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‘Love you too, Daddy.’ She pushed him away. ‘But we need to hurry up and not be late.’

This time he couldn’t help but let his eyes roll back in frustration.

‘Hey Millie!’ Liv waved to the auburn-haired midwife. ‘How are you? Isn’t it gorgeous weather today?’

‘Good thanks, and yes it’s lovely. And it’s supposed to last, too. Perfect weather for a few drinks in a nice pub garden after work, end of this week? We had fun at lunch the other day, could make a night of it.’ She left the invitation hanging in the air and watched Liv expectantly.

‘Maybe not that warm,’ Liv argued.

‘Stick a jumper on, you soft southerner.’

Liv couldn’t help but join in her laughter. ‘OK. That sounds great, thank you.’

‘Brilliant.’ Millie headed down the corridor, her ponytail swishing back and forth as she moved.

Liv almost collided with Callum as he strode out of the office, his daughter bouncing along behind him.

‘Sorry.’ He held up his hands, then glanced down. ‘Sarah, don’t you have something to say to Dr Emery?’

‘I’m very sorry for hitting you with my bike.’ She peeked up at Liv through her long, dark eyelashes. ‘Is your leg OK now?’

‘Yes, thank you.’ Liv lifted up the hem of her skirt to show Sarah her rapidly healing knee.

‘Good girl.’ Callum briefly rested his hand on her shoulder. ‘Wait here while I grab the leaflets for your school.’

‘Do you like being a doctor, Dr Emery?’

‘You don’t have to call me Dr Emery. Liv is fine. And yes, I do like being a doctor.’

‘OK. That’s good. And it’s good your knee is getting better. Do you like living in Broclington? I like living here.’

Surprised by the sudden change in topic, Liv answered without thinking. ‘You know what? I think I do.’ As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realised how much truth was in them.

‘And do you like the fairies’ house?’

‘It is a pretty cottage, but I don’t really think there are fairies living in it.’ Liv didn’t want to upset the little girl, but didn’t want to lie to her either.

‘It’s called Aosán Taigh? That means it’s the fairies’ house. Have you tried it yet?’

‘Tried what?’ She was struggling to keep up with the conversation.

‘The wishing well.’

‘I don’t think there is one.’

‘There definitely is,’ the little girl insisted. ‘I know all the village fairy stories.’

‘I think I would have noticed if there was a wishing well in the house. I know I’ve not been there very long, but wells tend to be quite big.’

‘It’s not in the house.’ Sarah laughed. ‘It’s in the garden. But it’s really, really old. Like even older than my grandma. It doesn’t look like a normal well, but it’s still got fairy magic. It made my friend’s cat better when she got sick, and if you make the right wish on the right day and the fairies like your gift, then they make it come true. You do believe in fairies, don’t you?’

‘Erm . . .’ Liv was saved from struggling to answer the question as Callum reappeared and held out his hand.

‘Come on, Sarah. I need to get you to school.’

‘OK, Dad.’ She grinned up at Liv. ‘It was nice meeting you and not hitting you with my bike.’

Liv waved as Sarah skipped out of the surgery, closely followed by her dad. ‘It was nice meeting you too.’ She smiled as she headed to her office to start up her computer, and review the first few patient files of the day.