‘It is a man, isn’t it?’ Jessie takes up her normal position at the library counter, stretching to lean both arms on it and gazing up at Helen Marchant. ‘I’ve been watching you and it’s either a man, you’ve been hitting the sherry or you’ve got feather in your drawers. Which is it?’

‘Mrs. Shepherd!’

‘Well, give it some of your usual wellie then! That was like being flopped with a wet dishrag. I like to go out of here feeling like I’ve been well and truly told off! I can’t have a normal day if it don’t start off normal. Shall I try something a bit naughtier?’

‘No, you needn’t bother’ Helen opens Jessie’s book ready to stamp it. ‘Just this one is it?’

‘Just that one’ Jessie nods ‘It’s too flipping cold to have your hands out of bed reading. I’ve tried wearing gloves but I can’t turn the pages. I turn over two or three at once and the heroine’s gone from getting her ear nibbled to having a cigarette afterwards and I’ve missed the flipping bit in between. I keep having to go back!’ she sighs then tips her head sideways to look at Helen more closely. ‘Did you nearly laugh then?’

Helen looks up and offers a brief smile ‘I am very happy today’ she says as she runs the book over the scanner.

‘I gathered that. So, are you going to tell me or shouldn’t I bother asking?’

‘Alfie’s home!’ Helen blurts, unable to contain herself.

Jessie straightens and beams with delight. ‘Oh, that is wonderful. I’m really, really pleased! Is he all better?’

‘Alfie’s my cat’ Helen explains seriously

‘I know’

‘You do?’ she looks surprised

‘Everybody knows. Poor little thing. Oooh that’s the best news I’ve had in ages. When was this, then?’

‘I brought him home yesterday’

‘Bet you didn’t want to leave him today’

‘I didn’t’ Her eyes lose their sparkle ‘He’ll be so lonely. I shall go home lunchtime, just to make sure he’s alright. I’ve had to shut him in the bathroom…you know…make sure he doesn’t get out….or hurt himself again…I’ve put his basket in there….he has plenty of food….and his tray….Sorry…I’m going on a bit, aren’t I?’

‘Don’t stop now’ Jessie says kindly ‘None of us knew what to say to you….but we were all worried’

‘You were?’

‘Of course we were. Nobody likes to see folk upset ….but….Anyway, I’m glad he’s home.’

‘Thank you, Mrs. Shepherd’ Helen looks away, blinking rapidly and concentrating on the computer.

‘Don’t be so daft, no need for thanks…. And if you don’t start calling me Jessie, I shall get wicked’

Helen glances at her; her lips pressed together with amusement ‘You are wicked’

‘I know, good innit?’ Jessie scrunches her shoulders and giggles. ‘Look….I know we’ve only just started talking….but… here….let me have your key’ She holds out her hand.

‘My key?’ Helen queries, her brows lowering in a confused frown.

‘Your front door key. It’s….what…’ Jessie looks at her watch ‘Two or three hours until lunchtime? That little fella will be thinking there weren’t no point in coming home if all he’s going to see is a bog and a bit of lino. Let me go and give him a bit of a fuss’

‘No…really…he’ll be fine’

‘I won’t look at anything’

‘It’s not that’ Helen says defensively

‘Yes it is, don’t you be telling me fibs. I won’t tell anyone if you haven’t washed your breakfast things or if there’s a pile of naughty books next to your bed…’

‘Mrs. Shepherd!’

‘Ok, no dirty books…..The colour of your curtains, then…that’s nothing to do with anybody. I just want to put your mind at rest, that’s all. Where would Alfie rather be…in a nasty cold bathroom or on my lap?’

‘My bathroom’s nice and warm…..I’ve ….left the heating on for him’ Helen flushes with the embarrassment of being thought ridiculous.

Jessie grins ‘You’re as bad as me. I used to put another log on the fire before I went to bed if our old moggie was lying in front of it’

‘You used to have a cat?’

‘Mmm. Seventeen she was when she went. Just went to sleep and didn’t wake up again. I want to go like that. People kept going on about me getting another one cos I missed her so much but….daft really…nothing could replace my Sukie, so I didn’t even try. Never even wanted to. She was my friend’ Helen nods, understanding exactly. ‘Go on, let me do it’

‘I couldn’t’

‘Why ever not? You’re wavering aren’t you? …You are…I can see you’re thinking about it. No good you looking at the clock, I’ve just told you how long there is to go. I can even ring you and give you a progress report if you like. I’ll hold the receiver to his mouth and he can say hello…purr a bit, maybe’

Helen smiles at the thought but shakes her head ‘It’s just….too much’

‘It’s what friends do’ Jessie says quietly and pats her hand. She swallows the lump that forms in her throat at the expression on Helen’s face

‘You would…. even after….But it’s so far…’

‘No further than me walking home from here’

‘He’s still…..quite fragile…’ Helen falters

‘All the more reason for him having a bit of company then, isn’t it? Key!’

‘I….’

‘Look, you! Stop trying to find excuses’ Jessie thumps her elbow on the counter and rests her chin on her hand, gazing up at Helen and sighing wearily ‘What do you want, references? You can trust me, honestly…’ She stands up and draws on her chest with a finger ‘Cross my heart…. Better not say the other bit, cos I might go sooner than I want to!’

‘I’m not…I do trust……If you’re sure’

‘I think I preferred you being cross with me…Go on, do that thing with your eyes when you go ‘Mrs. Shepherd!’

‘Mrs. Shepherd!’ Helen retorts involuntarily.

Jessie laughs and points a teasing finger. ‘You can’t can you?’ she chuckles ‘you just can’t. You’re not cross…’ she beams with satisfaction ‘I think we’ve just become mates’

Helen flushes and blinking again, turns away ‘I’ll…I’ll ….just get my key’

Milliwick Village Library

Chapter Three