Page 11 of Be More Capybara

Nigel was tickling Rocky’s tummy now. ‘That’s because I’m still working out what they are.’

‘Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. Perhaps Helen will give you a tour of Dashford? Show you everything that’s changed.’

Helen wasn’t sure what Nancy meant by that, but before she could ask, Nigel piped up. ‘Sounds like Helen’s going to be too busy to be my tour guide.’

Not the most enthusiastic response. She ought to make her excuses and go before she made a fool of herself. After all, why would he want to spend time with her? She’d always been amazed that the posh public school boy from the big house had been happy to hang out with a girl from the local comp. Now he was used to socialising with sophisticated Manhattan women, why would he give her a second glance?

But there was part of her that didn’t want to give up on Nigel entirely. ‘I’ll let you have my number. Give me a shout if you’re ever free.’

Nigel gave her a half smile. ‘Yeah. Why not?’

7

NIGEL

The kitchen seemed strangely empty now Helen and Rocky had left.

‘Tea, Nigel?’ Nancy asked as she cleared away the mugs from earlier.

‘No thanks. I’ve drunk more tea in the last 14 hours than I have in the last year.’

She laughed. ‘You’ve obviously been deprived.’

Nigel got up from the table. ‘I fancy a nap. The jet lag’s catching up on me.’

Not quite true. He was tired but not enough to sleep - he’d had so many thoughts whirling around his head when he got up this morning, and now bumping into Helen had added a whole lot more. He desperately needed some time alone to think it all through.

‘Do you want me to wake you for lunch? We’re eating at 12.30 so Julia and her family have got time to travel back to Yorkshire.’

The last thing Nigel wanted to do was be sociable, but if he didn’t join in, it would look rude.

‘Yes, please.’

He headed for the kitchen door. There was one major thing that had been bugging him since Helen’s conversation with Klaus. ‘Mother dearest?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you know I’d meet Helen on the cliff path this morning?’

Nancy concentrated on swilling out the teapot. ‘What are you suggesting? That I’m some form of witch?’

‘No. It’s just a helluva coincidence. And with Klaus seeing her up there a couple of days ago, it could look like you deliberately sent me that way?’

Nancy raised an eyebrow at him. ‘You have such a suspicious nature. You should’ve been a lawyer, not an accountant.’ She filled the teapot with boiling water. ‘Dashford is a small place, darling. You were bound to bump into her sooner or later.’

‘Helen said that too.’

‘There you are then. We can’t both be wrong. The Universe must have been working to bring you together.’

‘You don’t believe in … how did you used to put it … all that nonsense.’

‘Let’s call it a lucky coincidence then. You were pleased to see her, weren’t you?’

‘Possibly.’

‘So what’s the problem?’

The problem was that Nigel was already struggling to come to terms with being dumped by Madison. And now fate, or more likely his mother, had thrown the woman he’d walked away from 25 years ago into the mix. Coming back to England had felt like a good idea, but he hadn’t factored in encountering Helen. Not so soon, anyway.