Page 32

Liv shook her head. ‘I’m really sorry, Sarah. But there isn’t one.’

‘Yes, there is!’

‘Sarah, don’t be argumentative, please.’ Callum shot her an apologetic glance. ‘It’s Liv’s cottage, and if she says there isn’t a well, then there isn’t a well. You’re probably thinking of a different cottage.’

‘I’m not!’ Sarah’s bottom lip stuck out and trembled slightly, and Liv instantly felt bad.

‘If it’s OK with your dad — and only if he says it is — maybe you can go out in the garden while I make our drinks. Then you can see that there’s no well, and maybe we can figure out which cottage does have it.’

‘Can I, Daddy?’

Liv winced as Callum rolled his eyes.

‘Sure.’ He watched as she bounded out the door. ‘Sorry. We’ve disturbed you.’

‘It’s really fine.’ Liv smiled, surprising herself at how “fine” it really was. ‘Besides, it sounds like you rescued the owners’ flowers.’

‘Always glad to be of service.’ He grinned as he took the steaming cup from her hands. ‘I think we should maybe wait until Sarah’s back before we open the cakes. Though I’ve no idea what they’ll be like!’

‘Of course we should. And I’m sure they’ll be fine. To be honest, even if they’re not, I’ll still say they are. Before I came to Broclington, I couldn’t have told you the last time someone made me a cake. Now it’s becoming a weekly occurrence!’

‘It’s like that round here. Everyone looks out for everyone else, and they try to do nice little things for each other — like bake cakes and bring food when someone’s feeling a bit down.’

‘It’s very different.’

‘Different good?’

‘Very good.’ Even as she said it, Liv was aware she was only just starting to understand how true that was. Back in London, she hadn’t even known the names of all her neighbours, let alone everyone in the building. Everyone was so busy, so involved in their own fast-paced lives, that they didn’t have time for much else. People had their own groups of friends, their own hangouts. Instead of talking to someone in the elevator, or on the train, people tapped furiously at their phones, answering emails, and messaging, messaging, messaging non-stop — trying to make every second of the day count. She’d been as bad, visiting her online communities and chatting to friends she’d never met.

She shook her head at the ridiculousness of it all. She’d been so caught up in the never-ending pace of it all, that she hadn’t realised how much she was missing. In Broclington, people made time, and cakes, for each other. They smiled, and talked to each other, and they talked to her, making her feel welcome. She was already feeling more at home than she could remember feeling in years.

And it was as refreshing to her heart and soul as the sweet, fresh air was to her nose.

‘Hello.’ Callum waved his hand across her face. ‘You still here?’

‘Yeah, sorry.’

‘You looked a million miles away.’

‘No.’ She laughed softly. ‘Not quite that far.’

‘Um, how big is your garden?’ Callum glanced towards the door.

‘Not that big. But it’s enclosed and safe.’

‘I don’t doubt it. But I should probably still see what she’s up to.’

* * *

Callum stared at the mess and ran his fingers through his hair. Vines, ivy and bindweed littered the ground, and the lawn and pathway were sprinkled with clumps of dirt and leaves that had been torn up by small fingers. ‘Sarah, what have you done?’ His jaw clenched, and he had to fight to stop his teeth from grinding. ‘You know better than to damage plants.’

‘But Daddy . . .’

‘But nothing. This is Liv’s garden, not yours. How would you like it if Liv came into your bedroom and broke your toys?’

‘Callum, it’s OK, they’re just plants. They’ll grow again.’

‘That’s very kind of you, Liv, but it’s not acceptable to damage other people’s things.’ He glared at his daughter. ‘Look at the damage you’ve done to Liv’s nice garden. What were you thinking? Actually no, I don’t care. There’s no excuse for this. Apologise to Dr Emery, and then we’re going home where you will be getting no TV or computer or tablet privileges. Do you understand?’