The Fixer-Upper

Their dream cottage was taking shape - if only Hannah's heart wasn't filled with doubt

- Eirin Thompson

Seacrest Cottage was little more than a shell when Hannah and Matt had bid for it at auction. Now, after weeks of work, it had a smart new slate roof and quaint sash windows, plus new doors. The back door was stable-style, which Matt had suggested on one of his weekend visits. He said it would keep the hens from straying into the kitchen, while letting in light and air.

'So we're getting hens, then?' Hannah had chuckled. She'd pounced on this scrap of enthusiasm from Matt because these days he seemed less enamoured of the whole venture.

She'd hoped that when Conor, their builder, took down the internal wall to open up a big kitchen-dining space, Matt would grow more excited, but instead he'd announced that the arrangement of bussing it from Belfast to Newcastle every weekend wasn't working for him. He proposed coming to their onsite temporary caravan every second weekend, instead, or even every third, if he was really tired.

'But I thought you loved escaping from your parents' place!' Hannah had exclaimed.

'It's far from ideal, but at least I get to sleep in a full-size bed. And now that Mum's over the novelty of having me back home, she leaves me alone most of the time instead of constantly thrusting cups of tea at me.'

He yawned. 'I've been doing loads of overtime to help fund this renovation. By the time Friday evening comes, I just want to crash out.'

'I've been taking on extra work too,' Hannah pointed out.

'I know. I appreciate it. But it seems to come more easily to you, living in the caravan. Maybe it's because you're smaller, so you don't feel so cramped.'

Hannah had stifled a sigh. When they'd agreed on a fresh start after the Tara affair, the prospect of renovating a cottage in the mountains had seemed like a wonderful way to build something together, while rebuilding the trust and companionship between them.