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‘I am.’ Sarah smiled cheerfully.

* * *

Liv looked up from the weeding she was trying to do when a car pulled up, and two doors slammed. ‘Hey.’ She grinned at Callum. ‘Did you forget something?’

‘Hi Livvy!’ Sarah boosted herself up on the wall so she could wave. ‘Is your head feeling better?’

‘Yes, thank you. Did you have fun at your sleepover?’

‘Yes, thank you.’ Liv had to smile at how well the little girl mimicked her tone. ‘I bringed you a magic cake.’

‘Did you really?’

‘Uh huh.’

‘You better come in then.’ Liv gestured to the gate. Almost before she’d finished speaking, Sarah had raced through — her patience worn out — and flung herself at Liv.

‘Daddy said you weren’t feeling well. So I bringed you cake. I made it yesterday.’ She looked up at Liv, her arms still wrapped around her waist. The look of adoration in the little girl’s eyes was so open and unabashed that Liv felt her throat thicken with emotion. What had she done to deserve such sweetness? She felt completely unworthy.

‘That’s really kind. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome! You looked after me when I got sick at school. And cake makes most things better. Except sick tummies. But Daddy said you had a banged head, and that’s not the same as tummy sick, so you can have cake, right?’

‘Right. Thank you so much for bringing me some. Do you and your dad want to have a drink, and share the cake with me?’ Her eyes flicked up to meet Callum’s. She didn’t want to put him in an awkward situation, but did want him to say yes — and it was only polite to invite them in. ‘Unless you need to race home?’

‘Say yes, Daddy. Please.’ Sarah didn’t wait for his response, instead threading her fingers through Liv’s and pulling her towards the house, chatting nineteen to the dozen.

‘I guess we’re coming in for tea.’ Callum shot Liv a smile that filled her with warmth.

‘Can I see the fairy well?’ Sarah tugged at her hand.

‘I told you, Sarah, I don’t think there is one.’

‘There really is.’ She paused at the door and peered in the bucket where Liv had been dropping weeds she’d pulled up. ‘Don’t you like purple bells?’

‘What?’

Sarah picked up one of the “weeds” and showed it to Liv. ‘Grandma calls them bell flowers. They have a proper name but I can’t remember it.’

‘Campanula,’ Callum murmured quietly, making Liv glance at him in surprise.

‘Yup.’ Sarah nodded. ‘You shouldn’t pull them up. They don’t look good now, but they sleep in winter then grow again and flower in summer. They’re only just waking up now, that’s why they’re not pretty yet. That’s what Grandma says.’

‘Oops.’ Liv laughed. ‘Maybe you can help show me what are weeds and what aren’t. I’m not very good at gardening, but I want to keep it pretty.’

‘OK. My grandma taught me lots.’ She paused and looked up at Liv with an expression that, on anyone else, Liv would have called sly. ‘Daddy knows lots about plants too.’

‘Really?’ Liv ushered them into the kitchen.

‘A bit,’ Callum admitted with a shrug. ‘Mum loves her garden, and I got some lessons growing up.’

‘I don’t think I’d pictured you as the gardener type.’

‘It’s cool. And did you know lots of medicines come from plants?’ Sarah asked. ‘That’s why you shouldn’t eat things in the garden. Plus you might accidentally eat a fairy’s flower and that wouldn’t be a good idea. You don’t want to upset fairies.’

‘No, I suppose you don’t,’ Liv mused as she filled the kettle. ‘Would you like some juice, Sarah?’

‘Yes please. Can I go see the fairy well?’