‘Since you’re not answering your telephone, I decided to come and see you instead.’

‘Telephone?’ Helen Marchant looks confused and stares blankly at Harriet James standing on her doorstep.

‘Yes, telephone. I know you have one, we have spoken on it before.’ Harriet looks uncomfortable.

‘Yes, I know I’ve got one..it’s just….I can’t imagine why….’

‘Doesn’t matter now. You were not at the library and I thought I might have upset you to such an extent that…’

Helen starts as if suddenly aware that Harriet standing in the buffeting wind. ‘No…no….please…Sorry…..Come in. I’ve taken one or two days holiday that were owing to me, that’s all’ She stands back, holding the door open.

‘Thank goodness for that.’ Harriet gives her a tentative smile as she steps into the hallway. ‘You left in such a hurry the other day I had no time to make amends. I wanted to be sure you knew my apology was sincere. I should not have said what I did. It was thoughtless and unkind and I am very sorry that…’

‘But every word was true’ Helen butts in with a rueful grimace and with an outstretched hand directs Harriet into the cosy sitting room . ‘Tea…I’ll make some tea.’

‘Tea would be wonderful’ Harriet smiles to herself as Helen scuttles off, leaving her alone in the room. She fingers the carving on the small desk that holds Helen’s computer and tries hard not to read the open mail on the screen. She crosses to the window as the screen saver flickers onto the monitor.

‘So…tell me, what are you going to do about it?’ she asks as Helen returns bearing a tray and sets it atop the low table that runs in front of the sofa.

Helen looks puzzled for a moment. ‘Oh….yes…what you said…about me being….as I am.’ Her hand shakes a little as she pours milk into their cups. ‘Generally or only as far as your grandson is concerned?’

‘Generally, of course ‘ Harriet settles herself on the sofa ’But naturally, I am keen that you should see Kester in a better light than you obviously do….’ She takes the proffered cup.

Helen swallows and looks down at the tray, unblinking. ‘I know I’ve been very unfair… to him and about him but it’s too late now…’ she says quietly.

‘Nonsense!’

‘I thought a lot about what you said and decided I would try to apologise when I saw him again…. if we met….and….and ask if we could be….. friends….. after all.’

‘Good!’

‘No…it wasn’t’ Helen blinks

‘Sorry?’

‘This morning. I made a mess of it. I was so nervous…I did my usual trick of biting his head off…. and he didn’t take it very well.’ She looks up ‘My own fault!’

‘Nervous….of Kester?’ Harriet laughs, truly amused. ‘Good heavens, child, he has the sweetest nature imaginable…and a way with women that occasionally I rather wish he didn’t have…’ she rolls her eyes.

Helen sighs and sits at the other end of the sofa and faces Harriet. ‘I know…’ she admits with a wry smile.  ‘To be honest, I think that’s why we got off on the wrong foot. I’d heard of him before I’d actually met him. It all went downhill from there. I’ve not exactly been friendly towards anyone but your grandson…..’

‘Ah! Marie?’ Harriet deduces correctly and receives a brief nod from Helen. ‘A rather large crush I felt he dealt with admirably. They are still very good friends but not of the bedding variety’ she says with certain aplomb.

‘Harriet!’ Helen looks surprised.

‘Another rumour you have no doubt heard?’ she enquires taking a careful sip from her cup.

‘And seen for myself’

‘Hmm…yes…unfortunate choice’ Harriet holds her saucer on her lap, steadying the cup with her fingertip still curled through its delicate handle.

‘And not chosen for intellectual stimulation’

‘Quite’ Harriet smirks.

‘I didn’t mean…that came out all wrong.’ Helen flushes.

‘Oh, I agree absolutely. I doubt very much if he intended playing chess before she went home…if, indeed, she would have gone home’

‘That’s what I’m talking about.’

‘His penchant for unsuitable young ladies? Believe me, she was the exception not the rule.’

‘No…I meant..’

‘That he bonks anything that moves?’

‘Harri-et!’

