41. Helen
HELEN
How did the meal go? Xx
Helen looked at the message from Carrie. She could do with a conversation about how exactly the meal with Nigel had gone, but she was currently standing in the middle of a treehouse surrounded by electricians, plumbers and kitchen fitters.
Will phone you later xx
Sounds like there’s a lot to tell - I hope xx
There wasn’t that much, but it was enough to distract her from doing her job today. Perhaps a quick conversation with Carrie would help sort out the thoughts that were racing around her head.
Time for a quick chat now? xx
Carrie responded with a thumbs up.
‘Sorry folks, I’ve just got to step outside to make a phone call.’
Phil, the electrician, looked up at her from where he was crouched on the floor, doing some wiring in what would become the main sleeping area. ‘Don’t be long because we need a chat about one of the kitchen sockets. It’s too close to the sink under the latest regs.’
‘I’ll be back in five,’ she said, heading for the front door.
Helen walked over the wooden bridge that linked the treehouse to the woodland track, but she was still within hearing distance of the plumber’s assistant who was vaping while leaning against the van and scrolling on his phone.
She nodded to him and picked one of the footpaths that led deeper into the wood.
A few seconds later she looked back. She was definitely out of earshot of anyone now. And by some miracle, she’d still got a decent phone signal.
She Facetimed Carrie, who must’ve been poised to answer given the speed the call connected.
‘Well? When did he leave?’
‘Eleven-ish.’
‘And did you do the deed?’
‘No.’
Carrie rolled her eyes. ‘What are you two messing around at? I’m frustrated, and I’ve got a friend-with-benefits on speed dial.’
‘He was upset about Madison. He’d only just learned he’s got to go back to New York to testify or whatever it’s called. I’m even more certain now that he only wants to be friends.’
‘I suspect you’re being overly negative again. Tell me what happened.’
‘You want a blow-by-blow account?’
‘I thought you said there wasn’t any blowing.’
Helen sighed. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.
‘He turned up about 5.15 pm …’
‘Can I stop you there? I’ve got a meeting in three minutes. I’m not the police. I don’t need exact timings, just who looked mournfully or longingly at whom at key points in the evening.’
‘Okay. I’ll keep it as brief as possible.
It started with Nigel looking mournfully at the sink when he said that he’d been summoned to New York.
Then there was a gap in the cooking, so we both sat on Dad’s sofa to watch the sunset.
There might have been a touch of longing in his eyes when he told me he needed to check on the potatoes. ’
‘Hang on. What were you doing when he decided the potatoes were more important?’
‘I was sipping my glass of wine and looking longingly at him.’
‘It sounds like you need to practice your longing look because it’s not working. And then?’
‘He finished cooking the meal and dished up. We ate. Sipped wine. It was delicious. We discussed politics and the latest books we’re reading. He asked what I wanted for pudding.’
‘And you didn’t think to say “hot sex on the sofa”?’
‘He only gave me a choice of cheese and biscuits or chocolate mousse.’
‘You could’ve been creative with how you ate the chocolate mousse.’
‘I’m glad I wasn’t, because it had curdled. He’s having a rethink about desserts for Mother’s Day now. There were no looks that looked even remotely like longing at that point.’
‘And then what?’
‘We cleared up together. Then watched a film.’
‘Which film?’
‘John Wick.’
‘Dear God.’
‘It wasn’t that bad. Apart from the dog. He apologised about that. Rocky wasn’t too keen.’
‘You could have burst out crying. That might have prompted him to comfort you. Though choosing something romantic might have been more effective. Next time, binge-watch One Day. It’s basically you and Nige, but with more actual kissing. What happened after the film?’
‘We said good night, and I waved him off.’
‘Hadn’t he drunk too much wine to drive by this point?’
‘This is Nigel we’re talking about. Of course he hadn’t drunk too much.’
‘I despair.’
‘I’ve told you, him fancying me is all in your imagination. He had lots of opportunities to make a move last night, and he didn’t use a single one of them.’