‘I told ‘er what I ain’t goin n’more’ George announces, accosting Jessie as she comes out of the bakery.

‘Who?’ Jessie startles and looks down at the hand that grips her arm.

George heeds the visual warning and removes his hand to wave a finger at her instead. ‘Tha’ woman. I ain’t avin er come between me an’you an’ if tha’s what it takes fer us t’be friends again, tha’s fine be me’

‘George’ Jessie says, ready to move off. ‘I really don’t care what you get up to in your spare time. If you want to go visiting, it’s nothing to do with me’

He heaves a deep sigh. ‘Jess, I can’t go on like this. I dunno what it’ll take fer yer t’be alright wi’me again but I wish you’d tell us. I knows I upset yer some. I won’t ever change me mind ‘bout way I feels about yer but I wunt mention it no more. I’ll be appy just bein friends like we was afore on’y say what we is still friends’ he pleads, looking close to tears.

‘I was annoyed that you had never told me about this woman. Why keep it a secret, George?’

‘It weren’t no secret, just dint tell yer, tha’s all’

‘And there’s a difference?’ Jessie says primly.

‘But look what appened when I did tell yer!’ he replies in exasperation then sighs apologetically. ‘Will yer come fer a cup o’tea later on? Ernie’s ere. I were just poppin out fer some bread fer breakfast. E’s still a kip, so I shan’t ave t’be long. I’s sorry…real sorry...an’ there’s nothin else I can say t’yer on tha score…but I got some news yer might be int’rested in’

‘Oh yes?’

‘Aye…so you’ll ave t’come won’t yer?’ George crows as he opens the bakery door and disappears inside.

The High Street, Milliwick

Chapter Twelve

The Village Library

Helen snaps her fingers in front of Marie’s face. ‘Any chance of getting some work out of you today?’

‘Oh!’ Marie startles. ’Sorry..yes…I’ll get on…sorry’ She looks down at the trolley full of books waiting to be returned to the shelves as if seeing them for the first time.

‘Late night?’ Helen asks with a grim smile. ‘Not that it’s my concern what time you got in but I do expect you to be…..’

‘No..no..it wasn’t late…not particularly. He has to be up early…what with Luke and everything…I didn’t sleep very well that’s all…Sorry. I’m on it..really…’ Marie looks dazed as she takes up an armful of books.

‘How did it go?’

Marie hugs the books to her chest and smiles ‘It was fantastic’ she sighs ‘Ohhh, Helen….he’s so….so….nice!’

‘Nice?’ Helen grins. ‘I’d hate to see you if someone was really wonderful’

‘He’s that too. We talked and talked. He’s got a brilliant sense of humour. I had the best fun I’ve had in ages and….’ Marie looks away and starts slotting the books into their correct positions on the shelves, her cheeks flushed.

‘And?’ Helen cocks her head and puts a hand on Marie’s arm when no answer seems forthcoming. She laughs quietly as she passes behind her back. ‘It’s okay. I’m teasing. I don’t really want to know’

‘Oh, Helen’ Marie groans in a whisper, her eyes glistening. ‘Why him?’

‘Come on, we can take five minutes’ Helen says, drawing her into the staff room. ‘Are you okay?’ she asks gently.

‘Yes..yes…I’m fine but…’ Marie growls with frustration. ‘But why now and why him?’

‘Ah’

‘Yes…Ah. He’s gorgeous…and going home in less than two weeks!’

‘You did know that, didn’t you, before you agreed to go out with him?’

Marie sighs, her composure restored. ‘Yeah…he was very up front about everything…you know….short term…few days…why not spend them together…And I thought I’d be okay with it’

‘But?’

‘He just kissed me goodnight’

Helen gives a brief grin. ‘Is that all?

‘No, you don’t get it…I was sort of expecting the usual sort of thing…bit of snogging…maybe back to my place..’

Helen looks mildly shocked.

‘Not full on sex…but pretty close…Most guys like to try their luck…but we spent the whole evening chatting like mates. Oh, he held my hand, put his arm round the back of my seat, that sort of thing…but I was thinking it was pretty tame as dates go…not tame…but you know what I mean…slow’

‘But you did enjoy the evening?’

