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there if you want to.”
    Emma knew how she must have looked when Patrick got up from his chair, he crouched down next to her and took her hands in his. She leaned into towards him and he hugged her. She let her head rest on his shoulder.
    “I’m not sure of this,” she said.
    She thought of their meal on Friday night. Everything was so easy then, they had talked; about business as well as life and family, and friends. Now she was considering moving to a new part of the country. It wasn’t the other side of the world. She had even talked to Sandra about this, about a rural life with nice clients, and a garden and trees with fruit growing on them. Her biggest worry on Friday night had been whether it was appropriate to hug Patrick, know he was holding her worried body in his arms.
    “You don’t have to do this,” he said. “You can handle all this however you want. I’ll work with how you want to work.”
    “I know,” Emma said.
    “Let me show you the cottage,” he said. “You might hate it, it’s covered in Stan hair.”
    A nose pushed between their hug. Stan had noticed what was happening. Emma realised the two men in this house seemed to care for her, Stan and Patrick. She felt silly getting so emotional over a simple offer of a bed, but Patrick seemed to understand what a big step it would be for her. This wasn’t just a few new clients, this could be an entirely new way of life. And it was a little overwhelming. She steeled herself, she was an adult and capable.
    Stan had picked up on her mood, he was as good as Patrick at picking out emotions.
    “I can deal with Stan hair. Can’t I Stan?” Emma said. “That’s right boy!” The dog had pressed them apart and was glad he was getting some attention. He seemed to be doing a cat impression and had curled himself around Emma. It was just what she needed. She became engrossed in giving Stan belly rubs and ear scratches. Stan was obviously delighted by the attention.
    Patrick was on the phone. He was telling Daniel they’d be a little late, but not to worry. Emma didn’t want to keep them waiting, but Patrick reassured her that this actually suited Daniel; he and Peter were busy trying to dig a tree stump out of the ground and needed a little more time before they’d be free. Patrick beckoned to Stan and led the dog and Emma to the cottage she realised could become her temporary home.
    The cottage was beautiful, a lot of wooden fixtures, it was like a high quality holiday home. Someone would pay a lot of money for a week in a place like this. Emma was still unsure though, but her thoughts were interrupted when Patrick said it was time to go visit Daniel.
    She grabbed her stuff from her car; a few tax forms she figured he might need and her notepad, tablet and a calculator. She never could rely on the one built into her computer. She’d had this calculator since she started college, it was a gift from her Grandfather.

Chapter 4
    T he farmhouse they drove to was right on the main road out of the town. Ballyhane looked beautiful, plenty of hanging baskets and stone troughs filled with flowers. There were a few kids playing in the car park of the little supermarket and a little girl hanging around with them eating an ice-cream.
    Daniel’s farm was exactly what Emma expected. There was a few barns, one filled with bails of fodder, another with farm machinery and a smaller one filled with grain, and tools. The farmhouse was plain, painted white and with some moss growing up the walls.
    As they drove in a small dog came bounding out. Patrick opened the back door of the car to let Stan out, he was hesitant with the other dog despite being twice its size. This was the first time Emma had seen Stan anything but confident; whether bold with energy or happily lying in a sun patch.
    “Watch out Stan, she’ll get you!” A young man called out from the yard.
    “Is Stan a bit intimidated by the ladies?” Emma asked.
    “He’s terrible with women,” Patrick