‘I did? Thank you’ She takes them from him
‘No probs. Thought you might need them. Enjoy the rest of your day’ He glances up and sniggers ‘Bye for now’
Helen snatches the paper hat from her head ‘It’s Christmas’ she defends, flushing with embarrassment ‘Alfie likes the way they rustle’
‘Fair enough’ He says, his eyes crinkling. He sniffs appreciatively ‘Something smells good. Wonderful smells everywhere I go, driving me mad’ Kester steps down off the step, half turning and ready to leave.
‘You’ve been busy?’ Helen surprises herself by trying to keep him talking. Her heart thumps nervously.
‘Nothing major since I saw you earlier’ he smiles ‘Just seems that way when you’ve got a houseful, I suppose. Can’t possibly have the downstairs cloakroom out of action when one has guests can one?’
Helen snorts at his mimicry ‘That’s wicked’
‘I know…but some people..’
‘Would you….’ she hesitates ‘…would you…like coffee?’
‘Would I ever!’ Kester says immediately ‘One doesn’t offer tradesmen a drink either’
‘No?’
‘You’d be surprised’ he says, stepping over the threshold and wiping his boots ‘It’s the likes of my first call, those that have very little who keep you topped up with tea and biscuits or whatever, not those who have more than they know what to do with’ He stoops to pull his laces undone.
‘You needn’t take them off’ Helen protests
‘Worried my feet might stink?’ he narrows his eyes in a scowl.
‘No…it’s just that…’
‘He-len’ he groans ‘I was joking’
‘’Sorry’ she sighs ‘come on in’
‘You sure I won’t be holding you up? Take it you’ve got someone coming?’
‘No…it’s just me and Alfie’
‘You’re cooking turkey just for you and the cat?’
‘Why not?’
‘No reason’ he shrugs ‘It wasn’t a criticism. A bit taken aback, that’s all’
‘That I would bother?’
‘Lot of work for one, I’m having yesterday’s leftover stew’
‘You’re not eating with Harriet?’ Helen asks in surprise as he follows her along the hallway and into the kitchen.
‘She’s spending the day with friends…because I’m working. I never know if I’m going to be around at the right time’
‘I suppose you don’t’
‘Might not get any calls…but there again…I’ve had three already’
‘It’s no more work than a roast…and the leftovers will freeze. It’s a very small turkey’ she adds.
‘Hey, you don’t have to justify yourself to me. Ok if I wash my hands?’
‘Sure’ Helen nods at the bottle of liquid soap next to the sink ‘Help yourself, towel on the rail at the side of the unit…Oh…no it isn’t…I used it as an oven cloth…I’ll get you another…a clean one’
‘Stop fussing, woman! Kitchen roll will do…or I’ll drip dry, one or the other’
‘Ok…. Helen fills the cafetiere with water from the kettle. ‘Give that a few minutes….So…’ she falters ’…here we are then’
‘Here we are’ he agrees with a smile.
‘So’ they both say at once
‘You first’ Their words coincide again.
Kester chuckles ‘I was only going to ask where the wondercat is’
‘Alfie? In his basket….sitting room. I’m surprised he’s not out here giving you the once over. He’s a very nosy cat’
‘I’m surprised he’s not sitting here waiting for his lunch, the smell must be getting to him too’
‘Mmm’
They lapse into awkward silence.
‘Shall we….shall we take this into the sitting room?’ Helen offers
‘I’m a bit grubby’ Kester looks down at himself.
‘You look fine to me’ Helen says without thinking and fusses with running cream over the back of a spoon and on top of the coffee.
Kester ignores her blush. ‘If you’re sure’
Helen nods, her eyes averted as she takes the handles of the tall glass mugs.
Pennywell, Bower Lane
Chapter Four
Pennywell, Bower Lane
later in the sitting room
‘I’d best get going’ Kester smiles ‘Thanks for the coffee but your lunch must be nearly ready. Don’t want it spoiling on my account’
‘It’s all in hand’ Helen assures ‘I think he likes you’ she smiles happily at Alfie stretched on Kester’s lap, his claws snagging his sweater as he treads his paws against his stomach, purring loudly.
‘More likely the cream off my coffee’
‘That was naughty’
‘Ooops’ Kester grimaces. ‘Sorry pardon’
‘Not you!’ Helen laughs ‘I meant he shouldn’t have pestered you’
‘I think I started it’ Kester confesses sheepishly ‘while you were out there checking whatever it was you were checking. Sorry, my man, you’ve got to move’ He carefully slides his hands under the cat and moves him to the cushion beside him. ‘Enjoy your lunch…and thanks again’
‘Would you like to stay?’ Helen blurts ‘There’s plenty’ she says in a much quieter voice ‘I mean…if you’d like to…it would be no bother…It was just an idea’ she adds lamely.
‘Do I have to wear a hat?’
Helen looks up, her eyes sparkling with surprise that he would consider it. ‘Yes!’ she grins
Kester tuts. ‘The things I have to do to keep my women happy’
Helen flushes ‘I am not one of your women!’ She bridles then sighs ‘Was that another joke?’
He grins. ‘I’ll wear a hat’
‘I’ll set the table!' Her pleasure is obvious 'I was going to have mine on a tray…but now I’ve got company, I’d better do things properly’ She opens the drawer of the dresser and takes out a tablecloth and selects a handful of cutlery.
‘But a tray will do me fine’ Kester swears as his mobile phone sounds ‘Typical!' he sighs an apology 'Sorry…looks like this is one invite I’m going to have to say no to’
Helen lays the cloth down and stands listening
‘Kester James’ he snaps into the phone. His expression lightens and he laughs, glancing at Helen and giving her a thumbs up ‘Sorry, Simon, I thought it was work………….Merry Christmas to you too. You having a good time? Sounds like it…………………..Just about to have some lunch…………………………No, I’m at…’
He frowns as Helen waves her hands, crossing them and mouthing ‘No’
‘….at the pub’ he improvises ‘…………………not actually in the pub….I’m taking a plate home. I’m in the car park……That’s right, yes….that’s why it’s so quiet……Have you?….. Six glasses, eh?’ He mimes putting a gun to his head. ‘Nothing for me today, I’m on call…………….That’s right, you save me some. Got to go, Simon, get home before this gets cold……………….Yes, Simon, Merry Christmas…again…..and the New year too, yes…………Bye, Simon, bye bye’
Kester groans as he flips his phone closed. ‘Well and truly bladdered’ he shakes his head ‘Urrgghh!’ Tucking his phone back in his pocket, he asks ‘What did you do that for? You didn’t want him to know I was here?’
‘I don’t know why I did it’ Helen lowers her eyes.
‘I can go if you’ve changed your mind’
‘It’s not that’ she falters ‘I…It’s just…’
‘Mmm?’
‘I don’t know if I could take his teasing….we’re bound to meet again, aren’t we? Me and Simon, I mean and he was bad enough before….when we danced’
‘I’m sorry’
‘That wasn’t your fault was it?’
‘No, but I didn’t think…just then…I didn’t think how it might look. Perhaps I had better go. We don’t want people putting two and two together and making five, do we?’
‘Would it bother you that much?’ she retorts
‘Actually, no, it wouldn’t. But if you mind about Simon’s teasing, then you’d never be able to cope with the village gossips…and I wouldn’t want you to have to go through that, ok?’
'What difference will another hour make to the gossips? You've been here a while now. It's only lunch'
'It's only lunch' Kester smiles and takes the cutlery from her.
