Page 114 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘No, you gave what I deserved. You were never to blame.’

‘Do you think we can put all that behind us and start again? Do you think we might be ready now?’

‘Doesn’t matter what I think. You’re the one who matters.’

‘I don’t?—’

‘You do to me. You’re the only thing that matters to me these days. You might not want to hear this, but I think about that day at Magnus and Geoff’s cinema all the time, how wrong I got it, how I could have done it differently.’

‘You didn’t get it wrong; it was me. That’s why I’m asking you this time.’

His smile was slow and unsure, but it was also full of warmth and hope. She ached to kiss him. She hadn’t wanted to kiss a man like this since Josh, and though that notion caused her pain, she realised it was sort of a necessary, good pain. Josh would always be her first and she would never stop missing him, but she was beginning to see that her life didn’t have to stop, that having a new love didn’t wipe out the old one.

Here she was again, boring, safe, sensible old Ottilie. Why couldn’t that girl just bugger off? He was giving her all the signals, and even though he was holding back, it was out of respect for safe, boring, sensible Ottilie. That Ottilie had turned him down before, but this Ottilie was sick of being alone, sick of denying that she liked this man – she might even love him if she only gave this thing a chance.

‘I promise I won’t mess you around,’ she said.

‘I never thought you would. You really mean this? I thought…once I’d learned what you’ve been through, I wondered if…’

‘If I would ever have another man?’

‘I understood why you were careful.’

‘I could say the same to you.’

‘What, that I might not want another man?’

She grinned and let her head fall to his shoulder. ‘I’m being serious.’

‘So am I – I don’t want a man.’

‘I do,’ she said, surprising herself. ‘I want you, and I’m sick of pretending I don’t.’

‘You mean that?’

She looked up at him. ‘Yes. If you still want me.’

‘God, you have no idea!’

She nudged up the brim of his hat and reached to kiss him. Her heart was thumping so loudly she wondered vaguely if the paramedics inside with Chloe might hear and rush out to her.

As he responded, folding her into his arms, it felt as if the ground might fall away from beneath her, but that wasn’t scary; it was exhilarating, and in his arms she felt safe, knowing he wouldn’t let her fall. A new chapter had begun; she could sense it already, one where she was allowed to start her new life properly, one where she was allowed to find happiness again. Of all the people who might have turned that page, she never imagined it would be him, but right now she was glad it was.

‘Lady and the Tramp then?’ she murmured as they parted. ‘You still haven’t given your answer.’

‘Hmm. Next week?’

She frowned. ‘Next week? You really want to wait that long?’

‘No, I’m being polite. When do you want to do it?’

‘There’s no time like the present,’ she said. ‘How about tonight?’

‘Tonight?’ He smiled. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’

Just then, Stacey came outside. She raised her eyebrows and grinned as they broke apart, but she didn’t mention what she’d seen. She looked exhausted but very happy.

‘Everything’s fine,’ she said. ‘You two were absolute legends.’

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