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Liv took her hand. “A failure? You’re anything but.”

Maya frowned, watching the two of them across the table. “Why do you feel that way?”

Elise glanced at Jack. “I should be able to manage, loads of single parents do.” She nudged Liv. “Just look at your mum, she’s bloody awesome.”

Liv reached across and hugged her. “It’s hardly the same. Coming out of a toxic relationship and being a widow are completely different. Plus, Sam and I were older.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Maya said, studying Elise with that now-familiar clench in her heart. “You have to do what feels right, whatever helps you cope.”

Elise blinked, her eyes shining.

Maya grabbed a packet of tissues from her bag and handed it over.

Elise took one and dabbed her eyes. Maya was expecting her voice to be wobbly, but it came out firm. Perhaps a little too firm. “Thank you. I appreciate you both.” A weak smile crossed her face. “That’s one of the reasons I want to come back. Being among family and friends feels right. And as much as my friends in Edinburgh are great, they were Harry’s friends too. I feel like I need my own people.” She shook her head. “I know that sounds stupid.”

“Not at all,” Liv said quietly. “It makes perfect sense.”

“Anyway,” Elise continued, taking a breath and clasping her hands together. “I figured we could stay with Mum and Dad until I sort out a place of my own. And maybe I can do some ad hoc shifts in various places, find a practice I like.”

Maya smiled, her heart lifting from where it had thus far taken up residence around her feet. “Don’t let Dr. B hear you say that. He’s determined to poach you for his practice.”

Elise laughed. “I’d love to work with them. They were great when I did my work experience.”

Liv reached over to squeeze Elise’s hand. “Don’t rush yourself, though. We know what you’re like, expecting to run before you can walk.”

Elise shook her head. “I’ll try not to. It’ll take a while to find my feet, especially because I can’t rely on Mum and Dad too much for childcare. Mum’s suffering really badly with her joints, and Dad . . . well. Childcare is not his forte.” She rolled her eyes. “Mum says he never even changed my nappy when I was a baby.”

Liv huffed out a breath. “Sounds like my dad.”

Maya eyed them both. Even though Omar did her head in, he’d always been an attentive father. Not one of these types who called looking after his own children “babysitting” and couldn’t cope with longer than a couple of hours alone with his offspring.

Elise shot her a smile. “How are you doing, Maya? Seems we’re all coming home to roost. I’m sorry the firm didn’t survive.”

“Yeah,” Maya said, shrugging. “You know. That’s the way the cookie crumbles. Unfortunately, my whole bag of cookies seems rather brittle just now.” Guilt needled her chest, and she reached over to touch Elise’s hand. “But it’s not significant.”

Elise raised her eyebrow. “Don’t give me that crap about how your problems don’t matter just because you think other people’s are worse.” She gestured between Liv and herself. “We know you’ve been miserable. And you need to do something about it.”

Maya raised her eyebrows as Liv nodded in agreement. “Methinks you two have been talking about me.”

Liv shrugged. “Course we have.”

“Well,” Maya said, using her poshest voice and lifting her cup with her pinkie sticking out. “I am most offended, Miss O and Miss E. I hereby officially turn my back on you both.” She swiveled around in her chair so that her back was facing them, to the sound of their laughter.

“Come on,” Elise said. “You know it’s only because we love you.”

Maya let out a “humph” and swiveled back round again, flashing a smile, pleased that she’d managed to deflect the conversation with a joke.

Liv sipped her drink. “Have you had it out with Hana yet?”

Maya grimaced like she’d licked a lemon.

“Or your dad?” Elise asked.

Maya screwed her face even tighter, as if she’d swallowed a whole bag full of lemons.

Elise shot her one of her “looks.” The “I’m a doctor, and you need to listen to my wisdom” look. “You need to tell them both how you feel. Otherwise, it’s going to continue to fester.”

Maya hid her face behind her mug. “I don’t mind a bit of festering. Festering is safe. Nobody’s feelings get hurt.”