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Outside, under the shade of an enormous umbrella, Kitty spotted her Aunt Julia. She sat in a garden recliner, positioned to take in the view. With her eyes closed and her blonde curls pinned up, she looked a little older than Kitty remembered.

“Mum’s having a nap. It was all I could do to stop her from spring-cleaning the whole place for your arrival. I’m afraid I had to make up your bed, so I apologise in advance for my appalling hospital corners.”

Kitty smiled.“How’s your mum doing?” she asked.

“She’s okay. Getting more mobile, but the real battle is stopping her from doing too much and getting sore and tired.”

“Icanhear you.” Her aunt’s sing-song voice emerged from outside. Jonty winked at Kitty.

“She’s in a bit of pain, but I’ve hidden all the gin bottles. I can’t trust her not to self-medicate.”

“Honestly!” Julia’s laugh tinkled through the muggy air. “Depriving a recovering patient access to decent amounts of alcohol is against the Geneva Convention. I’ve checked. Now come out here and let me see you, Kitty. It’s been too long.”

The air was sticky after the rain. As Kitty followed her aunt’s voice onto the patio, a bead of perspiration trickled down her back. Maybe a pencil skirt and shirt weren’t the best outfit choice.

“Hi, Aunt Julia.” Kitty leaned down to give her a kiss on her soft cheek.

She eyed her niece up and down. “Well, look at you. Didn’t you grow tall, darling?”

Yes, I know. Kitty smiled, half expecting her aunt to ask if she got nosebleeds at her altitude. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Please, none of the formalities here. If you call me Julia, I’ll promise not to call you Kitty-Kat.” Her infectious smile reminded Kitty of water fights in the sun, evening chocolate binges and endless games of gin rummy. It was a smile that warmed her heart.

“Thank you so much for your invitation. I’m sure Dad filled you in on the drama,” Kitty said, grateful Aunt Julia had dropped the subject of her height. Kitty’s dad, she’d discovered, had been the one to call Julia and let her know that she might be at a loose end for a couple of months.

“He told me enough. It sounds like you’ve had an eventful time. But I’m glad you’re here, darling. We’ve so much to catch up on, and a bit of female company will be welcome.” She gestured towards Jonty with mock aggravation. “Son, can you settle Kitty in and show her the ropes with the animals? I’ll make a start on dinner.”

“No, you won’t, Mum. You’ll sit still and rest. Holly made a shepherd’s pie and salad. Can you at least trust me with that?”

“Who’s Holly?”Kitty asked.

“My future daughter-in-law. Before the end of the century, if you please, Jonathan,” said Julia. “I want to look half decent in the wedding photos.”

“No pressure then,” Kitty winked at her cousin.

“Indeed. Come on, Cuz, I’ll show you to your room.”

Kitty collected her bags from the car and followed Jonty upstairs to the same room she used to stay in as a young girl. It was all angles above her, as the exposed beams crisscrossed like a giant game of Kerplunk. The lack of fur signalled a cat-free zone, and Kitty was glad to see that Julia had added a small ensuite. But as she’d aged and got taller, everything seemed smaller. Eyeing the minuscule shower cubicle, she considered getting a panic button installed. Small showers and long limbs were never a good combination and led to some fantastic bruises.

“Watch your head up here. We can’t afford the lawsuit,” Jonty said when he noticed Kitty ducking under the eaves.

“Enough of the ‘tall’ jokes, please. It’s a cross I’ve learned to bear over the years. Besides, I don’t like your chances of negotiating a settlement against me.”

After dropping her luggage, Jonty took Kitty to the paddocks. He showed her the animal pens and the sheds where they slept and the lean-to containing food, hay, and general supplies. As they looked in on the goats, Kitty found their thick, musky odour overwhelming, and she struggled not to gag. She might have to Google gas masks after dinner.

In the close air of the shed, the trickle of sweat from earlier had turned into a torrent, and her shirt was now stuck to her back like cling wrap. A wave of nausea swept over her.

“Where are the instructions?” Kitty scanned the general chaos on the shelves of the lean-to. Unlabelled boxes and packets of pellets lay everywhere.

“Erm, I don’t think animals come with instructions. I’ve just been winging it. They’re all still breathing.”

Jonty ran through a list of daily chores, and Kitty found a pen on the side to take notes. There was nowhere to write anything down, so she used the back of her hand. She screwed up her eyes, trying to make sense of the tins and boxes stacked in every available space. At least she’d have something to keep her busy tomorrow.

Satisfied she had a handle on things, Kitty stepped out of the shed without looking, plopping straight into a large, muddy puddle left behind by the rain. Ankle deep, her beautiful red pumps transformed into a boggy brown shade, and her heart sank. They’d cost her a fortune.

Horrified at the carnage, she battled not to show weakness in front of her cousin. To show weakness was not in Kitty’s rule book. She hated being laughed at—by anyone.

From the look on his face, Jonty struggled to suppress a snicker, and Kitty’s brow furrowed.Shit! Don’t think of the price. Don’t think of the price,she repeated in herhead. He must think she was so stupid. If she couldn’t even get her footwear right, how would she keep a bunch of animals alive? Jaw set, Kitty ignored her cousin and headed back to the cottage, sloshing along in her ruined shoes.