Sandra lowers her eyes shyly as the man smiles and opens the door to his room with the pass card. She giggles as he turns on the lights and dims them almost immediately.

‘It’s…’

‘A suite…yes. There are times when only the best will do’ he pulls his bow tie undone ‘Thank God I don’t wear one of those very often!’ He dips his head, seeming almost as nervous as she does.

She laughs softly and puts a hand on his chest. ‘And this is one of those times?’

He looks at her and smiles, tentatively putting his arms around her ‘ I hoped so…but not if you don’t want it to be…but I had to try, I had to know’

‘But The Honeymoon Suite?’ She raises her eyebrows, smirking.

‘We didn’t really have a honeymoon, did we? Not a proper one’

‘Oh Tim! You fool…you…’ Sandra starts to laugh ‘James?’ she giggles.

‘It’s the only way I could do it…pretending to be someone else…someone I wasn’t. Did I manage charming and sophisticated?’

‘I thought you were a waiter’

Tim snorts ‘A total waste of time then’

‘No….I wouldn’t say that’ she murmurs softly.

‘There’s champagne and strawberries…the works!’ He says with almost boyish enthusiasm.

‘Sounds wonderful’

‘I love you Sandra’

‘And I love you too’

‘We’ll make it, won’t we? We’ll get through this? You wouldn’t have come up here if…’ His voice trails away ‘If we weren’t going to try’ he finishes in an anxious whisper.

‘No…I wouldn’t’ She says quietly, raising her face. Their tears mingle as they kiss.

The Petersbury Country Hotel

Chapter Seven

Samms Plant Hire, Oatfield

Ingrid leans over her desk and grabs the telephone, carefully lifting the cord over her computer as she manoeuvres her way to her chair as she answers.

‘Samms Plant Hire, good morning, how can I help you?…………….Oh, hello. Is Charlene not well?……………..’ Ingrid  frowns slightly, looking puzzled. ‘Yes…yes, of course, I’ll ring off the second I see her coming… She’s not here yet, I haven’t even taken my coat off myself…………What can I do for you, is there a problem?……………..Mrs. Baker, of course it doesn’t matter that you’ve rung. If something’s troubling Charlene…………….I know she does, that’s obvious, she’s really settled in well…………….’

Ingrid listens as she unbuttons her coat. She pauses at the top button as Christine Baker comes to the point.

‘Why on earth would we want to sack her?....………………Oh my word……You’re joking………’ Ingrid flushes with anger. ‘No, of course not….Silly girl, why on earth would she think that?………….No, I’m glad you rang, thank you….I will, I’ll talk to her as soon as I get chance, we’re a bit busy this morning but you’re not to worry, I promise you’ Her face sets determinedly. ‘ ……………..That might be a difficult but I’ll try….that means she’ll have to tell me if I can’t say you rang…but I’ll get round it somehow, don’t worry……………….Yes…thank you. No, I don’t mind at all, I’m very glad you did…..Bye Mrs. Baker’

'That bloody girl!' Ingrid fumes as she replaces the receiver. 'Poor Charlene!'

The Old Mill Cafe

‘Has anyone seen Evelyn lately?’ Kathleen asks casually ‘Just wondering. She wasn’t at the W.I. last week either, was she?’

‘Now, who was it that was tellin’ me she’d took ‘erself off on holiday?’ Edna puzzles ‘It’ll come t’me in a minute’

‘On holiday? So much for being destitute and left without a penny!’ Kath licks her finger and collects a stray currant left from her teacake and pops it into her mouth.

‘Hmm…tha’s what thought an’ all!’

‘I could do with a holiday myself. I hate this time of year, don’t you?’

‘Dark and miserable, I can’t seem t’get warm’ Edna gives a little shiver to demonstrate.

‘Know what you mean’ Kath turns to Jessie and puts a hand on her arm. ‘You’re quiet, Jess. Everything okay?’

‘Mmm?’ Jessie blinks and looks up, seeming confused at seeing Kathleen in front of her. ‘Oh, yes...I’m fine’ she smiles. ‘I was miles away’

‘Our Sandra not coming today?’ Kathleen asks, dipping her head to look beneath the painted sign on the window as though she expects to see Sandra walking towards the café.

‘No, not today…’ Jessie flusters a little ‘…er…she said something about having to go to some meeting or other…publishers, I think…up in London…be away a couple of days. Think that’s what she said’ She flourishes a handkerchief and blows her nose unnecessarily to cover her guilty blush.

‘You is in a dream t’day! What’s up wi’yer?’ Edna gives her a teasing prod.

‘Nothing…a bit off, that’s all…tired...I think I might be getting a cold’

‘You keep away from me then! My Charlie’s a martyr to his chest. Ere! You heard ‘bout that gal from the library? Pregnant, so Liz reckons’ Edna imparts the gossip in a hoarse whisper.

