Page 108 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

Not quite Harrison Ford, but someone dressed as Indiana Jones had just been welcomed by Geoff. As he glanced across at her group, he caught her eye and waved.

‘Suits him,’ Stacey whispered in her ear. ‘Doesn’t it?’

‘Oh, what a shame he didn’t come as Han Solo, though,’ Lavender said. ‘That would have been brilliant with Ottilie dressed as Princess Leia.’

Ottilie quickly decided it would have been mortifying and silently thanked whatever force of nature had intervened. People knew better than to mention it to her, but she had a sneaking suspicion that many still wanted to push her and Heath together.

After a brief word with Geoff, he made his way over.

‘I hadn’t expected to see you here,’ Ottilie said. ‘How’s everything?’

‘A lot better now I’ve sorted out our little problem. As for tonight, I wasn’t sure myself if I’d make it. But Gran said I could stay over at hers, so I thought I’d come and drive back in the morning.’

‘Isn’t she coming?’

‘She said she might come for an hour later but she’s a bit tired. She likes to make out like she’s still got as much energy as she had twenty years ago, but she’s slowing down. If I’m honest, it might be best if she stays home tonight. I think the business with Mila might have shaken her more than she’d like to admit.’

‘Don’t let her hear you say that,’ Ottilie warned.

‘Don’t worry – I won’t. She’d never speak to me again.’

‘I’m glad you’ve sorted it out. I hope that means Mila won’t try anything in future?’

‘With her there’s no telling, but I hope so too. If there’s one positive to be had, it’s that I’m absolutely sure I can’t stand the sight of her now, let alone want her back.’

Ottilie gave a sympathetic smile. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Why? I’m not. I’ve been set free and its actually pretty bloody amazing!’

Their conversation was interrupted by Charles, who came to express admiration for Heath’s costume.

After exchanging a few words, he left them again, and Heath turned to Ottilie and lowered his voice. ‘Am I allowed to say you look incredible?’

She smiled, flushing with pleasure. ‘Thank you. Why wouldn’t you be allowed to say it?’

‘I don’t know…I didn’t want to overstep the mark.’

‘I think we’re past that now. You look pretty cool too. Weirdly, you look a lot like Harrison Ford, you know. I mean, in real life, not just your outfit.’

‘It’s been said before, which is partly why I chose this. A bit vain, I know, don’t say it. Thank God I didn’t go for Han Solo like Gran suggested.’

Ottilie sucked in a breath and grinned. ‘That little…You do know she made this dress for me? So she knew what I was going to be wearing. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

‘Bloody hell. That woman doesn’t know when to give up, does she? I’m sorry.’

‘For what? It’s not your doing.’

‘I know, but I don’t want it to make things weird between us.’

‘I won’t let it get weird if you don’t.’

‘Glad we got that out of the way. How are you doing?’ he asked.

‘I’m fine.’

‘I mean, really. How are you doing? We said we wouldn’t keep this stuff to ourselves now – remember? I haven’t forgotten you told me this month was significant.’

Ottilie gave a grateful smile. He was so considerate, so mindful of her feelings that she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have him in her life, especially when she considered how easily it could have gone another way. They’d found it difficult to understand one another at first, had very nearly gone their separate ways, and yet they’d come through it to get here. Since the day he’d found her crying, they’d reached a new understanding. They’d only seen each other a few times, and some of those had been times of great stress, unlike when he’d been working on her house, and yet, they were more comfortable and communicated better during those few occasions than they ever had before. And while she still had many regrets about the day she’d rejected his offer of something more, she wasn’t going to let them ruin what she had now.

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