Nathan Samms clatters down the stairs and opens the front door. ‘What the heck are you doing here?’ he asks in surprise, looking over Jessie Shepherd’s shoulder and up and down the lane beyond his gate. ‘D’you know what time it is?’

‘Well, that’s a nice greeting I must say.’ Jessie huffs and with a hesitant smile, threads her wrist through the strap of her handbag and folds her hands on her stomach. She rocks on the balls of her feet. ‘Yes, I know what time it is but I couldn’t sleep for worrying so I got up again. I know I upset you and I wanted to say I was sorry. I didn’t mean half what I said and it wasn’t my place to say it even if I did. There! That’s all. You can go back to bed now and I shall go to mine.’ She nods and steps back from the small porch.

Nathan runs his fingers through the hair at the side of his head, pausing to scratch at the crown before dropping his hand again. ‘I wasn’t in bed…but…and that’s it?’ he says, still stunned. ‘You came all the way out here just to ….how did you get here?’

‘I got a taxi, did you think I walked?’

‘And you didn’t ask him to wait?’

‘Oh….’ Jessie’s face falls. ‘Never thought of that. Can I borrow your phone?’

Nathan swings the door wide and stands grinning. ‘Come on in you…’

‘Daft old bugger?’ Jessie provides as she steps over the threshold and into a hallway lit only by the light spilling from the upstairs landing.

‘That’ll do.’ he says as he closes the door. ‘I don’t believe this. I was a bit pee’d off but there was no need for you to be so worried about it. I’ve been giving what you said a lot of thought. I can see where you were coming from but…’ He says leading the way into the living room. ‘Excuse everything, I wasn’t exactly expecting visitors and…well….it’s been… a bit of a difficult day all round.’

‘And mostly my fault.’

‘No, not really, any other time and I wouldn’t have reacted how I did. I’m always a bit raw.’ He gives a small shrug. ‘Sit yourself down a minute. Can I get you a cuppa?’

Jessie shakes her head, smiling as Nathan hurriedly gathers together discarded clothes and newspapers from the sofa to make space for her. ‘Not for me or I’ll never sleep at all.’

‘You should have rung me, not come trotting out here’ he says, thrusting the pile into an armchair.

‘I hadn’t got your number to hand. Goodness knows where my little book has gone. I suppose I could’ve looked it up but it seemed important to see you in person.’ Ignoring the offer of a seat, she looks around. Her eyes light on the small side table set below the front window. ‘Can I use your phone then?’

‘I’ll run you back, don’t worry.’ Nathan smiles.

‘Oh, no you won’t. You’re not turning out at this time of night!’

Nathan chuckles and shakes his head. ‘You know how daft that sounds what with you standing here with your coat on?’

Jessie makes a face. ‘It was a bit wasn’t it? But it’s okay; I don’t mind ringing for another taxi. You do forgive me though? I’m sorry for what I said and I’d hate to think we weren’t friends any more.’

‘Of course we’re still friends.’ he says sincerely. ‘It’d take a hell of a lot more than that. And taking you home is no bother at all. Go on, sit down for a minute or two.’

Jessie unbuttons her coat as she eases herself onto the sofa and places her handbag at her side. ‘It was really none of my business and I won’t ask but if you did ever decide you wanted to talk about it again…’

‘Thanks, Jessie, I’ll see how it goes.’ Nathan sits at one end of the rug in front of the unlit fireplace and pushes it flat with his bare feet, his toes curling into the thick pile. ‘I’m still trying to work out what’s for the best.’

‘Nathan, you know what’s for the best and that’s not being held to ransom by that man!’

‘I know’ he says, drawing his knees up to his chin and circling his legs with his arms. ‘ but there are ways of doing things and there are ways of doing things and just getting my side of the story out there isn’t going to make any difference.’ He lifts his head to look at her. ‘I need to think some more.’

‘I’m doing it again, aren’t I. Poking my nose in where it doesn’t belong?’

‘You’re ok, don’t worry about it, I know you’re only trying to help.’

‘That and wanting to know the other half of the story!’ Jessie laughs.

