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‘Rick, like smashed into the café, put you in that leg brace and is here under court orders Rick?’

‘Uh huh. Do you think I’m crazy?’

‘Well, no more so than usual.’ Evelyn smirked. ‘He was a good laugh down the pub, and did help us win the quiz — so there’s that in his favour. But really, Rick?’

‘Yeah. I think I really like him, Evie.’

‘Would you accept some advice from a friend?’

‘Always, when it’s you.’

‘Just . . . be careful. I wouldn’t want to see him cause you any more hurt. Maybe take things slowly. You’re still healing.’

‘Yeah, I know. And so does he. But he’s been really careful about my leg. I think he would have carried me to bed if I would have let him.’ She smiled brightly and held up the last outfit option. ‘How about this one? I’m not sure if it’s a bit too much for a lunch date.’

‘I’ve always thought blue looked good on you, but I can see what you mean — hang on, when you say “carried you to bed”, do you mean . . . ?’

‘Yeah.’ Angela laughed, covering her mouth.

‘I take it back. You might be a bit crazier than usual.’

‘I know.’ Angela shook her head, still laughing. ‘I’m not sure what came over me, but . . . wow . . . I’m so glad it did.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yeah, really.’ Angela could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

‘Good for you.’ Evelyn gave her a hug. ‘I’m not the only one deserving some happiness. You spend so much of your life looking after your animals, making sure they get their happy-ever-after homes. It’s about time you had some of your own. So, a first date after the morning after the night before?’

‘That’s about it, yeah.’

‘Definitely the blue, then. Give him something to really sit up and pay attention to.’

‘You think I should?’ She fingered the blue dress, wondering if she really could.

‘Absolutely, I do.’ Evelyn grinned. ‘Now, I should probably go see what the girls are up to.’

‘Yeah, it has gone a bit quiet.’ Angela smiled, knowing that she had nothing to worry about, apart from them wanting to claim all the animals as their own. Well, except for one thing. ‘Hey, Evelyn? Is it OK if we keep this between ourselves?’

‘You don’t mean from Jake too, do you?’ A small frown tugged at the edges of her friend’s mouth.

‘No, Jake’s fine. It’s just this . . . whatever it is . . . between me and Rick . . . it’s really new, and I’m still trying to . . . I mean, we haven’t really talked about what it is, or what it might be, and . . .’

‘And you don’t want the whole village weighing in with their opinions until you’ve figured it out?’

‘Exactly.’ She breathed a sigh of relief, glad Evelyn understood.

‘Especially given that you met in less-than-ideal circumstances, and that gossip in this place could outrun a greyhound in full sprint.’

Angela nodded.

‘And especially because your mum is probably going to have a few things to say about it when she gets back. I’m assuming you haven’t talked to her about him yet?’

‘No, not really.’ She wasn’t looking forward to that conversation at all.

‘OK.’ Evelyn grinned. ‘But you have to keep me up to date on the gossip.’

‘Obviously.’