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‘Don’t you have somewhere better to be?’ he asked.
‘I have the day off for Christmas shopping. Company policy.’ She gave a small shrug. ‘I don’t need a day for that, but I’d be mad not to take a day off when it’s offered, right? So I thought I’d get some air and then maybe do some baking.’
‘Baking, eh?’’ Victor nodded. ‘My wife was a keen baker.’
‘I like to bake too,’ Leif said, and Victor and Flora turned to look at him as if they’d forgotten he was there. ‘Cakes, pies, biscuits… you name it.’
‘We could have a bake-off.’ Flora smiled at him and his stomach fluttered like it had been filled with butterflies. ‘And Victor here can be our taste tester.’
Victor chuckled. ‘Now you’re talking. I really would like that.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Leif said. ‘A Christmas bake-off.’ Things had progressed quickly from Victor being knocked over to Leif baking him cakes but his relief at seeing the elderly man wasn’t injured or holding a grudge made him happy to agree to anything.
‘Right then Victor, let’s get you home and into the warm,’ Flora said.
‘If you don’t mind, I’ll come too just to make sure you get home safe.’ Leif clipped Magnus’s lead to his collar.
‘The more the merrier,’ Victor replied.
And they set off for Victor’s home, Leif watching Victor carefully all the way for signs of injury. He was enormously relieved that the elderly man was walking without pain or hindrance. Otherwise, he’d have had to carry him or get a saddle on Magnus as Victor had suggested, and he wasn’t sure what his dog would think about that…
Chapter 3
Flora
When they reached Victor’s home, he got the key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.
‘Thank you for seeing me home,’ he said, standing in the doorway.
‘Don’t you want me to come in and make you that cuppa?’ Flora asked.
Victor removed his cap and rubbed a hand over his shiny head. ‘Well… uhhh…’
‘If you don’t, it’s no problem. But I…’ She turned and looked at Leif who bobbed his head. ‘I mean,we… would be happy to come in and sit with you for a while.’
Victor glanced behind him into the hallway, and it occurred to Flora that there might be a reason why he didn’t want them seeing the inside of his home. She knew that he’d lost his wife recently, from what he’d said when they’d spoken at the shop, and she knew how hard that could be on anyone, especially an elderly man who’d been used to having his wife help him run their home.
‘Victor,’ she said. ‘I don’t know if this is what might be worrying you, and if not, then please don’t take offence, but are you worried about us seeing anything inside?’
Victor closed his eyes for a moment and pressed his lips together. ‘I haven’t been as… as tidy as I would like. Things have just got a bit… overwhelming since I lost my Mavis.’
‘Victor,’ Flora reached out and touched his hand, ‘There’s no judgement from me or from Leif.’
‘None at all,’ Leif said. ‘I live with this giant dog so I’m used to mess. It’s impossible to keep my place clean and tidy with him bounding around all the time slobbering over everything and leaving balls and chew toys everywhere.’
Victor gave a small nod then stepped inside and waved them in. ‘Come in then but please… ignore the mess. I really need to have a good tidy up.’
In the hallway, they all removed their coats and hats, and Flora was about to remove her boots but Victor held up a hand. ‘Leave them on, Flora. The carpets need a vacuum. No sense in dirtying your socks.’
‘OK then.’ Flora smiled but she felt bad for Victor. He was clearly a proud man and it was hard for him to admit that he wasn’t keeping things the way he’d have liked. It could be difficult for elderly people to keep their home in order though, she knew that, and for Victor who had lost his wife, there were probably days when he couldn’t be bothered to clean around. She wondered if he had any help at all or family around who checked in on him. ‘Direct me to the kitchen, Victor, and you can go and put your feet up in front of the TV.’
Victor wavered for a moment but then he pointed at the door at the rear of the hallway and Flora went in that direction but before she entered the kitchen she heard Victor say,
‘You can bring the dog through to the lounge, Leif. But he mustn’t go on the furniture.’
‘Thank you, Victor, and don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of allowing him on the furniture.’
She glanced back and Leif flashed her a grin before he followed Victor into the lounge. And something about the grin made her heart skip a beat.
