‘You finish your lunch, I’ll get that’ Helen gets up from the table, putting her hand on Kester’s shoulder and pushing him back onto his chair.

‘Yes, ma’am’ He smiles and picks up his sandwich again. He listens as he chews, leaning back and rocking the chair onto two legs in an attempt to see into the hall.

‘But I’ve come to see Kester’ A voice says petulantly.

‘I’m sorry, Mister James isn’t seeing anyone today but I can pass on a message for you’

‘Lenny?’ Kester grins as he steps from the kitchen.

‘Kes!’ Leonie Ward rushes past Helen to throw her arms around Kester’s neck ‘Oh, God! I’ve been so worried. Dad wouldn’t let me come before, he said it was too soon but I wanted to see you, I really did’ She hugs him tightly, reaching to kiss his cheek. ‘Are you ok…were you hurt? They said not but I had to come see for myself’ She kisses him again.

‘I’m just fine’ Kester smiles down at her, his hands linked behind her back. ‘I’m being well looked after’ He looks over Leonie’s head to Helen, still standing by the open front door ‘Have you met Helen?’ he asks, dropping his arms.

Leonie looks up before she turns round, seeing the way his eyes shine as he smiles in Helen’s direction and feeling a pang of jealousy. ‘I think I might have seen you around’ she says dismissively.

‘Leonie Ward, otherwise known as Lenny…Helen Marchant, otherwise known as…haven’t made up a name for her yet’ he grins as he makes the introductions ‘Me, Nathan and her brother Andy are mates’ he explains for Helen’s benefit.

‘Nice to meet you’ Helen smiles, pushing her hair behind one ear and pulling her sweater down over her stomach. ‘Sorry about the unfriendly welcome but..’

‘I was thinking of unscrewing the doorbell’ Kester finishes for her ‘Come on in. We’re in the kitchen’

‘Just having some lunch…Can I get you something…a sandwich…coffee?’ Helen offers.

‘No…it’s ok. I only came to see how Kester was and if there was anything I could do but I see it’s all being taken care of’

‘There’s always the washing up’ Kester grins, sitting at the table again.

‘Kester, honestly’ Helen rolls her eyes ‘Don’t take any notice of him, Leonie, he’s got a dishwasher’

‘Yes, I know that…from when I’ve been before’

Helen blinks, a slight flush colours her cheeks ‘Yes…. of course’ She turns away and takes the few steps to the hob. ‘Kester, would you like more coffee?’ she asks without turning round. ‘It’s still hot’ she adds, touching her hand to the pot.

‘Mmm…yes please. She makes great coffee’ he says to Leonie and lifts his head as he takes another bite from his sandwich, his eyes meeting Helen’s as she turns, coffee pot in hand. He pauses, confused as her lashes lower and she refills his mug without looking at him.

‘Oh, you’ve got a cat!’ Leonie beams delightedly and crosses the room to the window seat.

‘That’s Alfie’ Kester mumbles through bread and ham, chewing and swallowing, ready to explain.

‘He’s gorgeous!’ Leonie sits next to the curled form, stroking his head and grinning when he stretches out a lazy paw. ‘Hello…aren’t you sweet…’ She tickles him under the chin.

‘He belongs to Helen. Helen is looking after me so it made sense for Alfie to come here as well. Save people having to go in to feed him. She went and picked him up from her place earlier on. He seems to have made himself right at home’ he chuckles.

‘Oh’ Leonie’s face falls ‘Not yours then’

‘Nope. Poor little sod wouldn’t get fed if he belonged to me. You know what I’m like’ Kester wipes his mouth with his hand and gets up from the table to stand at Helen’s side. He threads his fingers through hers and squeezes affectionately. He smiles down at Leonie and Alfie. ‘He seems to like you too. Got half the village females dancing attendance on him already’

‘Bit like you, then’ Leonie remarks with a meaningful smile at Helen.

‘Yep….bit like me’ Kester agrees with a tight smile in return.

‘Anyway, glad you’re ok. I was very worried. I think I got all the details about what happened from the paper…but I thought I’d come and say hello’

‘That was nice of you, thanks’ Kester says looking at her in surprise as she gets up to go.

‘I’ll see you another time, maybe? We can chat then’ She excludes Helen with a slight turn of her shoulder.

Helen smiles and releases her hand from Kester’s ‘Lovely to meet you, Leonie…but if you’ll excuse me…’ She glances at Kester ‘Back in a minute’

Helen hurries from the kitchen and her footsteps sound on the stairs. The bathroom door closes overhead.

‘It was really nice of you to come’ Kester repeats, leading the way into the hall. ‘We’ll catch up soon. You and Andy will have to come round when he’s back…him and the missus…Nathan…. We’ll make a night of it’

‘That’d be nice’ Leonie smiles and lays her hand on his chest.

‘It will, long time since we’ve had a get together…all of us. Thanks Lenny. Love to your Mum and Dad’ He reaches one hand for the door.

Leonie slides her arms around Kester’s neck and pulls his head down to hers, kissing him on the mouth.

Kester closes his lips tightly and puts his hands behind his head trying to disentangle himself. ‘Lenny!’ he growls in surprise.

‘You could have been killed’ she says desperately ‘and I would never have seen you again’

‘But I wasn’t…I’m fine now…or will be very soon’ He smiles gently, holding her hands in front of him. ‘Let’s just worry about Nathan, eh?’

