Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER ONE

George Harris causes a stir when he appears in the street in what seems to be his underwear but, in a bid to get fit and to avoid another lecture from his doctor, he has taken up running with local plumber, Kester James.

Kester is persuaded by his grandmother to pose for one of her paintings and was astonished to learn that Harriet has also used local librarian, the prim Helen Marchant, as a model. Although he insists that Helen is not his type, Harriet is not convinced.

Jessie Shepherd learns the truth from Nathan Samms about the gossip surrounding him and the fifteen-year-old daughter of Vince Wilson, a property developer. With the prospect of a further contract in the offing to keep quiet about an incident at Wilson’s house, Nathan has said nothing in his defence. After talking it through with Jessie and doubtful of the reason Wilson gave for the need to keep quiet, Nathan decides to go and see him in the hope he can put a stop to the slander.

CHAPTER TWO

Jessie Shepherd nags Nathan Samms about going to see Vince Wilson despite the gossip about him and Wilson’s daughter having seemingly died down but when Nathan meets Leonie Ward, it is her attitude towards him when they have been friends for such a long time that nudges him out of his complacency and he visits Wilson’s house. Danielle Wilson is furious that he was not there to rekindle their relationship and Nathan sees her for the sort of person she really is. He tells her to pass on the message that he does not want the contract and leaves. On hearing the news, Vince Wilson storms to Nathan’s office, demanding to know what is going on, believing Nathan wants money in addition to keep quiet. He calms but refuses to accept that Nathan will not take the contract and tells him to give it some more thought. His version of Danielle’s attachment for Lindsay is at odds with what Nathan knows but Nathan decides not to put him right. Meanwhile, Leonie voices her concerns to her mother about Lindsay Wilson’s connection to local gangster Gerry Bartlett and Marilyn is worried that Nathan may be involved with him too.

Elsewhere in the village, Helen Marchant is distraught when her cat, Alfie, is badly hurt in a road traffic accident and Kester James almost knocks her down as she runs from the veterinary surgery. He manages to persuade her to let him drive her home but her frostiness towards him is still plain. He loses his temper when she rebuffs his offers of support and Harriet has a few sharp words of her own to give her.

Much to her delight, Jessie Shepherd has been immortalised in illustrations that Sandra Mossop has produced for a forthcoming children’s book and is tickled pink that if the drawings are accepted, her face will appear as ‘Mildred Mould’ a witch.

CHAPTER THREE

Jessie Shepherd and Evelyn Knowles fall out when Evelyn mocks her excitement about the possibility of appearing in illustrations for a children’s book. In sympathising with her, Liz Applewhite, who runs the newsagents, lets slip that she knows something about Ernie but refuses to be pressed into saying more, directing Jessie to George Harris, the only other person who she felt might know. Jessie is astounded and initially appalled to learn from George that Ernie Knowles was leading a double life and had been carrying on an affair for almost forty years, which had ended only with the recent death of the other woman.

Andrew Ward goes to see Nathan Samms after his sister pesters him with her concerns that Nathan is involved with the local underworld. He tells Nathan that Vince Wilson is an associate of Roy Denton, a prominent member of Gerry Bartlett’s gang. When an inebriated Wilson accosts Nathan outside a local pub saying that he hadn’t heard from him about the contract he was offering, Nathan turns him down again. He tries to show him up in front of other customers but Nathan retaliates, telling everyone that he would rather beg in the street than work for him. Wilson visits the yard to apologise for his behaviour but ends up hitting Nathan. He maintains that he has no idea what Nathan is talking about. Nathan insists that he is lying and sends him into a fury by telling him that his daughter is working for Roy Denton as one of his girls.

Helen Marchant tries to apologise to Kester James but annoys him again by snapping at him. When Harriet James visits her later in the day, she tries to paint Kester in a more favourable light; laughing when Helen admits that he made her nervous and offering Helen some advice about village life, telling her that people are generally well meaning and that she should be a little less defensive towards them and to try smiling if she wants to make friends. She invites Helen to her pre-Christmas dinner party to meet some of the villagers in a social setting in the hope that she will become more relaxed in their company.

Ernie and Evelyn Knowles argue about their arrangement, or lack of them, for Christmas. Usually spending Christmas Day with her brother, Evelyn presumes that they will be going to a hotel, while Ernie thought that she would make Christmas at home. Ernie tells her that he will fly out to Canada on his own to see their daughter. Unable to get a flight, his plans are ruined but Evelyn, in the meantime, has been telling everyone that is where she is going.

Helen’s cat, Alfie, is home after his stay at the vets following his accident. Jessie Shepherd persuades the happy and newly approachable Helen to let her cat sit while she is at work.

CHAPTER FOUR

Sandra Mossop is upset that Jessie Shepherd seems to be having second thoughts about her role as Mildred Mould but in confiding her concerns to Kathleen Wishart she learns the truth behind Jessie’s reluctance.

Harriet James tries to ease the friction between her grandson Kester and Helen Marchant ahead of her pre-Christmas dinner. The party goes well and the couple seem at last to have settled their differences.

Evelyn Knowles is annoyed rather than upset that her husband Ernie seems to have disappeared. When told by George Harris that Ernie has left her, she insists that George must know where he has gone although George denies it.

Ernie, meanwhile has returned to Leytonmore to visit the grave of his lost love and determined to tell their son the truth of his double life. He is devastated when his son is hurt and angry at the revelation and disowns him.

Christmas Day in the village and Jessie is both astonished and thrilled when many of her loved ones turn up unexpectedly to share the day. Kester James is on call and offers Helen Marchant a lift, which she is happy to accept. When he calls at the house later, she invites him to lunch. Evelyn looks for Ernie at The White Horse and meets her match In Vivienne the barmaid.

Nathan Samms' run in with Vince Wilson has caused problems for Danielle. She goes to see Roy Denton at his club in Woodbury and tells him she needs to stay home to keep Vince sweet.

CHAPTER FIVE

Ernie Knowles returns home to face Evelyn, to tell her about his affair and that he is leaving to try and put his life ‘right’. She reacts in a typically selfish way and Ernie leaves without telling her that he has another son, Michael.  He tells all to Jessie and George and how Michael has disowned him after learning the truth of his parents’ relationship. His other son, Anthony, startles him by telling him that he has known about his affair for some years and is delighted to learn he has a half brother.

Nathan is attacked and both he and Kester are kidnapped and held in a lock up. Charlene witnesses the assault and she and her mother tail the van that the two men were forced into and traces them to the site where they are being held. Thanks to her intervention, Nathan survives a brutal beating and the police are given enough information to affect an arrest. Lindsay Wilson confesses to her father that Danielle and Roy were involved and to her own participation in their criminal activities. Vince is angry and lashes out; later apologising and telling her she needs to inform the police. Danielle Wilson is arrested.

Helen calls to see Harriet on hearing news of the attack and is surprised to find that Kester is home. She takes over from Harriet to allow her to rest and spends the rest of the day looking after him. The evening ends in turmoil after Ruth, Kester’s mother, arrives and recognises Helen as being a victim of rape. Distraught and in hysterics after Ruth spitefully makes it known, Helen is comforted by Kester and Harriet.

Kester recognises his feelings for Helen when he believes he and Nathan were about to be killed and he admits that she is special to him, telling her that Ruth’s revelations have made no difference to the way he feels. Although reassured by his words, Helen fails to grasp his true meaning until later when he decides he should try again to explain how much she means to him and asks her out. Hesitant and still guarded, she agrees to go out with him.