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‘That was quick.’ Katrina looked up at him from under her long, dark lashes.
‘The hens have been laying well this week. Will these do?’ Liam handed over the box and watched as Katrina inspected the brown-shelled eggs. Her mouth curved into a smile when she spotted him staring at her.
‘Are you quite sure you’re all right, Liam? It’s been… well, it’s been a difficult week for you.’
‘You’re telling me. But this time of year is always manic on the farm. It’s a good job I’ve got John Harbin’s lad, Tom, helping me out. He’s been a godsend.’
Katrina blinked. ‘No, I meant…’ She rested her hand on his arm and tilted her head. ‘… The anniversary. Your wedding anniversary that never was,’ she added for good measure, as though he hadn’t thought of little else for the last twelve months.
‘I’m absolutely fine, Katrina. There’s no need to worry.’
‘But I do worry about you, Liam. I think about you all the time, here in this big house, looking after your parents. You know that I’m here to help in any way that I can, don’t you?’
Moving her hand upwards, she started gently massaging his shoulder. She was going to kiss him, that was obvious. Lean into him, put her arms around his neck and kiss him. It would be very pleasant. He was quite sure of that. And maybe, if he persuaded his parents to go out for a walk before tea, it would lead to more in his bedroom, with its white-painted furniture and floral duvet cover that Dee had left behind. He hadn’t kissed anyone since Dee and it would be good to feel… something. Something positive, rather than the sadness, humiliation, anger and anxiety that had become the four horsemen of his personal apocalypse.
Katrina moved closer but her gaze suddenly shifted from his face to the lane behind him.
‘Great timing,’ she murmured, stepping back and dropping her hand. ‘You seem to have another customer, Liam, and I do believe it’s Weirdo Rosie Merchant.’ A perfectly plucked eyebrow disappeared into her choppy fringe.
ItwasRosie, in jeans and a blue T-shirt, with her mother’s wicker basket over her arm. Liam breathed out slowly, unsure whether his overwhelming emotion was irritation at the interruption or relief.
‘Long time no see. Come on in then,’ urged Katrina, while Rosie hesitated in the farm gateway, her trainers sinking in mud from the tractor’s wheels.
‘I don’t want to interrupt.’
‘Too late for that,’ said Katrina, under her breath, her face still stretched into an unnatural smile.
‘You can come in. It’s fine,’ said Liam, uncomfortably aware that she’d no doubt seen him and Katrina about to… who knew what? ‘How can I help you?’
‘It doesn’t matter. I can come back later.’
‘No need.’ Katrina pushed the eggs into the yellow tote bag she had over her shoulder. ‘I was just leaving anyway so you can come in. I promise I won’t bite.’ When she laughed, colour flooded Rosie’s face, giving her golden skin a ruby glow. And there was the tightening of her jaw again.
Liam stepped forward. ‘Were you after some eggs or vegetables, Rosie? I’ve got cabbages and carrots in the barn.’
‘Anything like that will do. Thanks.’
‘Follow me and I’ll show you what I’ve got.’
Katrina gave him her prettiest pout. ‘I’ll leave you to it, Liam, but promise me that I’ll see you again soon.’
Everyone saw everyone all the time in Heaven’s Cove so the promise was immaterial, but Liam nodded anyway. That seemed to satisfy Katrina, who leaned forward and briefly pressed her lips against his cheek. ‘Bye,’ she murmured, huskily, her breath warming his face.
She paused as she passed Rosie. ‘How are you doing? We haven’t spoken for… it must be years. You look well. Have you lost a little weight? Well done, you.’ Liam wasn’t one for nuance but even he caught the condescension in her voice.
‘I’m on the bereavement diet,’ muttered Rosie, running her hand over her hips, which looked perfectly fine to Liam. She was a little bigger than stick-thin Katrina but her gentle curves suited her.
‘Yes, I heard about your mum, of course. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to the funeral but I had a Zoom call I just couldn’t get out of. Talking of which, I’d better get home and back to work. Have you heard that I’m running my own business now?’
‘I haven’t.’
‘Really?’ Katrina flicked her shiny brown hair over her shoulder. ‘I provide marketing solutions for entrepreneurial businesses.’
‘That sounds interesting.’
‘It is. And rather lucrative. Right, I’m off. See you soon, Liam.’ With one last smouldering glance at him, she sauntered off up the lane.
‘Were you expecting Katrina to be at your mum’s funeral?’ asked Liam when Rosie wandered over, the hem of her jeans splattered in mud. Hopefully it was nothing worse. Billy could be a little indiscriminate.
