

‘No, of course not. I’m headed home to check on the newborn lambs.’ She enjoyed teasing him. ‘It feels as if I’ve met everyone in the village except for you since we got back.’ She reached out and touched his arm.

‘Actually, I’m glad I ran into you. I’ve been trying to call you, only I just…’ He looked up and down the road now, as if checking to see if anyone was watching them.

‘How have you been? Well, the word is out about you and Anya.’

‘It seems the whole village has heard about me and Anya, but they’ve only heard half the story. I think I’ve had a lucky escape actually.’

‘Well, as long as you’re both doing okay.’ Liv couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed on his behalf. Perhaps it was because he’d seemed to be so besotted by Anya, certainly at the beginning at least.

‘I have a feeling that Anya will always be doing okay,’ he said wryly.

‘She was worried about the café and the apartment,’ Liv started. ‘I met her at the football match…’