A huge stone rolled off her shoulders when Jonathan detected neither a rattle nor water in her son's lungs.

'It's all right,' she told herself inwardly, repeating it like a reassuring mantra, hoping that her legs would finally stop feeling like rubber. At the same time, her cheeks continued to feel hot as soon as her gaze crossed Ray's. Hot and cold water clashed inside her, causing the lid of her feigned confidence to rattle treacherously under the resulting pressure.

Her relief at Liam's health quickly faded, however, when she noticed Ray's strange behaviour. She had noticed something from time to time before. That he occasionally did work with his left hand instead of his right. That he never wore shorts in the house, no matter how warm it was. A hesitation in a movement, a slight limp... or his reaction when he came out of the lake. Not just the shivering from the cold - but the stiff limbs, the limp and cramped fingers as if from pain. Some things before were just little things that were easy to forget. Now, however, everything had piled up like little stones and formed a heap that she stumbled over.

Something was wrong.

Even she, whose gaze was usually fixed on her boy, noticed it.

'You have your own worries,' something whispered inside her. The small, exhausted voice, whose thoughts revolved around far too many things and so often robbed her of sleep at night.

Nevertheless, she wanted to reach out and ask him: What's wrong?

In the time Ray had been here, she had never seen him so irritable. That was... maybe the first time they met. A moment ago he had been smiling, joking and tousling Liam's hair. Now he was growling irritably like a cornered animal, ready to snap at the hand that tried to help.

Eve noticed the serious change in Dr Tylor's expression. The gentleness he had previously displayed with the child as he examined Liam fell from his features for a split second. It shattered like glass at the stony demeanour Ray displayed. If he reacted like this with the doctor, why should it be any different with her?

The doctor's gaze followed the other man as he stepped quickly away from them.

"As you wish. But I can't take responsibility for any consequences." Dr Taylor turned his gaze regretfully to Eve. "You can't force anyone to be examined," he said, running his fingers through his blond hair from his forehead. "But while I'm here, could I look after you? I have everything you need with me?" he offered, tapping the leather doctor's bag.

Apparently Ray's harsh rebuff didn't seem to bother him too much. Eve could imagine that there were some older residents who were just as stubborn and probably less 'sensitive' than the townspeople. After all, out here you didn't have such easy access to the doctor and always thought twice about calling Dr Taylor or making the long journey.
"Thank you, I'll gladly accept." Eve smiled a little wryly and was glad that he had lightened the serious mood with a little joking. "You won't have to drive all that way for us again."

"Oh, I don't mind." Jonathan waved her off as he now offered to sit in the seat Ray had just vacated, brushing the blonde strands from her face with the same care as a few days before.

"It's looking much better mum. You'll be pretty again soon," a tired voice said and Liam's smaller hand patted her arm. Eve almost had tears in her eyes because her son was so incredibly compassionate - even now.

"Thank you, sweetheart." Her voice sounded a little brittle and pulled the smile on Dr Taylor's lips apart a little more, causing small wrinkles to form in the corners of his eyes.

"Your mum is pretty even now," he said charmingly, winking at her.

Eve's smile tilted askew and then she slid back and forth on her bum, visibly embarrassed because she didn't know what to say in response. The sting sat like a tearing thorn in her chest, even if it was meant to be comforting.

'Pity, nothing more'.

And she hated it.

"I'm going upstairs. Take a hot shower," Ray's voice sounded darker than usual. Eve could see him trudging up the stairs with his fists clenched.

He must have bumped into Riona on the way, because she came down the same steps a little later with an irritated "What's he got over his liver?" and pointed with her thumb over her shoulder behind her.

"Maybe he doesn't like doctors," said Liam, not realising how accurately he had hit the mark.

The examination was quick and only slightly painful. Eve no longer flinched every time she touched her once burnt skin. The application of the ointment still provided a pleasant coolness and eased the constant feeling of tension a little.

🍂🗝️🍂

"Thank you so much for coming so quickly..."

"No thanks at all, Eve. You can call me any time if you have any problems - no matter what they are," Jonathan offered as Eve accompanied him to the door.

"Thank you, but I'm sure you had other ideas for the day."

