‘....so we ordered the birth certificate so we can have a look’

‘Can’t think why yer should want t’be bothered wi’such a fuss’ Edna sniffs ‘S’only a load a old bones’

‘That used to be a person once’ Jessie says quietly ‘and if I can find out who they were; they might mean something to somebody even if they don’t mean anything to you’

‘But you ain’t goin t’find out, are yer?  If your Clifford turns out to be your Clifford, which I s’pect ‘e will, then there ain’t no knowins who they are’

‘I can see why Jess wants to get the certificate though’ Kath puts in, stirring her coffee slowly ‘I think I’d have to know one way or other and it could be a different one, you never know’

‘Tha’s about as likely as me winnin’ the pools’ Edna cackles as she cuts her teacake in two ‘But if you want t’go wastin yer money on bits a paper t’tell yer what you already knows, I ain’t gonna stop yer’

‘When you were watching television a year ago, I don’t suppose you ever thought it likely that gardening bloke would be popping round your house at all times of the day and night’ Jessie bites back ‘but he does’

‘E ain’t never come at night’ Edna points out sharply then has the good grace to look apologetic as she spreads butter on one half of the teacake. ‘Sorry, gal. I don’t want yer getting yer ‘opes up, tha’s all’

‘If it’s him, it’s him and I won’t be going on any wild goose chase trying to find out who it is if it’s not. I know it’d be impossible; I’m not that much of an idiot I’d think otherwise. I need to know, that’s all’

‘If it does turn out to be your brother...’ Kath starts to say.

‘I know it’s not, I had that test, remember?’

‘On the records, the certificate, not the business with the well....Will you try and find out where he went and what happened to him?’

‘I can’t think he’d have kept away all this time without having been in contact at all’ Jessie looks grateful for Kath’s interest and the slight change of direction ‘Every one of his family gone except me and not turn up for a single one of the funerals?’

‘P’raps ‘e’s waitin fer yourn!’

‘Thank you, Edna’

Edna stops laughing ‘I never meant nothin by it. Think I better get goin, everythin I says today is wrong’

‘No, don’t do that’ Jessie touches her hand with the flats of her fingers ‘I’d be laughing with you any other day. I’m just feeling a bit....stirred up, that’s all. Nervous it’s him and nervous it’s not’

‘Don’t know if yer on yer arse or yer elbow!’

‘I couldn’t’ve put it better myself’ they share a brief smile, both humours restored.

‘So?’ Kath sips her coffee, her eyebrows raised expectantly. ‘He might have had a perfectly good reason for not coming back. It’d be worth a look, even if it was only....’

‘When and where he did die’ Jessie provides on a deep sigh. ‘I wouldn’t know how to start looking, so probably not’

‘First things first, eh?’

Jessie nods.

The Olde Mill Cafe

Chapter Thirty-nine

Woodbury Library Car Park

‘Ohh’ Stephanie says, running her fingers along Nathan’s pinkly smooth jaw as soon as she gets in the car ‘Where’s my bit of rough gone?’ She tosses her overnight bag onto the seat behind her.

Nathan flicks his head away and scowls ‘Bit of an accident with the trimmer, alright? It was like this or have a bloody great tramline down one side’

‘Oh dear’ she covers her mouth, the initial surprise past and now very amused. ‘Never mind, it’ll be back to normal in a couple of days, it’s not like it was a proper beard or anything’

‘Bit of rough?’ he sounds resentful ‘Is that what you think I am? Thanks a bunch’ he takes it out on the car, slamming it into gear and reversing out of the parking space.

‘Ooooh, touchy, touchy’ Stephanie’s smile does not falter as she belatedly fastens her seat belt. ‘Looks nice, actually....and if you don’t want to kiss me hello, I don’t care. We’re nearly an old married couple anyway, so I’d better get used to us acting like one’

Nathan brakes hard ‘We are NEVER becoming one of those!’ he unclips his seatbelt to be able to turn and hold her startled face in both hands to kiss her fiercely. ‘There!’ he says sitting back in his seat, refastening his belt and putting the car into gear. He waves in the rear view mirror at the driver waiting impatiently behind him, raises his eyebrows at Stephanie and moves off. ‘That better?’

