‘Something in the offing then, you reckon?’  Nathan lifts his eyebrows and pushes the drawer of the filing cabinet closed with his hip.

‘Well, I don’t know’ Ingrid says with a slow smile ‘but put it this way, he stayed for dinner after he dropped her off and they spent the rest of the evening going through the pros and cons of every house they’d looked at and drawing up a short list of the ones he should actually go and view. He wasn’t in any hurry to get back to his bed and breakfast place and she wasn’t in any rush to see him go’ she taps the side of her nose ‘She could do a lot worse’

‘Bit on the rebound though, isn’t it?’

‘Oh, I’m not saying anything like that’s definitely going to happen but they got on really well, relaxed, you know?’

‘Yeah’ Nathan nods absently as he reads ‘Did we get that quote out to Greer?’ he hurriedly flicks through the papers in the file ‘Nothing here, shit!’ he grunts and looks accusingly at Ingrid ‘He rang me earlier, spitting feathers and saying if we didn’t want the job, he’d soon find someone who did and I got a ten minute ear bashing on him not being surprised this country is going to the dogs if this is the way we run a business’

‘I’m positive we sent one’ she looks over his shoulder and frowns ‘What did you say to him?’

‘That I was on site and I’d sort it as soon I got back. What else was I supposed to tell him? We can’t afford to lose business like this!’ his teeth clench as he slaps the file into her hand ‘It’s not good enough, Ingrid. Get it done now’

‘Sure....no problem. You want me to run it over there when I’ve done it?’

‘No, I will. I’ll probably need to do some more sweet-talking if we’re going to hang onto this contract. I hate bloody grovelling!’

‘Sorry, I don’t know how it could have happened, honestly I don’t’

‘Yeah, well, just do it, okay?’ Nathan slumps onto his chair and pushes a hand through his hair ‘I want you to look back over everything we’ve had dealings with over the last...say three months ...no, make it four’

‘Why?’ Ingrid stands with her hand on the door and looks taken aback ‘I know that covers a slow time of year but that’s still one helluva lot of work’

‘Oh, I dunno...I expected a bigger take up than we have been having, a couple of contracts in there I definitely expected to get. Just do it, Ingrid, I don’t care how long it takes’ He rolls his shoulders to ease the tension in his neck ‘Perhaps we’re coming in on the high side’ he puffs his cheeks and blows ‘I wouldn’t’ve thought so but we need to follow things up, make calls if they’re slow in getting back. It might give us chance to revise our estimates, put in better bids’

‘There doesn’t seem to’ve been any down turn in the amount of work we’re getting. Lot of firms round here would be glad to be able to say the same’

‘Bread and butter stuff’ Nathan rasps a hand over his chin ‘We need the big contracts. Things seem to be picking up but we’re not getting a sniff at the real money’

‘Are we in trouble?’ Ingrid asks after pushing the door to the outer office closed again ‘I thought we were holding our own’

‘We’re not up shit creek if that’s what you’re thinking. No, we’ve done bloody well considering how much of our work is linked to the building trade but we’re not getting as big a share of the work out there as I reckon we should be getting and that worries me’

Samms Plant Hire, Oatfield

Chapter Thirty-five

The White Horse

‘I’ll miss you’ Vivienne says with a smile, setting another pint of bitter on the bar towel  in front of Daniel  and ringing in the sale ‘What am I going to do for crumpet when you’ve gone?’

Daniel laughs and sucks his first mouthful of beer. ‘You do alright’ he says, wiping his mouth and holding out his hand for his change ‘You’re never short of company’

‘No’ Viv sighs and leans on the bar to cast a jaded eye over the clientele ‘One mention of strip dominoes and I’m outta here! Pension day’ she remarks glumly ‘the smell of stale baccy and stains I’d rather not mention’ she sighs again ‘My cup runneth over’

‘It sure does at the moment’ Daniel winks and nods downwards.

