‘Shame I can’t even cook you a decent meal,’ Barney moaned. ‘Not much of a homecoming with me like this.’
‘You don’t need to worry about feeding me, I’m hoping the pub still does a good fish curry.’
Barney let out a healthy chuckle. ‘Oh, don’t, it hurts me when I laugh. But you always did like odd foods. Fish curries were one of them, and what else was it you liked? Peanut butter and jam sandwiches?’
She scrunched her nose. ‘Yeah, don’t eat those anymore.’
‘Thank goodness for that. I’m sure you’ve eaten lots of different foods on your travels – it sounds as though you’ve seen most of the world. I can’t wait to hear more about it.’
‘I’d love to tell you.’ When more clattering came from the kitchen she said, ‘But all in good time…I’d better get going and leave you to it.’
‘But you only just got here.’ Another crash from the kitchen and Barney must have read the discomfort on her face as she glanced over there. ‘You’ll come back soon?’
‘I promise,’ she said. ‘How about I come back again tonight?’
‘Oh, would you? I’d like that very much. You’d make an old man very happy.’
‘I’ll make us both hot chocolates. I’ve brought some of the most decadent chocolate I picked up in Bruges, I remembered how much you enjoyed a mug on a cold evening. It might not be cold now, but who cares, eh? And so long as you have milk, we’re good to go.’
‘The only hot chocolate I ever have is from the tea rooms down the road, none of this deluxe stuff. Although they do add crumbled Cadbury Flake on top if you ask for it.’
‘Now that sounds pretty good to me.’
‘You don’t always have to be fancy,’ Harvey interjected as he overheard the conversation. He added in that the omelette would be ready in fifteen minutes. Then, ‘Sometimes the simple things in life are enough. At least, they are to some people,’ was his parting shot and Melissa knew full well the remark was aimed at her.
‘I’m not sure us talking is a good idea,’ she said quietly to Barney. ‘It seems all Harvey wants to do is lay blame and not take any of it for himself.’
‘It’s a shame you two are no longer the little tykes running riot around my barn. You’d argue and then forget about it the next minute. Simpler times. But you’ll work it out.’
She wasn’t so sure. ‘I’ll get going. The smell drifting from your kitchen is making my tummy protest, I only had a small lunch from the service station.’ She grinned, keeping her voice low. ‘Don’t tell Harvey I said that, wouldn’t want him to think I’m complimenting his cookery skills.’ There had been enough looks passing back and forth between them that she felt the need to escape into the late afternoon sunshine for a while.
‘Are you still with your young man?’ Barney asked as she picked up her bag.
‘Yes, I’m still with Jay.’ Without a ring she didn’t feel right to announce her engagement yet. They were keeping it to themselves until they’d had a chance to pick something out, make it official.
When Harvey swore after dropping something in the kitchen Melissa took it as her cue to leave. She’d have to talk to Barney again later about the Wedding Dress Ball. Surely he hadn’t meant it when he said it wouldn’t run this year – and letting someone else be in charge was one thing, but not having it in the barn? That was even more crazy.
‘Come back here whenever you’re ready,’ Barney’s voice followed her, ‘and could you check the fridge on your way out to make sure we’ve enough milk?’
‘Plenty of milk,’ Harvey assured him.
Melissa already had her hand on the door to the fridge. ‘You sure?’
‘I said so, didn’t I?’
She didn’t miss his shoulders tense up as she stood so close she’d be able to reach out and touch him if she wanted to.
Glad to get away from the strained atmosphere at the house, she wondered what kind of reception she’d get at the pub. It could be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire, but at least there’d be alcohol on tap to ease her pain should she need it.
*
Harvey shook the spatula enough that the omelette slid onto the plate before taking it on a tray over to Barney. ‘There you go, some of my best work – fluffy eggs, ham, cheese and mushroom folded through.’
‘Thanks,’ Barney mumbled, picking up his cutlery.
Harvey had already helped him to the bathroom, slowly, and now he tried not to stare while Barney ate but rather to watch him surreptitiously while he was clearing up the frying pan and utensils at the sink. That was one hurdle overcome at least, getting Barney to have a proper meal. He’d barely eaten anything in the hospital whereas he usually had a hearty appetite, and if Harvey could make a few meals and be here to see him eat them, it would put his mind at rest.
Harvey retrieved the plate and the tray away to wash up. ‘Was it good to see Melissa?’ He wondered whether her presence would go some way towards convincing Barney that he should at least try to get better. He seemed to have more colour in his cheeks now, although that could be from the omelette he supposed.
