Page 20 of The Holiday Cottage

“Good idea.” He headed to the front door. “Thanks, Dorothy. That was delicious. You should open a café.”

“If all my customers ate as much as you, I’d be out of business within a week.” She waved him toward his car. “Drive carefully.” She couldn’t help saying it and he leaned in to give her a hug.

“I always do. You take care of yourself.”

She watched him go and thought about Sybil. She missed their chats over a glass of wine. Missed sharing books and recipes and going for country walks together.

She was about to distract herself by taking a bale of hay to the field for Thelma, when she heard Sara’s car.

Moments later she heard the children calling her.

“Nanna!”

“I’m here. I was about to feed Thelma.”

“I’ll do it.” Iris took the animal duties seriously, paying attention and giving Dorothy a full report on how each animal was. “Can I ride her later?”

“I was hoping you’d want to. The exercise will do her good.”

It was a routine that at weekends her grandchildren came over to help. They didn’t mind getting muddy or cold. They just loved being near the animals. Dorothy enjoyed seeing them absorbed by outdoor, wholesome endeavors. She hoped that never changed.

Most of all, she liked seeing the way they were together.

“I want to ride Thelma too!” Ava danced across the yard, oblivious to patches of ice and mud. “But first I want to feed Benson.”

“We’ll feed Benson together. And it’s not your turn to ride today, it’s mine.” Iris took her sister’s hand and they walked together to the alpacas. She helped her sister climb onto the gate. “Hold on tight. Don’t fall.”

“She’s always helping her,” Dorothy said to her daughter. “Always looking out for her.”

“I know. Iris is very protective. Oh, and while we’re on the subject, you only need to make up one room for them at Christmas because they want to share.” Sara watched the girls and so did Dorothy.

It warmed her to see the two sisters as close as they were.

They were so innocent, their lives simple and uncomplicated. It was about playing, school, ponies, friends. Home was their safe place, their parents a loving barrier between them and the harsh realities of life. It was impossible, looking at them, to think that things could ever go wrong. But she knew that they could. And they did.

“How is Iris doing at school? Does she have a nice group of friends?”

Sara looked at her. “Mum—”

“I’m sorry. Ignore me.” She cursed herself for allowing her anxieties to spill out and infect the happy atmosphere.

“Her friends are lovely,” Sara said gently. “Stop worrying.”

“I’m not worrying.”

“I know you are, but it’s fine. I understand.” Sara paused for a moment, watching Iris take her sister’s hand and hold it flat so that Benson could eat the carrot she was holding. “Iris is sensible. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself when the need arises. She will say no if she doesn’t want to do what they are doing. I’ve heard her. She isn’t easily led.”

“That takes real strength.” Dorothy felt emotion threaten to choke her. “You’re a good mother, Sara.”

“You were a good mother too. You still are.” Sara gave her arm a squeeze. “Enough of this. We have alpacas to feed and ponies to ride.”

“You’re right, we do.”

“I passed Miles on my way here. Is one of the animals sick?”

“No. He just came to check everything was okay because he happened to be passing.”

Sara laughed. “You mean he was hungry, and he knows you always bake a cake for the weekend.”

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