‘It’s so good to have you back,’ said Maggie. ‘The place hasn’t been the same without you.’
‘And our boys’ nights have been extremely dull,’ said Stephan.
‘Can we have a boys’ night next weekend?’ asked Bertie. ‘I want to watchSpider-Man.’
‘Sounds wonderful,’ said Pat.
‘Count me in,’ said Stephan.
‘My favourite film,’ said Seb, giving Bertie a fist bump. ‘Michael, are you up for a boys’ night?’
‘If it involvesSpider-Man, just try stopping me.’
‘What is it you do, Carly, if you don’t mind me asking?’
‘I’m an accountant,’ she said with something between a smile and a grimace. ‘Not the most glamorous profession, I know.’
‘I’ve recently left a job as a toilet cleaner,’ I said. ‘Accountant sounds wildly glamorous by comparison, and your skills will come in useful here.’
‘Carly’s already offered her services,’ said Harry. ‘She’ll make an excellent addition to the Lowen Farm team.’
Carly’s smile spread wider as she looked across at Harry.
Sitting around the table enjoying the busy hum of conversation, it felt as though we had never left. Beside me, Seb reached under the table and squeezed my hand. I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt so happy or relieved.
‘Back in your happy place?’ he whispered.
‘Yes, I think I am,’ I said, tears of relief filling my eyes.
After dinner I was looking forward to a quiet evening settling into our new home, but it took a lengthy game of chess before I could prise Bertie away. By the time we reached the cabin, the excitement of the day had caught up with him and after giving him a piggyback from the car to the cabin, Bertie fell into bed and was asleep in seconds.
I took my glass of wine out on the deck and lit one of the paraffin lamps Pat had left behind for me. Within seconds, an influx of fluttering moths dulled the lamp’s light. I lit a citronella candle as a precaution against mosquitoes and pulled a blanket across my legs. Beyond the deck, the lake lay still, like an emerald, its smooth surface caught by the light of a waning moon.
‘Do you mind if I join you?’
I jumped as Seb stepped out of the darkness. ‘Sorry, you scared me.’
‘If you’d rather be alone, that’s no problem.’
‘No, of course not. Take a seat. I’ll get you a drink.’
‘How does it feel to be back?’ asked Seb, as I handed him a glass of wine.
‘Amazing. Leaving here was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Coming back is a dream come true, not to mention the bonus of living in Pat’s cabin.’
‘Well, I for one am happy we’re neighbours.’
‘You are?’
‘Yes.’ Seb reached over and clinked his glass against mine. ‘Cheers.’
‘I thought you might hate me after I left the way I did.’
‘Hate you?’ Seb laughed. ‘I could never hate you, Liv.’
‘We should probably talk about us.’
Seb took a sip of his wine. ‘Yes, we probably should.’