‘Let’s not beat about the bush, Helen darling, that is what you meant…and it is totally untrue. His…. appetites… are no more than any young man’s. Good Lord! If he spent as much time bedding women, as some people would have it, he would have neither the time nor the energy to do a day’s work!’ She lifts her cup and takes another sip. ‘He likes women…of course he does and he has no trouble in attracting them but to say that every night is spent with a different young lady is complete hogwash. He would have more notches than he had bedpost!’

Helen snorts a laugh.

‘Well…it’s true’ Harriet presses her lips together, almost as surprised by her outburst as Helen.

‘I’m sorry, Harriet’ Helen gives a smile, now more relaxed than she has been since Harriet arrived. ‘But you sounded so indignant’

‘He flirts! That’s his trouble. A terrible flirt…and some people think that must necessarily lead to some….. private pas de deux! It simply isn’t the case. I would know!’

‘Would you?’

‘There’s not much that escapes my attention as far as he is concerned.’ She catches Helen’s expression. ‘Have I said something?’

‘Those were more or less my exact words to him when he came with the letter…. about people not minding their own business.’ Helen replies dryly.

‘But Kester is my business!’

‘I didn’t mean you….I meant….Oh shut up Helen! Why do I always have to make things worse?’ she squirms.

‘It’s very hard not to be defensive when you have been defensive for so long, isn’t it?’ Harriet says gently and twists sideways to set her cup on the tray. She turns to face Helen again, both her voice and expression soft. ‘Living in a village is different but by and large, people are only trying to be friendly. We might call their inquisitiveness being nosey but, truly, it’s just their way of getting to know you. I found it very strange at first. I was rather like you when I first moved here, ultra sensitive and prickly.’

‘Thanks’ Helen fails to prevent a flush of annoyance staining her cheeks and rolls her eyes, sighing as she puts her hands to her face. ‘There I go again’

‘And I was being kind’ Harriet laughs. ‘And it wasn’t as if I didn’t know what I was coming into’ she continues ‘I had spent some time here before.’

‘You had?’

‘Yes…at the Manor House initially…. But that’s another story for another time…’ she dismisses. ‘It’s never too late, Helen, really it isn’t and I am speaking from personal experience. There are some wonderfully warm-hearted people here that will make you part of their lives if only you would let them into yours.’ She touches her fingers to Helen’s hand and holds it firm as she tries to draw away. ‘Yes, I know… it is sometimes difficult to trust but I do think you have to try’

Helen blinks away tears. ‘But where do I start…. how do I start? I tried…I really did but…’

‘Dare I say, with Kester again?’

‘Not after today, I don’t think he would wear that at all. He’d probably be happy if he never had to speak to me again. I can’t, Harriet, really I can’t.’

‘That’s fine. I’m not saying that you should throw yourself around with gay abandon…’ Helen grins a watery smile. ‘You know exactly what I mean’ Harriet chuckles softly and gives her hand another squeeze. ‘A smile goes a long way even if you can’t get as far as saying hello….and that applies to everyone, not just my grandson. You will be surprised what results even a little thing like that can have.’

Helen nods ‘Thank you’ she whispers. ‘If only I could talk to other people the same as I can talk to you.’

‘But you managed perfectly well when you met my friends!’

‘I know’ Helen sighs ‘Ridiculous really’

‘Small talk that nobody would or would want to remember’ Harriet surmises ‘No threat to your privacy?’

‘Possibly’ Helen allows.

An idea occurs to Harriet. ‘Why not come to my pre-Christmas bash?’ she suggests ‘I have one every year. Dinner….a little more formal than last time …. You would get more of a grilling, depending on who I sit you next to, but it would be an ideal opportunity to practise opening up a little, wouldn’t it? My cleaning lady and her husband always come’ She smiles fondly. ‘She talks about it for weeks, before and after. Her chance to get ‘All poshed up and hobnob with the toffs’ she calls it. Me...a toff?’ she laughs ‘And there will be a couple more from the village that you may or may not know but mostly it will be my friends who you have met before. Say you will come’

Helen looks unsure. ‘It would depend when…there’s Alfie’

‘If necessary, I will arrange a cat sitter’ Harriet says with determination. ‘Please come. I would really like for you to be there.’

‘Can I think about it?’

‘Of course you can. So, tell me, how is Alfie doing?’

Pennywell, Bower Lane

Chapter Three