‘There’s nothing to know really.’

‘Nathan Samms! I’m not so much green as cabbage looking. If there weren’t anything to know there’d be nothing to keep quiet about.’

‘Honest! It was something and nothing.’

‘So you say.’ She squints her disbelief.

‘It was. I still can’t fathom it out, really. All a matter of her reputation, I suppose.’

‘But she’s destroying yours!’

‘I know. I hadn’t bargained for that.’ Nathan says ruefully and rests his chin on his knees.

‘And you really need this contract?’ Jessie questions quietly.

Nathan sighs, leans back on one hand and lets his legs lie flat again. He picks at the rug. ‘No, not really, not need it. We’re doing pretty well. It’s more that I’d like to get it. It’s all money in the bank and would keep us busy for months.’

Jessie raises one finger to interrupt. ‘Ah! But that’s all supposing he gets the planning permission.’ she says with a nod of conviction.

‘These developers have ways of getting what they want.’

‘But you can’t be sure that there’s anything in the bag for him to blackmail you with….’

‘I wouldn’t call it blackmail!’ he disputes with a brief chuckle.

‘What would you call it then? You keep quiet about my daughter and I’ll see you right. What else does it smack of?’

‘Yeah…I know….but…’

‘But what, Nathan?’

‘I just can’t do it.’

‘Why on earth not?’

‘It wouldn’t be fair…not on her. She’s only a kid.’

‘Oh, for goodness sake!’ Jessie smacks her hands against her thighs. ‘You’ve changed your tune.’

Nathan flushes. ‘Not really, I’m still cringing about what went on and bloody annoyed about what she’s been saying but….’

‘But what?’

‘Oh, I dunno.’ Nathan lapses into silence again.

Jessie leans forward, sighing with exasperation. ‘Look, I know it’s late and my poor head isn’t what it used to be but aren’t you trying to protect her reputation for nothing? She’s doing a damn fine job of telling everyone what a nice time you gave her all on her own.’

‘Yeah, but that isn’t all that came about.’ he responds absently

Jessie gapes. ‘You mean you DID ha…’

‘NO! Christ, no.’ Nathan snaps out of his stupor with a look of shock. ‘Sorry, I meant that wasn’t what I was supposed to keep quiet about.’

‘Oh, I see. Right you are.’ Jessie says evenly. She watches him as he gets to his feet and then turns to pick up her bag in preparation to leave. She waits, as he stands deep in thought staring through the doors at the far end of the room that lead onto the cobbled patio beyond.

He turns with a determined smile, a decision made. ‘Tell you what, how’s about we have some cocoa and I’ll tell you the whole thing?’

‘You’ve got cocoa?’ Jessie flusters, taken aback and unable to think of anything else to say without seeming too eager.

‘Of course!’ he huffs. ‘Can’t make it like you used to but I sometimes have one if I’m feeling a bit miserable. It’s my comfort food!’ He grimaces. ‘Don’t you say a word to anyone. Cocoa wouldn’t exactly do my image any good, would it?’ His lips stretch across his teeth in a semblance of a grin.

‘Well, I was a bit surprised.’ Jessie snorts. She stands and stretches her hand to his cheek, looking up at him and trying to read the expression in his dark eyes. ‘Let me do it. Just for old times sake, eh?’ she says softly.

Nathan blinks. ‘You know something? I’d really like that.’

Jessie bustles towards the kitchen, joking to cover the lump that has formed in her throat. ‘Okay but I draw the line at This Little Piggy. It’s not quite the same with size twelve feet!’

Nathan’s laugh is genuine. ‘I used to love it when you came to sit.’

‘And I loved doing it, believe me. You were a little rascal!’

‘Nothing’s changed there then.’

‘Doesn’t seem like it. Right, you sit there and I’ll get the milk on. You can talk while I do it.’ She opens cupboards looking for a saucepan.

‘Can’t I just sit and watch’ he says wistfully. ‘Like we used to?’

‘Oh, Nathan’ Jessie sets the pan on the hob and turns to gently brush a hand over his hair.

Dell Cottage

Washbrook Lane

Chapter One