She feels her lips and nods ‘Uh huh.....’ for a moment she is too stunned to speak. Her eyes move to his face and she sniggers ‘Not sure Orchid Blush is quite your colour though’

‘Aaw hell!’ he looks in the mirror again and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand ‘You could do with a bit of minor adjustment as well’ he points out with a scowl. ‘What do you want to go and put more lipstick on for any rate? It’s not as though we’re going anywhere’

‘Strangely enough’ she says, pulling down the sun visor to peer in the mirror there and removing the smudges with the tip of her ring finger ‘I wanted to look nice for you but I won’t bother again’ the visor snaps back into place. ‘Anyway, what’s got into you, you’re not just pissed at having to shave, surely?’

‘No...’ Nathan checks the road for traffic before pulling out ‘Nothing seems to have gone right today and that just about put the tin lid on it. Shouldn’t take it out on you though’ he reaches to squeeze her knee ‘Sorry’

‘You will be’ her eyes narrow to a threatening squint and she grins. ‘Did you take everything out of the freezer like I told you?’

‘Yes ma’am’

‘Wine in the fridge?’

‘Yes’

‘Remember the French bread?’

‘For Christ’s sake, Steph!’ he says, hitting the steering wheel with the palm of his hand ‘I have had get togethers before. Everything’s ready, okay?’

‘Sorry I spoke’ she folds her arms and stares ahead ‘I suppose picking me up from work was something you could’ve done without ....and having to rush around was probably why you didn’t notice the trimmer wasn’t set right, so that was my fault, I suppose’

‘Of course it wasn’t, it was my own stupid bloody fault’

‘And it’s not my fault you’ve had a shitty day so stop treating me as though it is or you can drop me off at the bus stop, I’ll go home’

‘Ste-phie’

‘I mean it, Nathan’

‘But we’ve got people coming over; it’ll be a good night’

‘It won’t be if you’re a foul mood’

He tries for an endearing smile ‘....but you’ve got all that food sorted....the wine’s chilling, the beers are in...and I’ve cooked!’

‘Baking off a few sausage rolls does not count as cooking’

‘I burnt my hand on the oven...look’ he pouts for sympathy and turns his hand so she can see the angry red stripe on the base of his thumb.

‘It hasn’t been your day, has it?’

‘No, it hasn’t’ he heaves a deep sigh and signals to pull into a lay-by, turning to face her once they’ve come to a stop ‘Look....Can we start over? I’m in a mood...no, correction...I was in a mood and....’

‘And now?’

‘I’m in a better one’

‘Oh, good’ she responds in the flat monotone of sarcasm.

‘And that’s down to you...’ Nathan leans to the side and nudges his head against hers ‘being with you...’ he pushes his lips forward to kiss her cheek and sits back ‘You get the fall out every bloody time and I’m sorry’ he adds, looking down into his lap ‘I shouldn’t let it happen but it always seems to.  I don’t know why...or how you put up with it’

‘Nor do I’

‘Because you love me?’ His face lifts hopefully.

‘That’s as good a reason as any’ Stephanie says flippantly and checks her watch ‘You think we can get a move on now? I’ve got to get a shower and change, remember’

‘No...tell me’

‘I love you. Now can we go?’

‘Mean it’

‘I do mean it’ she growls ‘.....so move!’

‘We’re okay?’ Nathan questions to irritate, smiling inanely.

‘We won’t be in a minute!’ she slaps his thigh ‘Yes...we’re fine...I still love you no matter how crabby you get. Nothing changes. Alright?’ her eyes roll heavenwards.

‘Did I tell you I burnt my hand?’