Hecate studied the hopeful traveller cautiously. Nobody walked into the travel agency and said 'surprise me' when asked where they wanted to go. She was wearing a pink fuzzy cardigan and a smile. Hecate had given up trying to match the destination to the customer, they always surprised her.

'Somewhere for a week, can be remote, anywhere around Britain or in a European country.'

She named her budget and waited to hear the suggestion. Hecate frowned. She was not in the habit of giving too many opinions on a location. Usually customers had firm views on what they wanted and could be insistent on getting it even against advice. This one seemed placid enough to see where an idea might take her.

'How remote?' She asked.

'An island might do it. I just want some peace and quiet. Got a stack of books to read and I can never find the time.'

Hecate suggested the economical option of a shepherd hut in Wales. Surrounded by fields and hedgerows, it was very remote.

'Perhaps a bit too isolated. I'll need to food shop at some point.'

Hecate thought up a few more options, laying them out carefully, her mind whirring about the possibilities. The woman liked a few options, earmarking a particular Greek island with a wonderful beach and a marina, perhaps the Italian one instead? Both required a bit of travel to get to. In the end, she decided on one of Hecate's personal favourites, a destination she'd considered several times for herself.

'Yes, that's the one. Perfect for the end of summer. I shall swim and read and pick berries.'

It sounded delightful. Hecate felt a bolt of envy.

'Tell me how it is.'

She blinked. That was a bit forward of her. She wondered why she'd said it.

'Of course.'

'For feedback. So the agency can expand on the description for the next customer who is interested' Hecate added hurriedly. 'I've never booked a trip for this one.'

The woman nodded her acquiescence and thanked her, assured her that she knew she'd have a wonderful time. Hecate pored over the schedule the week that that customer was due to leave and imagined herself there. She wondered if she would hear back. Regardless, next summer she really should go. She imagined the woman soaking up a slice of idyll and sighed with longing. Obviously she had said that she wanted to be alone. But it would have been nice to have gone with her.

A postcard sat on her desk. It was of a Swedish country house on the edge of a jetty. The water looked cool and inviting and the sunshine slanted across just so to make the scene utterly perfect. The minute she saw it, she knew the woman had meant to keep her word. She read the postcard greedily several times over.

'Dear Hecate (may I call you that?),

I really don't know why people haven't booked this holiday more often, it is truly splendid. I went wild strawberry and raspberry picking, have booked a boat trip tomorrow and have finished a book already...'

'Dear Hecate,

Having a fantastic time, Ulf has taken me on an island hop by boat. He's a strapping lad with a red gold beard and I must say, it is marvellous to be looked after by a Viking. He took me to a party in the evening with crayfish and cider and live music and fairy lights and his friends are a droll bunch. Whoever said the Swedes don't have a sense of humour has never partied with them…'

Dear Hecate,

I think you'd like it here. I can't write everything on just one postcard so it's day by day, I hope you don't mind. Ulf said that if I come in autumn, there is mushroom picking to be had. Does the agency offer October trips too?...'

'Dear Hecate,

The morning swim is wonderful. I dropped a book in the water but it's ok. I had finished it so I composted it (sacrilege I know!). I'm shamelessly dancing around to ABBA as I make pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sunbathing soon…'

'Dear Hecate

Today I milked a goat! Her name is Ebba. The milk tastes strong but I watched the cheese being made and I bought a wheel of it to take back. They'll vacuum pack it for me so I don't get suspected of suspicious activity on the plane! I've lost interest in the next book, not sure I will finish it, it's a bit dry…'

'Dear Hecate

I was at an ice cream restaurant today. We could do with one of these at home. I had a liquorice, lavender and raspberry sundae with hazelnuts and dark chocolate sauce. What a treat. It's raining now and I'm tucked up in a woolly jumper with a teapot…'

'Dear Hecate

My last day here, I am reluctant to leave this marvellous place and throw myself back into reality. I feel as if one could live here like in a dream. I can't thank you enough for recommending this holiday to me. I would love to come back here in midsummer…'

The bell tinkled as Ada entered the agency. She looked around for Hecate and saw her desk was empty. She waited until the other colleague had emerged from the office and asked for her.

'She'll be right back, she's just gone to the post office. Take a seat.'

It wasn't long before Hecate had come back. She stopped when she saw Ada. Ada smiled.

'I take it you liked the review?' She asked. Hecate knew she'd seen the postcards pinned up around her desk. All seven of them, slightly tatty, all depicting Swedish archipelago life. She felt herself blush just a tinge. She slid to her seat and tried to compose herself.

'I can write up an official review without Ulf' said Ada, eyes twinkling. Hecate felt herself smile, just a little.

'I hope you don't mind me posting every day to you. I realise it's a bit personal. I was caught up in the holiday mood I suppose, joyful, relaxed, content.'

'I…really appreciated them. I've never had a postcard before. I looked forward to seeing them on my desk actually. It was most thoughtful. And you are correct, it is a holiday I would like to have taken.'

Ada looked pleased.

'Earmark it for next August. I have pictures if you'd like to see?'

Hecate nodded just as another customer came in. Ada had an envelope with stacks of polaroids. They looked wonderful, like rays of sunshine and mist. A quick glance showed a few pictures of the party and the Viking Ulf, his red gold beard most handsome, berries threaded on a string the way one of the postcards depicted, a goat, a boat and more.

'I won't keep you from your working day.'

Ada hesitated.

'Would you like to meet at the Lyons tea shop sometime this week? There are lots of photos.'

Hecate was astounded. This was quite an unusual proposition for her. She thought it over.

'Yes. That would be…good.'

She hoped there were a few polaroids of Ada. She could envisage a picture of her splashing in the water. Ada beamed and arranged a time, departed with a last backwards glance. Hecate felt a lift in her heart. She was looking forward to it.

There were a few pictures of Ada splashing in the water. Dancing around the kitchen, at the party, on the boats, picking berries, reading, milking the goat, laughing uproariously at many things. There were still life portraits of scenery and the house. Apparently Ulf was very helpful in very many ways. Except one.

'He was so sweet, I've adopted him as my nephew. He's going to show me more of the local haunts when I next go. Mushroom picking here I come.'

Hecate was glad about that. She'd loved the postcards, a precious gift waiting for her each day. She was going to miss them. Goodness knows it wasn't her business what Ada got up to with a Viking but she felt a little envious of this sparkling creature who made friends so easily and it wouldn't have been difficult to imagine that she'd charmed this Viking into bed with her. It was audacious of her to think that she'd like a space in the cosy looking bed with Ada but she'd thought about her the whole week, wondering what she was doing and what she was wearing and she really should just stop this now before she made a fool of herself.

'I know this is a bit forward Hecate but would you come with me next summer perhaps? I'd like to do the same sort of thing to honest, I enjoyed it so much. There's enough space for a few people in the house and it would be nice to have the company in the evening.'

'Were you lonely?'

Hecate knew she wasn't ready to give a direct answer. Of course she would love to.

'Not at all. I'm comfortable in my own company. But sometimes it nice to cook for someone or swim with someone or just relax in peace and quiet around someone. The fluffy cat that visited me was a gorgeously fickle creature.'

Hecate smiled and confided that she liked cats too.

'I will think about it' she promised, longing to say yes.

Ada received the answer on a postcard of a cat, a week later.

'Dear Ada

The agency doesn't do a foraging trip in October but it can be arranged. What is Swedish for mushroom?'

Ada glided to her office in a daze. She couldn't wait for their next holiday.