The Fixer-Upper

It was a fresh start for both of them - but were cracks already beginning to show?

-  Eirin Thompson

THE STORY SO FAR

Hannah and her longtime boyfriend Matt are rebuilding their relationship after Matt's infidelity with Hannah's best friend, Tara. They have moved from Belfast to the County Down coast, where they will renovate the dilapidated Seacrest Cottage.

Initially, Hannah will live in a caravan beside the cottage, overseeing the renovation, and Matt will stay with his parents in the city during the week, as he needs to be smart and well-rested for work, joining Hannah at the caravan at weekends.

Hannah is surprised by how lonely she quickly becomes, and sets about finding both friendship and a sympathetic local builder to take on the cottage project. Luckily, she runs into Kerry, an extrovert bar steward and aspiring tour guide, who is keen to make friends. Kerry recommends her uncle, Conor, for Hannah's building work. Just after meeting the handsome Conor, Hannah receives a mysterious text saying 'It isn't over'.

Friday had come round again, which meant Hannah would meet Matt off the evening bus and they would grab some dinner before retreating to their caravan for the night.

At least, this was what Hannah told herself. In fact, after a month of Matt’s weekend visits, she sensed a cooling of his enthusiasm for the situation.

It was understandable, she mused with a sigh, as she sat wrapped in her thick parka on the dry-stone wall in front of the cottage, drinking her tea. She was getting the best of things – like watching the soothing sea, listening to the gulls call and being free to potter about Seacrest’s shell whenever she felt like it, pestering their builder, Conor, with questions, probably.

She was lucky – in her job as a copy editor – that she could work from home, and thankfully the caravan WiFi was good. But Matt was caught between two worlds. Not nearly as nice. She should cut him some slack.

Just then, a van came chugging up the steep, gorse-hedged lane. Conor.