‘Ah, it’s only a trial. I couldn’t be bothered,’ Luke responded between mouthfuls of juicy meat and creamy mashed potatoes.

‘You’re well able for that squad, son.’

Luke shrugged his shoulders but declined to comment further.

‘He’s too busy chasing girls,’ Kate scoffed, grinning at Luke from across the table.

‘Ah that’s natural at his age. What about you, love? Anything new happening in college this week?’ He glanced at Kate who was now sitting back from the table, eyeing what remained of the apple tart.

‘No, Dad, nothing your old-fashioned mind could handle anyway,’ Kate teased him, patting his strong arm affectionately. ‘Just fun, fun and more fun!’

‘Fun? Is that what I’m slogging out in the fields for? Getting up in the middle of the night to tend to cows calving? So you can idle your way through lectures?’

‘Of course, Daddy,’ she mocked. ‘That’s what young ladies do these days. But never mind, if I fail my exams, I’ll just land a willing med student to keep me in the style I’ve become accustomed to.’

Georgina listened to the conversation, irritated by her sister’s careless attitude. She stared at her chipped nails and put a hand to her unwashed hair, annoyed that she’d neglected to take the time to shower that morning.

‘Hmm,’ Mike said, ruffling Kate’s hair. ‘I suppose we could have worse things than a doctor in the family. What do you think, Georgina?’

‘Oh whatever,’ she said, getting up to bring the teapot to the table.

‘Sit down, love,’ he said gently, when she’d finished pouring tea into the four mugs. ‘You look shattered. Everything OK?’

She shrugged, but didn’t enlighten him. Throwing a grateful smile in his direction, she bundled the dirty cutlery together and put them into the dish- washer before sitting back down to drink her tea.