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A few days later, Liv glanced up from her notes and smiled as Callum’s footsteps paused just outside her door. She’d only been with the surgery for a week, but she was already feeling happier and more settled than she had done in years. And she already recognised Callum’s footsteps, and looked forward to the moments he would pop into her office.

There was something about him that brought a smile to her face, no matter what else was going on around her.

‘Hey . . .’ Callum leaned in the door and held up a couple of steaming mugs. ‘Got some time before you head off for afternoon rounds?’

‘Sure.’

‘Great.’ He smiled at her and Liv’s pulse instantly stepped up a notch, despite her ordering it not to. ‘I just wanted to check in and see how things have gone this week.’

‘Good.’ Liv smiled, thinking back over the last few days. ‘Faster than I would have expected.’

‘Faster isn’t an adjective I was expecting.’ Callum reached across the desk to hand her a mug of coffee. When his fingertips brushed against hers, heat zinged up Liv’s arm. She stared at her fingers for a few seconds, before forcing herself to look up and meet his eyes. She watched him briefly while arguing with herself, before reaching the decision she could probably trust him. She knew she wanted to.

‘Can I be totally honest?’

‘Of course.’

‘I’ve been out of work for a while.’ She held up her broken arm by way of evidence, but didn’t tell him about the other injuries. She really liked him, but didn’t need his sympathy. She didn’t even like to think about what had happened, and what it might mean.

She blinked when she realised Callum was watching her, still waiting for an answer.

‘I was worried it might take me a while to settle in, but it’s all been a lot easier, and faster, than I’d imagined. I feel like I’m really starting to find my feet here.’

‘You certainly seem to be. You’ve definitely hit the ground running.’

‘True.’ Liv laughed as Callum made himself comfortable in the chair opposite.

‘Now that you’ve been honest, can I?’

‘It’s only fair.’ She leaned forward, enjoying the feeling of co-conspiracy.

‘I have to admit, I was a bit worried when I saw your CV. I wondered if, after all the drama of working in a major A&E, a village practice like ours might be a bit . . . mundane.’

Liv laughed again. ‘Keeping up the honesty theme, I was a bit worried too, but I’m loving it now I’m here.’ She didn’t mention how much calmer and safer she felt in the village — she hoped her anxieties were well and truly behind her, left miles away along with the people who had hurt her.

‘What was it that made you move?’

‘A few things.’ Liv pursed her lips as she worked out the best way to answer. ‘You’re right, things were a lot more fast-paced in my previous role, but I rarely got the chance to follow up on patients once they were discharged, or referred and moved on to whatever ward or team were taking on their continuing care.’

‘You definitely get follow-up opportunities here.’ Callum gave her a wry grin.

‘You’re telling me. I had an older patient at the start of this week. Age-related COPD. He was really struggling.’

‘Josh Taylor? He’s had breathing issues for years.’

Liv nodded, not in the least surprised that Callum knew his patients so well. He seemed to know everyone locally. ‘I reviewed his ’scripts, and showed him how to use the inhalers more effectively. He came back in this morning. He’s doing so much better. Apparently he’s back walking his dog, meeting up with friends, and planning on taking his wife dancing next week. The improvement was amazing, and really nice to see.’ She tapped a tin sitting on the desk. ‘He even brought a cake that his wife baked me.’

‘I hope you’re planning on sharing.’ Callum shot her a cheeky grin. ‘Betty Taylor’s cakes are a bit legendary round here. She’s taken home ribbons from the summer fayre every year I can remember. But cakes aside, it’s good isn’t it? Being able to build up relationships with patients.’

‘It’s a little overwhelming,’ Liv admitted.

‘I get that. It can be hard not to get involved in a community this small, especially when the people we’re treating are the same ones we see every day.’

Liv nodded in understanding. ‘I imagine that can be really hard at times.’

‘Yeah.’ Callum’s eyes darkened with sadness. ‘Bad news and sadness is part of the job. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.’