HEALING
THE STORY SO FAR: Mabel Gray and her husband Will have built a successful marriage and a business together. They seem to epitomise the idea of soulmates – until Mabel’s world is shattered when Will confesses to falling for another woman. Devastated and desperate for some time alone to think things through, Mabel travels to a cottage in a remote part of Devon to consider her next step. The evening she arrives, she sets out to investigate a white cottage she’s glimpsed through the woods. Mabel nears the cottage as darkness starts to descend and is startled to hear a man’s voice call out. Just as she’s wondering if Will has followed her, she slips into a muddy rut and twists her ankle. Crumpled on the ground, she sees a man who emerged from the cottage but it’s too late to take flight.
Easy now,’ said the man, helping her off the damp ground. ‘Is it your ankle? I can take a look if you like. Back in the cabin?’
She winced, glancing at him as she struggled to her feet. He was tall, with concerned blue eyes. He wore a cable-knit jumper over corduroy trousers tucked into thick boots. Something about his quiet kindness soothed her initial fears, but also brought a lump to her throat. Any kindness from a man – even a stranger – brought into focus what she’d had with Will. She came to Devon to escape him because he’d broken her
