‘The kitchen should be stocked.’

‘Oh.’ Jenna was about to ask who could possibly have stocked the kitchen when the phone rang. She jumped. ‘Who on earth can that be?’

‘Why don’t you answer it and see? Phone’s in the hall.’

Jenna found the phone, answered it, and immediately wished she hadn’t because it was her mother. ‘Hi, Mum.’ Oh, no, she absolutely didn’t want to have this conversation with Ryan McKinley listening. Why, oh, why had she given her this number? ‘No, everything is fine—’ All her newfound tranquillity faded as her mother’s cold disapproval trickled down the line like liquid nitrogen, freezing everything in its path. ‘No, the doctors here don’t care that I’m divorced.’ She lowered her voice and turned away from the kitchen, hoping Ryan couldn’t hear her above the hum of the kettle. ‘No, the patients don’t care, either—’ She squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think of Mrs Parker. ‘And I’m not trying to ruin Lexi’s life—it’s kind of you to offer, but I don’t think living with you would have been the best thing, Mum. I need to do this on my own—no, I’m not being stubborn—’

The conversation went the way it always went, with her mother stirring up every unpleasant emotion she could. Reminding herself to get caller ID, so that she could speak to her mother only when she was feeling really strong, Jenna gripped the phone. ‘Yes, I know you’re very disappointed with the way things have turned out—I’m not whispering—’

By the time the conversation ended her throat was clogged and her eyes stung. Whatever magic the cottage had created had been undone. The knot was back in her stomach.

All she wanted was moral support. Was that really too much to ask from a mother?

Knowing that she wasn’t capable of going back into the kitchen without making a fool of herself, Jenna stood for a moment in the hallway, still holding the phone to her ear. It was only when it was gently removed from her hand that she realised Ryan was standing next to her.

He replaced the receiver in the cradle and curved his hand over her shoulder, his touch firm. ‘Are you all right?’