She looks down and immediately unfolds her arms, pulling at the neck edge of her top as she stands up. She straightens the shoulder seams and refastens the button ‘It’s a wonder one of them lot didn’t have a heart attack’ her eyes crinkle and she wheezes a laugh ‘Thanks’

‘No, thank you’ he grins.

‘Any time, glad I’ve brightened your day, cheeky sod’ she rolls her eyes in return and takes up her previous position but with more care. ‘We don’t usually see you of a lunchtime’

‘I’ve been sorting a few things out back at the cottage and I thought bugger this, I’m going for a pint. God knows how I’ve managed to collect so much junk in such a short time’

‘Oh, I know what you mean. I reckon the only thing stopping my roof caving in is the amount of rubbish in the loft. I daren’t move house, I wouldn’t know where to start’

‘You been here long then...in the village, I mean?’ Daniel asks.

‘Oh, long enough not to be a ‘foreigner’’ Viv replies with a closed-lipped smile ‘but I’m still an outsider’

‘I thought all that went out with the ark’

‘Noooo, don’t you believe it’ she says, looking up and giving him a look of weary acceptance ‘Oh, it’s not as bad as it was; it was almost a closed community up until quite recently, everybody  was up in arms when they got planning permission for the Orchard Estate’

‘That surprises me’ Daniel rests his glass on the bar and leans his arm against the wood as he turns to survey the room and the people in it.  ‘I’ve never felt I couldn’t fit in, everyone’s friendly and haven’t met anyone who’s treated me as though I didn’t belong’ he faces her again ‘I’ll miss being here’

‘Ah, yes...but you’ve got celebrity on your side’

‘Celebrity?’ he snorts his doubts.

‘Of course you’re a celebrity! We seem to attract people like you round here’

‘Like me?’ he says, leaning closer and purring the question ‘What am I like then, Viv?’

She looks at him for a long moment, flushing slightly at his closeness and the tone of his voice. Her head tilts from side to side as she deliberates ‘I don’t suppose you’re quite as recognisable, not to look at, as Chris James or his mother, although she doesn’t get out as much as she did, not now, but there doesn’t seem to be many days go by where you don’t see someone in the street and think ‘I know that face’. I think they like the fact nobody makes a fuss’

‘I asked you what I was like’ he repeats, his eyes holding her gaze without blinking.

‘You?’ she laughs, becoming flustered and breaking eye contact ‘That’d be telling, wouldn’t it?’ She winks and moves further down the bar, turning her smile on another customer ‘Yes, Harry...another half?’ she takes the man’s glass and walks back to the pump and nearer Daniel.

‘I’m going to miss you as well, you know’

‘I’ll believe you, thousands wouldn’t’ she grins, her hand still working the pump and watching the glass fill.

‘Really, you’re easy to talk to’

‘I’d be a fine barmaid if I wasn’t’ she shrugs off the compliment, slowing the flow of beer and straightening the glass as the head rises further to the top ‘How’s that girl of yours? Lovely kid’

‘Thank you. She’s fine. Back at school and studying hard’

Viv serves Harry and spends a short while chatting before returning to Daniel ‘I sometimes think I missed out, not having a girl to knock about with. That would’ve been fun’

‘You’ve got children?’ Daniel asks, sounding more interested than surprised.

‘Best not talked about’ she evades and takes a cloth to wipe drip marks from the bar top.

‘Oh, okay’

‘It’d take too long, that’s all’ she says, rubbing the wood to its previous shine ‘So you’ll be back, you were saying?’

‘Every now and again. I’ve made some good friends I don’t want to lose touch with...and there’s coming to see you, of course’

‘Oh, of course’ she gives him a sideways glance.

‘If you’re ever my way, it’d be good to see you’ he says seriously.

‘I wouldn’t fit into your world, darlin’ she tucks the cloth back in its place beneath the bar.

‘I’m only asking you to drop by; I hadn’t planned on marriage or anything’

‘I’d settle for a paper bag and the anything’ Viv grins gamely as she rinses her hands at the tiny sink.

‘Paper bag?’ Daniel looks mystified.