‘It was wonderful…honestly. I feel like I’ve known him forever…and then…when he brought me back to get my car’ Marie waves any question away ‘Tell you later….When he brought me back…’

‘He kissed you goodnight…yes, you said. Were you disappointed then...that that was all there was?’

‘Nooo…’ Marie colours further under Helen’s enquiring gaze. ‘It wasn’t even a full on snog…but so gentle…and warm…and….Oh God, Helen…I couldn’t sleep for thinking about it. It made me go all tingly inside right down to my toes. I wanted to cry. God knows why’

‘I think you know why…you’ve already said as much. You like him and he’s going home. A little of what you can’t have…’ Helen squeezes her arm and smiles. ‘.and you want him ..just because you can’t have him’

‘Probably’ Marie concedes. ‘But no one…and I mean no one has ever made me feel like this after one flipping kiss!’

‘Are you seeing him again?’

‘Supposed to be seeing him tonight’ Marie looks forlorn. ‘You think I should?’

‘You’re asking me?’ Helen’s eyes widen in disbelief.

‘Mmm. Will I be making things worse? I’m getting all panicky now at the thought of him going home, what am I going to be like when he does if I do see him again?’

‘That’s something you can only answer for yourself…whether or not you want to put yourself through it’

‘You think I’m overreacting a bit?’

Helen hesitates for a few moments. ‘No…not especially….I-I’ve been there…where you are…sort of’

‘Really?’

Helen nods. ‘The very first time Kester kissed me, it was only on the forehead and he was very drunk’ she sighs ‘but it made a wonderful night even more special…very special. … and I wasn’t even going out with him at the time. I can’t explain it really’

‘You do understand! ...It’s not that I’m losing it, getting so worked up over a bloke I’ve only known five minutes..’

‘I wouldn’t go quite as far as that… Be careful, Marie. If you’re not sure you can cope with him going home after…’

‘Then don’t see him?’

Helen weighs the question by tilting her head from side to side. ‘You will be upset’ she cautions. ‘But it’s entirely up to you, isn’t it? He’s been straight with you… it is only for a couple of weeks as far as he is concerned….and probably why he was… a little slow?’

‘Phah’ Marie snorts. ‘Doesn’t stop most blokes trying it on even if they’ve got no intention of doing more than seeing you home. Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps he didn’t find me that attractive when it came down to it. We’ve only ever had a three-way conversation while Luke was there. Maybe I’m not as nice as he thought…or perhaps I could’ve been anybody…you know…just someone to go and have a drink with…and I was there to ask…’

‘Rubbish!’ Helen retorts.

‘You think so?’

‘I hardly think he would have asked if he could see you again if he didn’t find you remotely attractive. Just because he didn’t pounce as soon as he’d got you on your own…’ she scoffs.

‘Hel-en!’

‘Well, honestly. You sound disappointed more than anything’

‘No…not disappointed’ Marie sighs ‘surprised, maybe. Ohh…what am I going to do?’

‘Will you regret not seeing him again if you put him off?’

‘I know I will! Half of me can’t wait and the other half is saying ‘Hang on, don’t get too involved’’

‘Either way…you’re going to feel…hurt?’ Helen poses the question with a careful look from beneath her brows.

‘Hurt’s a bit strong but I know I’m going to be upset when he does go, no matter what. Daft really’

‘So it’s a matter of just how upset you are going to allow yourself to be?’

‘I don’t follow’

‘You say you’re going to be upset when the time comes for him to go home, even if you haven’t been out together again…but maybe you’ll more upset if you do see him?’

‘I think it’s that I’m annoyed I won’t have the chance to see if anything might come of it. We just hit it off….and then…then when he said goodnight…’

‘The icing on the cake?’

‘Just a bit!’ Marie groans again. ‘I really don’t know what to do’

‘If nothing else, if you saw him again between now and when he does go home, you would have a lovely time to look back on. All, you have now is the memory of one evening. It might hurt like hell but wouldn’t it be worth it? If you’re going to be upset anyway’ Helen gives a nonchalant shrug

‘You’re right! Sod it. I don’t care how mad this gets, I’m going to enjoy it!’