The next few days flew by for Evelyn. At first, it was unusual to have another person in the cottage. But soon, a strangely pleasant dynamic developed with the initially unwelcome guest. By now, everyone was getting on well. Riona helped where she could and worked from late evening until early morning in the bar on the next trunk road.

Eve cared for the housework and looked after her bedridden grandmother before delivering her baked goods. Ray took care of the manual labor in the house during this time. The big and small jobs accumulated in the old house over the years. As a thank you, she always gave him something from the deliveries - muffins, cinnamon buns, or other little treats. There was a pleasant harmony in the house, and Eve only now realized how much she and Ri had been disturbed and burdened by the many shortcomings all this time. Ray really was a great help to them.

When one of the stairs to the attic groaned under her footsteps, she decided to tell Ray about it later. He wanted to take a closer look at the door to the attic today anyway, as it had unfortunately - like many others - become a little warped over the years.

So, with the almost familiar squeak of the hinges, she entered her silent flatmate's room after a polite knock. The old lady was lying on a bed with pretty ornaments and patterns that her late husband had made especially for her and, despite her trembling fingers, was busily crocheting a pretty green shawl for Riona.

"We're having porridge today, Edana," Eve announced, pushing the tray onto the wooden side table beside the bed with a soft clatter. "I've also added some homemade jam. I know you prefer it sweet."

Unfortunately, Riona's grandmother had been bedridden for some time, so she only sat in bed to eat breakfast, do small jobs, or listen to music. She spent much of the day looking at old photos and simply reminiscing. At the mention of breakfast from her homeland, her green eyes lit up noticeably, and the old lady with the already white hair smiled good-naturedly.

"Porridge," she repeated blissfully, and her eyes glided over the small bowl of jam and the scones, which she recognized immediately. There was also a pretty porcelain cup with a floral pattern on the tray, on which Edana's favorite tea had small white curls. "You're a great help to us, Kay."

"Edana, you should call me Eve while I'm here," the blonde asked kindly, pushing aside the white lace curtains to open the window and let in some air.

"That's right," Edana murmured and watched as the young woman tidied up a little and put the small box of her favorite photos on the bedside table. Obviously, she would have liked to say more about the new name. But the old lady sensed that this was not a good topic.

"Is it very tiring?" Edana asked sympathetically instead, closing her age-worn fingers around the cup of steaming tea. "It must be very tiring to look after five people ... cooking and cleaning ..." she continued, her gaze wandering to the window, from where she had a marvelous view of the garden and thus also of the edge of the forest and the lake. "Yet you're our guest and not employed as a housekeeper..."

But Eve shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing around her face. "I'm glad to do this, Edana. It's nice to have company. It's good for Liam to see something other than the city," she said and sat down next to Edana in bed to keep her company at breakfast.
"Besides, it's good practice for me. At least as far as the cooking is concerned," an amused twinkle played around the corners of Eve's mouth, "after all, you have to taste all the things for me that I want to sell later."

Her grandmother laughed hoarsely. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be swamped with customers,« she said, patting Eve's hand. "You're the best baker and cook I know.«

Eve herself could only giggle at these words. "Well, you don't know many others either, Edana," she said amusedly. There's not much competition out here." Eve winked at the old lady and sipped her fruit tea. But I've long dreamed of opening my own little bakery, especially here."

"Will you be able to open soon?"

Ah, a little drop of melancholy. Eve's smile dropped a little.

"I don't think as soon as I'd like," Eve admitted with a sigh. "I've got enough for the deposit from the sale of my SUV, but I think there's another interested party."

"Really?" Edana furrowed her already furrowed brow and put her cup down on her lap. "The little shop has been empty for a few years now. And apart from you, we don't have any new additions here... I don't know who else would want it."

Eve could only shrug her shoulders. She had a hunch, but unfortunately, that was all there was to it. And in the end, there was nothing she could do about it.

"The decision is still pending. The current owner has the final say. Until then, I'll keep selling my baked goods as before," she said. "At least until I've saved a bit more. And who knows, maybe I can even persuade Ray to help me renovate the shop."

"Ray?" Edana seemed to think for a moment; then, it returned to her. "Oh yes, the craftsman." At that moment, Eve realized how much Riona resembled her grandmother. "A very good man. Very handsome. Very hard-working."
No one could have failed to notice the certain undertone. Then she leaned a little to one side as if she wanted to whisper a secret to Eve, like teenagers in the school playground.
"Does Riona like him? Maybe I still have a chance of having great-grandchildren in my house after all?"

Eve could barely hold back her laughter. To stifle it quickly, she cleared her throat behind her back. "I'm afraid Ri favors a slightly different type of man."

'With lots of tattoos, a rugged look, leather clothes, and a Harley,' she added in her mind, trying to control the twitching of the corners of her mouth.

"What a pity," the old woman sighed regretfully. "And what about-"

At that moment, the roaring sound of an engine and tires on the gravel road could be heard from outside. This prompted Eve to get up from her chair and look out the window while Edana also turned her head.

The engine noise was much smoother and quieter than the rumble of her pickup.

"That's not your car," Edana correctly realized, even with her limited hearing, "do we have visitors? Who is it?"

At the sight of the dark grey car rocking slightly over the uneven ground, Eve's face brightened without noticing.

"It's Dr. Taylor," she turned away from the window and was already on her way to the door. "I'll say hello and offer him some tea first. I'll bring him upstairs to you later. Eat your breakfast in peace first."

"Dr. Taylor is a good man, too." Edana looked after the young woman with amusement as she turned the corner. Laughing softly, she lifted her teacup. She blew a little before taking a sip and murmuring quietly to herself:
"And he certainly doesn't come all this way so often because of me."