‘To put over me head!’ she laughs without much humour.

‘Don’t talk wet’ he puts his beer to one side and rests both arms on the bar as he talks to her ‘Why do I get the feeling you’re a bit down in the mouth today?’ he asks.

‘Oh, take no notice’ she finishes drying her hands and drops the paper towel in the waste bin ‘Feeling my age, that’s all’

‘Now you are talking daft. What are you trying to do, depress me? We’re about the same age!’

‘I wish!’ Viv gives a throaty chuckle ‘I’ve got to the stage now when ‘going south’ doesn’t mean nipping off to Ibiza’

‘Well, I think you’re a cracker’ he says simply and drains his glass.

‘Thanks, sweetheart’ she pinches his cheek between finger and thumb ‘Wish I could believe you’

‘Don’t see why you shouldn’t’ Daniel catches her hand and holds it for a moment ‘What about these blokes I see you with? They can’t all be in need of an eye test’

‘That’s different....’ she pulls her hand away ‘and not what it seems, alright?’ she points her finger at him ‘If you’ve been listening to gossip, me and you are going to fall out’

‘I haven’t been listening to anything!’ he protests, bewildered by the change in her mood.

‘Good! Well don’t’ with a toss of her head, she walks away from him and begins to tidy the shelf beneath the optics.

‘Viv, come back here’ he groans and moves opposite to where she is pretending to be busy. He leans over the bar ‘I’m sorry if I’ve said the wrong thing’ he says, just loud enough for her to hear ‘I’ve seen you out with one or two, that’s all. I was only saying we can’t all be wrong’

She turns, her face red ‘You’re wrong if you think there’s anything going on between me and whoever you’ve seen me out with. I should be so bloody lucky!’ she scowls ‘I’m not saying any more, okay?’

‘Fair enough’

‘And keep your gob shut. There’s enough busy-bodying around here as it is’

‘Okay!’ Daniel holds his palms forward in defence ‘Point taken’

‘You want another one of those?’ she gestures towards his empty glass.

‘No’ he shakes his head just once ‘I’d better shoot’ Daniel lingers for a few hesitant seconds ‘Viv’ he says, reaching into his inside pocket for his wallet ‘If you ever need anything...help....whatever...you call me, yeah?’ he clicks a card down on the bar. She sighs and he looks her in the eye ‘You’ll do it, right?’

Viv does not reply but her hand covers the card and draws it towards her.

Satisfied, he nods ‘I’ll be in again before I go; you haven’t got rid of me just yet. See you later’ he lifts his hand in goodbye and turns away.

Rose Cottage, Albans Lane

‘They do these tests’ Jessie sits red-eyed and clasping George’s hand ‘I don’t want it to be him’ she starts to cry afresh ‘I know I haven’t seen him in over fifty years....nearer sixty, it is... but I’d know, surely I would know?’

‘Come on, gal’ George puts his arm around her shoulder ‘I don’t likes t’see yer in such a takin’ he looks up to where Nathan sits forward in the chair he has pulled closer, his knees almost touching Jessie’s as he listens ‘Fetch ‘er a drop o’brandy, there’s a lad’

‘I don’t want brandy’ she shakes her head while she wipes her nose ‘I just want to know for certain’ Her knee starts to jump and she presses down on it with one hand ‘I don’t know why it should affect me like this. After all this time, you’d think I’d’ve given up hoping he was around somewhere’

‘I think brandy might be a good idea, just a small one, eh?’ Nathan says gently, his own eyes moist at seeing her so upset.