Dr Taylor laughed and then quickly waved him off. "Oh, that's my job. I didn't choose it any other way. Here in such a small community, very few people stick to the opening hours of a practice."

He laughed and then told Eve about an incident in which a homeless stray tried to break into a shed and was badly mauled by a raccoon that had taken up residence there. It was the middle of the night when he was called.

At this point, Eve couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, I hope we don't become one of those stories that everyone's talking about."

"Oh, you already are anyway," said Dr Taylor, smiling meaningfully. It was no secret that everyone always liked to run their mouths. Very few of them did so with malicious intentions. There was simply too little to say out here.

Dr Taylor reached for his coat and put it over his arm. It wasn't far to the car and outside the sun had broken through the clouds for a few rays.

"Now that I think about it, you're right: I did have to drive quite a long way and unexpectedly sacrifice my afternoon," he continued, stopping at the doorstep. "But maybe I can think of a way you could make it up to me?"

"Oh, and what do you have in mind, Doctor?" Eve raised one eyebrow a little sceptically.

Jonathan's smile seemed almost too mischievous for the doctor, who had been so serious and matter-of-fact when examining his patients earlier.

"You could have a coffee with me."

"Sure. I promised you some biscuits to thank you anyway, didn't I? I can of course invite you to join us and-"

The doctor burst out laughing, shook his head and reached for Eve's hand.

"That's not what I meant." This time he smiled, but still searched her gaze very carefully. "I meant I'd like to invite you for a coffee. In town or in the village. You and me. Just the two of us."

Eve wanted to laugh and almost patted him on the shoulder. But there was no hint of jest or mischief in his face. His lips didn't twitch with suppressed laughter. Then she slowly realised that he was serious.

And it was only then that the wheels of Eve's mind slowly meshed. Her mouth formed a stunned 'O' and matched the "Oh" that fell ungracefully from her lips. Then it really clicked and her eyes widened a little. "Oh!"

"An 'Oh'  isn't a no, Isnt it?" The doctor's blonde brows jerked higher, while the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. It was more like he was looking at a panicked squirrel with a nervously twitching tail on his windowsill.

Now Eve's face was flaming red, she was sure of it. Crap. Normally, she would have refused immediately. Not just because it could only be a stupid joke, but because it shattered her current policy: no men in her life. Not like this.

'It's just a coffee. When was the last time you kind of went away?'

The back of her neck literally tingled with the knowledge of Riona's wide grin, which she didn't need to see to know it was there.

"No... I mean, yes," Eve moaned, running a hand over her face and laughing sheepishly. "Well, no, it's not that," she said with less of a stammer. "If you're really serious."

"I am serious," Jonathan confirmed and reached out to grab Eve's hand. In a strange first instinct, she wanted to pull her fingers back. For some reason, it occurred to her that Ray's touch had felt very... different.

The doctor's hands were softer as he gently took her hand in his and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "How about I call you tomorrow for once?"

Was her mouth dry?

"Mum, I'm tired," he suddenly said and a smaller hand reached for Eve's to pull her out of the doctor's grip. "And I'm cold," he added further and his head turned to Jonathan. "Bye doctor."

Eve stared open-mouthed at her son and then the mood collapsed like a house of cards as the wedged stones let a laugh escape her lips before she gave Jonathan an apologetic look.

"You heard him, my son is very tired," she said meaningfully. It was obvious that Liam had wanted to interrupt. Even now, he was casting suspicious glances at the doctor from slightly narrowed eyes and Eve had to stifle a chuckle at this sweet, protective act. "We'll talk on the phone these days?"

"All right," the doctor relented, raising his hands in surrender for a moment, "I would never begrudge the brave man in the house his sleep." His gaze lingered on Eve, the intensity of it once again bringing a blush to her cheeks.

"I hope we meet again soon," he murmured, the tone of his voice less mischievous than the bitter honey Riona had spoken of.

She waved after him with Liam on her arm until the wagon had disappeared into the rows of trees, humming.

An approving whistle preceded Riona's voice from the couch:

"I guess it really is true what they say: the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. You'll have to give me some of your cinnamon buns for work."