‘Helen!’ Daniel raises an arm and threads his way between the cars towards her ‘Sorry, did I make you jump?’

‘I was miles away. Hello’ Helen smiles ‘You off somewhere?’

Daniel spreads his arms and looks down at his suit with a grin ‘How did you guess? I….’ He pauses for effect ‘Am going to give a talk at my old school, would you believe? Rat bag makes good sort of thing’ he gives another grin and looks at his watch ‘and I’d better get a wriggle on if I don’t want to be late. It’s just that I’m a bit worried about the garden’

‘The garden?’ Helen echoes.

‘I seem to have developed a hole…or you have…or should I say, the garden has’

‘A hole?’

Daniel laughs at her blank confusion ‘A hole. Not very big but I’ve got visions of your shrubbery disappearing down it and me getting the blame so I thought I’d better let you know asap’ he frames the abbreviation as a word.

‘When did you notice it?’

‘This morning. I usually take my first coffee in the garden for a wander unless it’s pis…raining. There’s been some snow damage, by the way but I can get the shrub tidied up when I get a minute’

‘Which shrub?’

Daniel shrugs ‘God knows. Think it’s got blue flowers on it when it’s out’

‘Ceanothus'

‘If you say so’ he laughs at his own ignorance ‘One of the branches has split to the trunk, weight of the snow, probably. I was just looking round it; check if any other branches had gone the same way and my foot disappeared through the dirt’

‘Oh my goodness’ Helen bites her lip.

‘Anyway, I’ve got to run. As long as you’re aware. I must’ve just missed you when I phoned. I’ll try and sort it when I get back’ Daniel starts to move away. ‘At least have a better look’

‘No’ Helen calls ‘I’ll get it looked at, don’t worry….and please….don’t go near it’

‘Yes ma’am’ Daniel waves as he gets back into his car.

The Village Library Car Park

Chapter Twenty-nine

Dell Cottage, Washbrook Lane

Nathan stands staring at Stephanie for a long moment, his face colouring. ‘I…I thought you were the postman’ he says awkwardly and drops his gaze.

‘Dad…’ Stephanie begins in a croak, her throat dry ‘Dad told me..’ her voice catches and she starts to cry.

‘Steph….’ Nathan looks up again, his embarrassed flush deepening, as she makes no move towards him. His hands lift and fall and he looks down at the floor. ‘I’m sorry’ he mumbles.

‘Don’t be’ she pleads in a whisper ‘I knew there had to be a reason’ Her feet shuffle nervously and she blots her tears with the back of her hand. As Nathan raises his head, their eyes meet. ‘I love you’ she chokes.

‘Still?’ 

‘Of course still!’

‘I don’t know what to say to you’ his mouth twists crookedly ‘I don’t know what to do to put things right’

‘Do you…’ Stephanie falters, taking a step towards him ‘Do you still…’

‘Love you?’ Nathan starts a slow nod as his eyes fill and he sucks back a sob ‘More than anything’

‘Then….everything will sort itself out…won’t it?’

‘Oh, God, Steph!’ his arms reach for her and crushes her to him, crossing at her back as his head presses against hers, tears trickling from his eyes and finding their way down the side of her neck ‘I am so, so, sorry. I’ll make it right, I promise you; I’ll make it right. I will, I’ll make it right. God help me, I’ll make it right’

Stephanie eases herself from his ferocious grip to reach up and place her finger on his lips to silence him, as he stands straight, looking at her with tears flooding his face. ‘I know you will’