‘It all works, I don’t know how or why I didn’t think of it myself. It all makes sense, I can’t understand how I came to miss it and I’d still have missed it if Edna hadn’t said’

‘I wish she bloomin well ain’t!’ George blazes with annoyance ‘Right in middle o’the caff she told er, right in front a folk. I’ll ave a few words t’say t’Charlie when I sees ‘im. Tha’s a certain sure fact’

‘I’d have been upset wherever I was’ Jessie squeezes his hand again as if to calm him ‘It’s just that....’ her voice wavers again ‘I saw him abroad or somewhere ....making something of himself....not....down....a well’ she hiccoughs a sob but stays dry-eyed ‘I should have realised he would’ve come back .... or got word to us if he could. Deep down, I think I must’ve always known that. He was so close to Mum, he wouldn’t go off and not send word.....not done something to put her mind at rest, would he? I feel so awful; I called him ug dug to the devil ....when all the time.....’ she breaks down again ‘he was... down.... that ...well’

‘Shush now’ Nathan lays his hand on her lap.

‘It doesn’t.... bear... thinking about.... does it?’ she tries to control her sobs.

‘No’ he agrees gently ‘but you don’t know for certain it is him yet’

‘It has t’be don’t it?’ George grunts ‘Cos Edna bloomin Smith says it is!’

‘George, you’re not helping matters’ Nathan takes his eyes from Jessie to scowl at him ‘Why don’t you go and make some tea?’

‘Why don’t you go make some ruddy tea?’ he sputters angrily. ‘This ere’s me wife! I got a right t’see she’s alright so don’t you come tellin me what I gotta do!’

Nathan ignores him and holds Jessie’s hands, gently rubbing his thumbs over the backs of them ‘When have you got to go?’ he asks softly ‘Did you want me to come with you?’

‘I c’n see she gets there alright! I c’n make sure they don’t do nothing what’ll get ‘er all flummoxed. I int corned beef, yer know! ’

Jessie looks at George, gives him a small wavering smile and leans her head towards him ‘I could really do with some tea, George’  she confides ‘ It needs crutches when he makes it and it’s a nice strong cuppa I want....you know...like you make?’

‘Drop o’brandy in it?’ he replies in the same furtive whisper.

‘Just a teaspoonful’ she gives a tiny nod to seal the pact and turns her head back to Nathan.

‘They’re sending a car’ she says to Nathan’s bowed head.

George clears his throat ‘All this chankin’s made me dry’ he announces casually ‘Are yer sure yer don’t want a cuppa, gal?’

‘Oh!’ Jessie feigns surprise ‘Do you know, I think I will’

‘Right y’are’ he hauls himself to his feet ‘I’ll be two shakes on a donkey’s tail’ he ambles to the door as if hurrying might give away their secret.

Jessie waits a few moments to make sure he has gone ‘Stop it!’ she hisses and twists both of Nathan’s ears.

‘I’m sorry’ he looks up, almost bursting with suppressed laughter ‘but you play him...’

‘Like a fiddle, yes, I know’ she wipes the few remaining tears from her eyes ‘but I didn’t want you coming to blows. He’s only grouchy because...’

‘...he doesn’t like to see you upset’ Nathan finishes for her.

Jessie shakes her head ‘No...Not when it goes on for this long. He can’t cope with it then’ She takes a deep steadying breath ‘I feel a bit better now. I suppose it’ll get easier with the telling’ she concludes sadly. ‘Thanks for coming. I hope I haven’t taken you away from anything important but I needed to talk’

‘You’re important, okay?’ he leans further forward and puts his arms around her. ‘Me and George between us, we’ll get you through this, Jess, no worries’

‘I know you will’ she nestles her head against his sweater, sighing occasionally but drawing comfort from him ‘I’m not too worried ...not about the tests and I’ll have time to get used to the idea before they tell me one way or the other, won’t I?’

‘I should think so. I don’t suppose it’s instant like you see on the telly. They’ll probably tell you how long it’ll be when you go’ Nathan lapses into silence, rubbing her back until the trembling he feels subsides and stops ‘Jess?’

‘I’m nearly asleep’ she stirs and raises her head.

‘A little nap wouldn’t hurt. Put your feet up and I’ll go get a blanket’

‘I’ve got tea to drink yet’

‘Yeah....so you have’ He narrows his eyes ‘So mine needs crutches huh?’

'I had to tell him something' she tries to smile.

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