‘So…she ain’t been…’ George hesitates, not wanting to upset Jessie by choosing the wrong word ‘…interfered with?’ he settles for in the end.

‘No, thank goodness’ Jessie sips her tea and smiles her thanks at George for bringing the tray.

‘Reckon yer needed that t’wet yer whistle after all that chanking’ George helps himself to a biscuit. ‘What d’yer suppose went on then?’ he asks, brushing crumbs from the front of his pullover. ‘All in ‘er ‘ead, yer think?’

‘She does have…’ Jessie is equally hesitant ‘a bit of an infection which would make her sore…down there…but…it’s not because of…you know what’

George nods, munching noisily. ‘Wha’s Ant’ny gonna do now?’

‘Well’ Jessie holds her cup and saucer at chest level, taking thankful sips as she talks. ‘He’s a bit annoyed that nobody realised she’d got this infection, so he’ll be having words about that…. ‘ She reaches for a biscuit, takes a bite and balances the rest on her saucer. ‘And I think he’s going to have a quiet word with that Brian and the Matron.’ she gives George a reassuring shake of her head when he looks up ‘They don’t want to get him into trouble or anything, because he hasn’t done anything wrong…and they don’t want him to have nothing to do with her at all because she’s very fond of him and when all’s said and done, he seems to have brought her on leaps and bounds with getting her to eat and things like that…’ she takes another sip of her tea. ‘But they’re going to ask…with him there of course, so they can explain why…if someone else….a woman….can be responsible for…you know…personal care’

George treads carefully. ‘’Er underneath bits, yer mean’ he presents the statement simply.

‘Yes’ Jessie flushes slightly.

‘Just as well, I reckon’ George clears his throat and stares into the fire, talking quietly. ‘Ladies a ‘er age, they ain’t used t’men doin’ tha sort a stuff…the washin an’ the like. It ain’t right in my opinion what they should ‘ave t’put up wi’it. Ain’t proper’

‘No’

‘Diff’rent iffin it were yer missus or summat. Same as what they’d do it fer you if you was poorly. Yer seen it all when you’s wed…’ he glances at Jessie ‘Under normal circumstances, like……’ he is quick to reassure. ‘It ain’t fer a lady like ‘er…or you fer that matter’

‘Thank you George’ Jessie gives him a smile and holds out her hand for his cup to refill it.

‘Eh what?’ George looks confused but is grateful for her smile all the same.

‘Calling me a lady was nice…but the fact that you haven’t made a joke of it all…’

‘It ain’t a joke, is it?’ he says seriously.

‘No…but I appreciate us being able to talk without you making one of your ribald comments’

‘Time ‘n a place fer everythin gal’ George declares, taking his refilled cup.

‘Thanks anyway’

They share a comfortable smile.

Rose Cottage, Albans Lane

Chapter Twenty-seven

Tawny House, Manor Road

The Annexe

‘According to her boss, Blythe isn’t due to take up her new job until the beginning of next month!’ Helen greets Kester with a face like thunder. ‘The only numbers he has for her are her mobile and the one at the flat and I had one hell of a job getting that out of him!’

‘See his point, you could have been anybody’ Kester closes the back door and wipes his feet, stretching to drop the plastic bowl used for bird scraps in the sink before stepping out of his unlaced trainers.

‘I’m not anybody though, am I? I’m her sister’

‘He doesn’t know that’ he says as he washes his hands. ‘You’d know he couldn’t give out information over the phone if you gave yourself time to think. You don’t, do you?’

‘This is not quite the same as someone trying to renew their library books!’ she snaps irritably.

‘Will you calm down?’ Kester turns to her, rubbing his hands on a towel. ‘None of this is my fault, okay? And I’m getting a bit cheesed off with you carrying on as though it is’

‘But where the hell is she? I’ve tried the flat and she’s not answering there either’

‘If I knew where she was’ he growls ‘I’d probably go and wring her neck. I’ve heard nothing but ‘Blythe, Blythe, Blythe’ ever since I got home. I don’t KNOW where she is, I don’t KNOW what’s going on, I don’t KNOW why she’s not answering her phone…’

‘And her mobile, why is that turned off?’

‘Oh, for pity’s sake! She might be in a meeting….or out for dinner…she may have lost it and had the thing deactivated. It may be sitting at the bottom of a bloody drain somewhere. I don’t KNOW! Alright?’

‘There’s no need to get so annoyed about it’ she sniffs reproachfully.

‘And there’s no need for you to get in such a state. We’ll find out soon enough. She’ll surface, she always does and Nathan will be back in a few days’

‘And in the meantime?’

‘What meantime?’

‘In the meantime, I’m left with no answers and I want some, Kester, I want some now’ she looks at her watch ‘I’ll drive up tonight’

‘Drive?…’ Kester gapes ‘to the flat, you mean? But for crying out loud, she might not even be there!’

‘That’s the risk I’ll have to take’ Helen’s head bobs determinedly.

‘The roads are treacherous, you’re not going and that’s that’

‘I’m perfectly capable of driving in hazardous conditions. I’m a good driver’

‘And I’m ‘perfectly’ aware that you are. It’s the other idiots on the roads that worry me. You’re not going and that’s final’

‘Watch me!’

‘NO! I don’t want any arguments. If you must go, go by train, the lines are pretty much clear but I think you’ll have a wasted journey. If she wanted to talk, she’d have been in touch’

‘And that is exactly why I want to see her! How dare she not tell me?’

Kester sighs wearily. ‘And you expect me to let you drive in that sort of mood?’ he says, crossing the room and rubbing his hands soothingly against her upper arms ‘Come on Helen give it up. Leave it until the morning; if you’re still intent on going when you’re a bit calmer, we’ll sort something out then. Okay?’