Page 69 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘That had crossed my mind too. Lucky for me, if not them, that they decided to pool their resources, because it means I have somewhere to live here without all the hassle of trying to find somewhere. I did have a scan of the local estate agents, but there really was nothing within about a ten-mile radius of this place – nothing suitable, at any rate.’
‘Are you thinking you might buy then?’
‘I was hoping to. I think there might be a possibility of buying this place at some point if their cohabiting works out.’
‘So you’re fairly certain you want to stay in Thimblebury long-term?’
‘Well, yes…’ Simon seemed confused by the suggestion that he might not want to stay long-term.
‘No, I mean, I didn’t want to assume anything. If you do, I’m really glad. It’s not for everyone.’
‘The way I see it, if I buy somewhere and then it doesn’t work out, there seems to be a healthy market around these parts, so I don’t imagine I’d have much trouble selling on again. So it makes sense as far as I can see to buy. But I’m all right at the moment – there’s no rush. Charles has done me a very fair deal on the rent here, so I’m happy.’
‘I think they’re just happy to get you here and in that job whatever it takes,’ Ottilie said, putting the bag of cleaningsupplies down on the only clear corner of table she could see. ‘I know Fliss would never say it, but she’s been needing a partner for a long time. It took Charles’s health scare to force her to step back and look at what long hours they were both working and how neither of them are getting any younger. If not for that, I’m sure she’d have kept pushing herself until she dropped.’
‘That’s one of the many occupational hazards of being a GP,’ Simon said. He turned and started to search in one of the boxes stacked next to the sink. ‘If I can find the mugs, I might be able to offer you a drink.’
‘That’s all right – don’t stress on my account. I’ve got a few hours spare; maybe I could help you clean and get a bit straighter in here? Not that I think you can’t manage on your own, of course. I only wondered if a second pair of hands might make things a bit easier.’
‘The company would make them more pleasant, that’s for sure. I’d feel as if I were taking advantage of your good nature, though.’
‘Don’t be daft – that’s what friends are for, right?’
‘Even so…’
‘Honestly, I’m happy to help. If I went home now I’d spend the afternoon feeling awful that I’d left you to do all this alone. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now I’m not very good at keeping my nose out of things.’
Simon chuckled. ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but I have noticed you like to get involved. It’s an admirable trait. It’s a shame more people aren’t as community-minded as you are – the world might be a much nicer place.’
‘Oh, I don’t think it’s so bad as people say. I also think more people than you realise do their bit every day, even if it’s in small, unnoticeable ways. The millions of little acts of kindness that happen every day are what makes the world tick over, not the grand gestures that everyone notices.’
‘Hmmm…’ Simon was silent for a moment as he held her in an approving gaze. ‘I like that way of looking at it. In which case, who am I to refuse such a generous offer of your time?’
‘I was hoping you’d say that.’ Ottilie took off her shoulder bag and pulled out some biscuits and a box of teabags. ‘I brought provisions too. Can’t have a cleaning party without chocolate digestives.’
Ottilie started on what floors she could get to, followed by wiping down skirting boards and door frames and then windows and frames while Simon concentrated on cleaning every cupboard before he filled it with his belongings. Finally they met to do the downstairs bathroom together, and then they broke for tea and biscuits. There was a bit more cleaning, and then Simon shouted up to Ottilie that he was starving and was going to search for the packs of instant noodles he knew were in his boxes of food, and if she wanted some, she only had to say so.
‘I can do better than that…’ she called back down from the bedroom, where she’d been taking down the curtains to wash at her place because Simon had yet to plumb in his machine. Apparently, Charles had never washed a single load of laundry during his married life, Fliss doing it for him at her place and therefore negating the need of a washing machine in his house until now. ‘Hang on…’
She hurried down the stairs and went into the kitchen, where Simon was still searching his boxes, a pan sitting on the stove ready to go.
‘Unless you’re desperate for noodles,’ she began, nodding at the pan, ‘I’ve got leftovers at my house. Plug the microwave in and you can have veggie lasagne. It’s a Jamie Oliver recipe – I can’t promise I make it like Jamie does, but Heath seems to like it and he hates vegetarian stuff usually.’
‘I couldn’t?—’
‘Of course you could! I’m only going to throw it away if it doesn’t get eaten, so it’s no bother. I mean, if you don’t like that sort of thing, then?—’
‘That sounds wonderful. And if it’s anything like the things you’ve cooked and brought in for lunch over the past few weeks, I’m sure it’s going to put my sad instant noodles to shame.’
‘Give me two ticks then to run home and get it.’
‘You’re sure it’s no bother?’
‘Will you stop being so bloody polite and take the offer!’
Simon laughed as Ottilie pulled on her jacket.
‘Don’t go anywhere – I’ll be back shortly!’