‘No, that can’t be true’ Jessie says wearily ‘George would’ve said something’

‘I weren’t reckonin on im bein’ the father!’ Edna hoots, grinning at Kathleen.

‘I didn’t think you were…but…if you meant Kester was…George would know, he’d know if something was worrying the boy’

‘P’raps e ain’t worried none!’ Edna nods her conviction.

‘He’d have said something to him, whatever’ Jessie sighs.

‘Cor, you ain’t arf got a cob on, int yer?’

‘Sorry. Just tired. I think I’ll go home now…but…for the record, I don’t think you can be right…She wasn’t very well…her monthly not very well after that to do with Nathan and Kester…so she can’t be’

‘Oh…well, I’m only saying what I heard’

‘Well, you heard wrong then, didn’t you? I’ll see you girls soon’

‘Whatever’s up wi’er?’ Edna asks as Jessie carefully closes the door and pauses briefly in the doorway before deciding which way to walk.

‘I don’t know. Perhaps her and George have had a falling out…but she does look tired. She won’t admit she’s getting on a bit, that’s her trouble. You can’t be tearing round, not at her age’ Kath pours more hot water into the stainless steel teapot.

The Village Library

‘Hi…I was passing, thought I’d pop in. We still on for tonight?’ Kester finds Helen in the reference section of the library.

Helen turns her head from the notice board and smiles wanly. ‘Yes..yes…that’ll be fine’ She presses two drawing pins home at the top of a poster.

Kester puts one hand to her back and touches the knuckles of the other to her cheek. ‘You ok? You look a bit pale..’

‘Not here!’ She hisses, glancing towards the tables at the far end of the room where people are reading and beyond to a busy rank of computers.

He lets his hands drop ‘Sorry…Does it really matter?’

‘This is where I work’

‘Ok. I’ll wear a suit next time so I don’t show you up. I just grabbed five minutes. I’m working too …. down the road’

‘It’s not that! Helen turns back to the notice board ‘I have to set an example. I can’t…’

‘Have a quick snog while on duty?’ Kester breathes against her ear. ‘Hey!’ He jumps and turns to see Marie standing behind him looking innocent. He rubs his buttock. ‘I might’ve known. That flipping hurt!’

Marie grins ‘Hi gorgeous. How’s you?’

‘I’m well. You?’ He smiles in return and gives her an affectionate hug.

‘Great thanks. It’s good to see you….’

‘Don’t go!’ Out of the corner of his eye, Kester sees Helen move and sidesteps to cut her off as she tries to walk away.

‘I’ve got things to do’ She looks between Kester and Marie, her face flushed.

‘So have I’ Marie grins ‘But I just couldn’t resist. Don’t let me interrupt. It’s brilliant, by the way’

Helen looks at her enquiringly.

‘You two!’

‘Thanks’ Kester smiles

‘Er…yes…thank you’ Helen nods pointedly to the counter where three people are waiting to have their books checked.

‘Ok’ Marie scuttles off, still smiling.

‘So? Aren’t you feeling so good?’ Kester asks, following Helen to the door of the office.

‘I’m fine…a little tired that’s all’ Helen continues the whispered conversation.

‘Want a rain check on tonight? We could stay in’ he offers.

‘No…no…we’ll go. It’s ok’

‘But it’ll be late…best you have an early night by the look of it. We can always book for another time’

‘But the tickets…’

‘I’ll ring them…it’s not a problem. I was collecting them at the box office anyway. They can resell them...no worries. You get an early night. Nothing wrong though?’

‘No…just not sleeping’

‘Any reason?’ He looks at her with concern.

‘Kester..I’m sorry…I can’t talk right now’ she evades.

‘I’ll be round’ he decides ‘I’ll come early and go early. We can talk then’

‘No..Kester…please’

‘I’ll be round’ he says determinedly. ‘Don’t cook…I’ll bring something in. Take-away of some sort’

‘Kester…I…’

‘See you later’

‘Dunno what y’got yerself in such a state for’ George pours Jessie a cup of tea and takes it from the table to the chair where she sits huddled in her coat.

‘It’s knowing if I’ve done the right thing’ She takes the tea and sips gratefully.

‘I ain’t t’know that lessin I knows what yer bloomin talking about!’ George grumbles and sits down with a groan and a sigh.

‘Do I get too involved in other people’s business, George, do I?’

‘Sometimes, gal, but only cos you’re the sort a person you is, likes to ‘elp’

‘Not that I’m interfering?’

‘Depends how yer wants t’look at it. I wouldn’t say you was…..but some’un else might say you is’

Jessie sighs deeply ‘Oh well, too late now, the deed is done. No good worrying about it’

‘I wish I knew what you were bloody on about!’

4 Pike Lane