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“Or you can let me walk you back?”

Her heart jumped at the suggestion.

“Don’t worry, Joshie,” said Thea, “I’ll run Kitty back. You have an early start too.”

“I’m fine, really,” she said, willing Josh to repeat his offer.

“No, it’s okay, it’s no bother. I won’t be long, Josh,” Thea said cheerfully.

Kitty stood up and met his eyes. Their vivid blue was unreadable, but he reached out and touched her arm as she walked past him to follow Thea.

“Kitty,” he said.

She turned toward him.

“I meant to say earlier that I think you’re amazing, and I’m glad you’re back, even if it’s only for a short time.”

The corners of her lips curled. “I hear you’re only after my military precision. Thea told me as much.”

A look of guilt crossed Josh’s face.

“It’s okay,” she said, “I take it as a compliment, and if it’s any consolation, I think you turned out alright too. Thanks for tonight. I haven’t laughed as much in ages.”

“Me too,” he breathed. “Good night.”

20

KITTY

The following day,Kitty woke at the rooster’s shrill crow. She was fond of him now and would miss his morning alarm when she headed back to London. After feeding the animals, she returned to the house to cook eggs for herself and Julia, brewing two steaming coffees. Just how they liked it.

The sun was up, promising another hot day ahead, and Kitty heard her aunt stir upstairs.

“You ready for breakfast, Julia?” she called out.

With a yawn, Kitty walked to the door to fetch the newspaper from outside. It was anyone’s guess where she’d find it today. The delivery boy flung it into a different bush each morning.

“Yes, please,” shouted Julia down the stairs.

Kitty opened the front door. The newspaper sat neatly on the step, and alongside it was a small package. She picked it up and carefully unwrapped the brown paper. A small bunch of wildflowers lay inside, along with a Snickers bar and a note that read:

Welcome back to the village. Wendy xo.

21

KITTY

Kitty passedthe next few days in a hot haze. England was enjoying a historic heatwave that showed no signs of ending. The sun parched the earth, forming large cracks in the fields. On a more practical note, though, the relentless humidity was playing havoc with her hair.

Kitty had helped Thea at Small Oaks each day since babysitting, but so far, she hadn’t seen Josh. When she subtly steered their conversation around to find out how he was, Thea told her how busy he’d been and that she hadn’t seen him either. It was maddening.

After the evening they’d shared and the gift he’d left, she didn’t understand the radio silence. But she had to stop thinking about him. The first round of job interviews went surprisingly well, considering her mind was entirely distracted by frustration and saucy fantasies of what might happen if they ever played Twister again.

There was no such problem with Daniel. Thinking of Daniel was exciting. He peppered Kitty with texts, and they chatted late into the night twice. Daniel was a simple creature. If Kitty ignored his corny chat-up lines, she found him charming and amusing company.

He’d attempted to initiate her in sexting, which ended in fits of giggles when he sent her a “stick pic.” It was a picture of his naked torso, with a large branch strategically covering his groin.

That morning, Kitty rose early, organised Julia’s animals for the hot day ahead and headed to Small Oaks. She’d begun arriving earlier and earlier, using the excuse of the weather, but really hoping to bump into Josh before he left for work.