‘I’m going to miss having you around, I’ve got quite used to you being here’ Kester washes Alfie’s water bowl and hands it to Helen to dry.

‘I think I’m going to miss being here too’ Helen looks around the kitchen, tea towel in hand before tucking the bowl into Alfie’s basket along with his toys.

‘You are going to be alright…on your own, aren’t you?’ he turns back to the sink.

‘Kester, I’m going to be more alright on my own that I have been for a very long while’

‘Oh…okay then. Fair enough. I know when I’m not wanted’ He grins as he puts another washed bowl and a fork on the draining board.

Helen prods him playfully. ‘You don’t need looking after now and I do have work to go to’

‘We’re ok, though. Yeah?’ Kester asks, drying his hands on one end of the tea towel she holds.

‘Of course we are. This weekend has been……’ Her face clouds momentarily. ‘I was going to say ‘fun’ then…’

Kester brushes his knuckles against her cheek. ‘It has been. Don’t forget, without all that upset, there wouldn’t be any ‘us’…not yet, anyway. That’s got to be good, hasn’t it? It is as far as I’m concerned. It might’ve taken me months to wear you down!’ he laughs.

‘Oh, years!’ Helen looks to the ceiling and sighs. She pats his chest. ‘I’m going home… not leaving you’ she smiles and reaches to kiss him briefly on the lips. ‘I’ve still got a dinner to claim!’

She packs the rest of Alfie’s belongings into his basket and opens the door to the cat carrier that sits on the window seat.  She bends, looking under the table for Alfie. Straightening, she spots Kester staring at her with a grin on his face. ‘Now what have I done that’s so funny?’

‘You realise what you just did?’

‘No….what?’

‘You… kissed ME. That’s the first time you’ve done that’

Helen slowly pushes her fingers through the hair at the top of her head and lets her hand rest at the nape of her neck. She smiles her amazement ‘I did, didn’t I?’

‘You know how good that makes me feel?’

‘It feels pretty good to me come to think about it’ Her eyes dance.

‘Good enough to do it again?’

Tawny House, Manor Road

The Annexe

Chapter Six

The Allotments

‘S’funny you being here’ George Harris declares as Charlie Smith munches on a chocolate digestive. ‘Ernie usually sits where you is’

‘’Thought I’d have a look about, see if his bit were being kept up t’scratch while he ain’t ere’ Charlie picks crumbs from the front of his woolly pullover and pops them into his mouth.

‘You checking up on me?’ George prods him with a muddy finger.

‘Nah, yer daft begger. I knows you ain’t been feeling all that, what wi’yer back. I’d’ve had a look at yours an’ all iffin you ain’t been ere’

‘That were good on yer, Charlie. Much appreciated’ George nods his gratitude. ‘Me arse don’t gimme gyp now but t’be honest, it ain’t the same, coming down ere…not wi’out Ernie’ He sighs and pours more tea from his flask into their two mugs.

Charlie raises his mug in thanks before taking a sip. ‘Usually somebody about though int there?’

‘In’t like havin a natter with’im though…begging yer pardon …not that I don’t like yer comp’ny’

‘Well, I ain’t got no fancy woman t’be talking about, if tha’s what yer after’ Charlie cackles. ‘Cor! That were a shock an’ arf I can tell yer. Who’d a thought it? Very near blew Edna’s ‘at off!’

‘Think it surprised a lotta folk’ George replies gravely.

‘An’ e’s got a lad an’all, so I hear’

‘Tha’s right. I didn’t know ‘bout that…though I did know ‘bout his lady friend’

‘Been cheaper t’run ‘er over wi’ one a his trucks!’ Charlie slaps his hand on his knee as he laughs.

‘Spect e thought a that a time a two’ George grins wickedly.

‘She’s a tartar in’t she? Mind you…I wouldn’t a minded gi’ing it a go a two when she were younger’

‘Cor lummy…you don’t want t’let your Edna hear yer talking like that!’

‘Aye… More’n me life’d been worth. She’d a cut it orf n’ pegged it on the line fer folk t’see!’ Charlie swigs the last of the lukewarm tea and wipes his mouth with the back of this hand. ’She tells me Jessie said that lad a yours is seeing the gal from the library…now there’s another one what stirs a mem’ry or two’

‘You ain’t wrong there boy…and a bit more’n a memory!’