We are sitting with Tomica Pahović, who will become Motovun’s general practitioner within months. My beloved asks him about a skin problem of hers. He grabs a piece of paper and writes the name of a cream that could help her. “Two or three times a day,” he adds in writing. “Doctor,” I jump in, “what can you suggest against ageing?” At once he turns the paper around and starts writing my beloved’s name. “Once a day,” she jumps in as if on queue.