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The kitchen consisted of various stand-alone pieces of oak furniture; a large old table, which doubled as a food preparation area, wall shelves covered with pots and jars and plates and cups; a cream Smeg fridge and a big old ceramic Belfast sink. A cream Aga took centre stage in the gable wall. Rachel added some wood to the oven fire.
    ‘I normally keep the Aga running...it acts like central heating for a place this size. There’s still some life left in it. Just needs a bit of a help.... .’
    She filled the kettle and popped it on the stove.
    Eric stood at her bookshelf, browsing her small library. Esme and Jack had bounced onto her old vintage brown leather sofa which was brimming with cushions, throws, newspapers and magazines. She watched Jack make himself at home, jumping off the sofa,  first sitting on the large rug beside the stove, grooming himself and stretching out then yawning and lying out with his head between his front paws. Esme had her head deep in a copy of the National Geographic.
    llet size=Rachel puta few scones into the small oven to heat them through and took the butter out the fridge. She grabbed a pot of homemade raspberry jam from the shelf and placed three mugs on the table.
    Eric had taken off his jacket and was staring out the window at the weather, which was throwing everything it had at the small cottage on the hill. Rachel could hear the sound of the rain hammering at the window.
    Her visitors had broken a spell. Her work was solitary and for the most part, that was the way she liked it; the last six months had been a healing experience. But her short time with Eric and Esme had made her realise that perhaps it was time to start moving on.
    Eric joined her in the kitchen.
    ‘This is a neat place you’ve got here.’
    ‘Yeah.... I love it here. It’s been just what I needed.’ She gazed out the window, lost in thought.
    Eric glanced at his daughter and her dog at the fireside.
    ‘ Esme and Jack have made themselves at home.’ The smile on his face made his eyes crinkle. Rachel found herself thinking back to their morning together and she found herself unexpectedly wanting more.
    ‘Where do you sleep Rachel?’
    He brushed a stray strand of hair off her face, his eyes lingering on her lips.
    Time seemed to stop for Rachel as her touched h er.
    ‘ I need to see you again. Tomorrow.’ He whispered his words so Esme wouldn’t hear.
    The kettle started whistling on the stove, breaking Rachel’s trance. She turned from him quickly, grateful for the interruption , busying herself pouring the hot water to make tea.
    He pulled her hair gently back over her shoulder, exposing her neck and he leaned down to kiss her skin.
    Rachel held her breath, every muscle in her body tense and taut, wanting more of his touch.
    A phone rang.
    Eric fished around in his pocket.
    ‘God, what now?’ he muttered irritably.
    He answered the call.
    ‘Dr Harkett speaking.’ He listened and Rachel could see the immediate switch to his professional persona.
    ‘OK Claire. I’ll be there in about half an hour.’
    Rachel felt her heart sink when she heard Claire’s name.
    ‘I’m so sorry Rachel. There’s an emergency at the MacKenzie farm. Their son has a bad leg fracture.’
    ‘Please go.....Leave Esme and Jack here if it would make things easier for you.hisier for’
    He grabbed her and kissed her.
    ‘That’d be great Rachel. I’ll collect her when I get finished.’
    He turned from her and shouted to Esme.
    ‘ Esme, I’ve got an emergency to go to. Are you OK to stay with Rachel ‘till I get finished?’
    ‘Yeah of course!’ Esme beamed at Rachel.
    ‘I’m hoping I won’t be too long Rachel. I get first call because the farm’s not far from here. The life of a country doctor.’ He shrugged apologetically and smiled. ‘I’ll have to stabilise him and wait for the ambulance.... or air ambulance to take him to hospital. Depends how bad it is.’
    He left the cottage, the wind howling in as he