‘But…’

‘No, Lenny…apart from it not being right…I’m with Helen now’

‘What’s not right about it?’ Leonie pouts.

‘You’re Andy’s sister’

‘So?’

‘Len-ny’ Kester sighs ‘Let’s not fall out. I’ll see you soon. Ok?’ He gives her hands a brief squeeze and smiles. ‘Tell Andy I’ll ring him as soon as I know when Nathan’s going to be up to it. Go on…get gone’ He smiles again and kisses her forehead before letting go of her hands and opening the door.

Leonie glances up the stairs and with a sly smile, tiptoes to kiss him again. ‘Bye, Kes’ She lays her hand against his cheek as she brushes her lips against his, looking lovingly into his eyes before stepping outside.

Kester turns after closing the door, shaking his head and smiling to himself. He looks up to see Helen standing at the top of the stairs and his smile broadens. Helen looks down at him thoughtfully.

‘You ok?’

‘Yes, I’m fine’ Helen pushes her hair behind her ear as she passes him and walks into the living room.

‘Hey!’ Kester follows ‘What’s up?’ He looks on in confusion as Helen picks up the cat carrier from behind the door. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I saw. Ok?’

‘Saw what?’ He runs a hand through his hair, bewildered at her change in mood.

‘You kissing Leonie’

‘On the forehead?’ he scoffs with a laugh ‘Bloody hell, Helen, there’s jealous and there’s sodding ridiculous’ he teases.

‘No, not on the forehead’ Helen’s says with a sigh of acceptance and an indulgent smile.

‘That was her kissing me!’ he protests.

‘There’s a difference?’ Helen tries to get past him.

‘Yes there flaming well is when you’re trying to get her off you!’

‘I didn’t see much evidence of that’ She laughs brightly and turns sideways again trying to squeeze by.

Kester takes the carrier from her hand and throws it to the middle of the room. ‘Then you weren’t watching. Did you hear what I was saying or are you going to make up your own version of that too?’ He holds her by the shoulders and dips his head to look directly into her face ‘Well, did you?’

Helen stares back, unblinking. ‘Kester, I’m very grateful for what you and Harriet have done for me. You’ve given me your friendship and support and that’s wonderful. You personally have made me feel….comfortable….with a man for the first time since I was attacked but you really don’t have to go any further than that. I’m not going to fall to pieces while you’re not looking. I’m more than happy to have you as my friend but…’

‘Helen…what are you saying? You’re not saying you don’t want to go out with me now are you?’ A shadow of apprehension crosses his face.

‘Kester….Leonie is pretty….she’s slim… and obviously likes you an awful lot…and has no qualms about letting you… or me… know. Perhaps it was her kissing you…but…I can see how fond of her you are....so..’ She lifts her shoulders in a shrug.

‘Yes…I’m fond of her’ Kester says with a frown. ‘Fond of her like a brother might be….’ He pauses. ‘No… If this is going to be some sort of truth or dare thing…I’ll do it right. No half truths. Perhaps I would’ve gone for it if things had been different… she is very fanciable…I flirt with her… but there has never been anything more than that. She did kiss me and nobody was more surprised than I was. If you’re thinking of saying I shouldn’t have led her on…then you’re probably right but I have never meant for her to take things seriously and she never has…. or so I thought. I did not kiss her…I promise you’

‘But you were talking about me…I might not have caught much of what you were saying but I did make out my name.’

‘Yes, you did. I was trying to tell her what she was doing was wrong and anyway, I was with you now’

‘But you needn’t be.  And that is what I’m trying to tell you’ Helen smiles and rubs his chin affectionately with her knuckles. ‘You look good together’

‘We look good together’ he huffs.

‘Kester…she’s your sort of girl and so pretty…’

‘But you  …’ Kester takes her face between his hands ‘...are beautiful…And I can’t tell you what my stomach’s doing now at the thought of you giving up on us before we’ve even got started. Please don’t do this to me, Helen. Tell me this is only crossed wires’

Helen blinks slowly, her smile uncertain.

Kester moves his thumbs to gently wipe the dampness from the corners of her eyes. ‘Tell me you don’t really feel this way’

‘No’ she admits in a barely audible whisper.

He gazes into her eyes, watching for the warmth to return, smiling gently as his thumbs brush her cheeks, choosing his moment to lift her chin and slowly lower his mouth to hers. His sigh of relief as she relaxes blows warm on her cheek and the kiss deepens. As he lifts his head, his arms cross behind her back and he holds her close. ‘Silly girl’ he murmurs, pressing his lips to the crown of her hair as she rests against his chest. Feeling her tremble, he eases away, looking down. ‘That bad, huh?’ he grimaces, seeing the tears on her cheeks.

Helen smiles and shakes her head. ‘I can hear your heart thumping’ She lays her hand where her head had been.

‘I didn’t know quite how you'd react…If it was too soon’

‘You were nervous?’ she whispers.

‘Uh huh’ Kester draws her close again. ‘I want everything to be right....right for you’

Her arms circle his waist. ‘I think they will be’ She steps back, laughing as tears stream down her face and looks up at him as she wipes them away. ‘I’m sorry’

Kester chuckles and cups her chin in his hand, kissing each of her eyelids in turn. ‘It’s fine’

They grin at each other and Helen lifts her fingers to wipe beneath his eyes. ‘This time it is’

Tawny House, Manor Road

Chapter Six