Page 70 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘And I might feel sorry for him if she was, but I don’t have the time or energy to go down that particular rabbit hole.’

Stacey smiled slowly. ‘I still think you might be exactly the person he needs.’

Ottilie’s laugh was louder than she’d intended and a few people turned to look her way with some confusion. But Stacey’s suggestion had thrown her a curveball. There were people who might be able to help banish Heath’s demons, but certainly not her. She had plenty of demons of her own – very different from Heath’s, she’d imagine, but there all the same. The last thing she needed was to add another heap of angst to her own.

She straightened her face and looked at Stacey. ‘Have you ever had a conversation with him?’

‘A bit of one –I don’t suppose anything more than ten minutes, when he’s been visiting Flo. Why?’

‘If you had, you’d realise what hard work he is. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful that he came to help me out of a tight spot, and his company wasn’t completely awful, but small doses is a phrase I’d definitely apply to him. I don’t know if he was always like that but, if not, his ex-wife did a real number on him. And if he was, then I can sort of see why the marriage ended.’

‘It was her fault.’

‘So Flo says…’ Ottilie lowered her voice. Even though Florence had elected to give this film-club meeting a miss, she still didn’t want her words to get back to her via someone else. ‘But she’s going to say that, isn’t she? She’s always going to side with him because she dotes on him. Wouldn’t any grandmother side with her grandson?’

‘Flo’s not like that; she calls a spade a spade.’

‘I’d be inclined to agree, but even the most pragmatic people can have a blind spot when it comes to family. Anyway, it doesn’t matter who did what. I’m not interested in the slightest.’

‘I would be.’

Ottilie could have mentioned that Stacey had been alone for a long time and that she’d made no secret of her loneliness, or the fact that she would welcome some romance in her life, but she didn’t. And the fact remained that Ottilie herself was nowhere near that stage in her own life yet. For her, a forced single life was still very new and painful, and she was in no emotional state to think about starting anew with anyone else, least of all someone who seemed as damaged as Florence’s dour and difficult grandson. Her situation was very different from Stacey’s, and so perhaps that was why Stacey didn’t seem to understand it.

‘Well, good luck if you decide to go there.’

‘If only he was interested in me. I’m far too old for him, for a start.’

‘Stacey, you’re gorgeous and funny and he’d be lucky if you looked at him twice. As for too old, you’re what…? About forty?’

Stacey laughed. ‘Forty-nine and far too old.’

‘Forty-nine is still sexy.’

‘Try telling that to the men of Tinder.’

‘I’m not talking about Tinder – I don’t need to go on there to be sure it’s full of arseholes. I’m talking about real life. The love of your life is waiting out there for you…and definitely not on Tinder.’

Stacey grinned. ‘Even Chloe says that and her generation are all about Tinder, aren’t they?’

‘How is she, by the way?’

‘Still in denial but getting bigger by the day – big enough to tell now. It seems to have happened all at once.’

‘I bet she’s thrilled by that.’

Stacey laughed. ‘Absolutely. I suppose that’s one thing about me not having a man – at least I’ll have time to be a proper nan to the little one. And Chloe will need me to be there for her.’

‘She’s lucky to have you.’

‘Try telling her that.’

‘Before or after I’ve told the men of Tinder?’

Stacey nudged her. ‘I’m glad you moved here. I know it wasn’t a good reason that brought you, but I like you being here.’

Ottilie gave a pained smile. That might soon change, and Stacey’s words would make her inevitable decision harder than ever.

CHAPTER TWENTY

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