The day progressed slowly, filled with small tasks until after lunch Jago said, ‘I think I’ll go somewhere and pick up emails and things. Do you want me to take your phone? Your emails would download and then you could read them.’
‘That would be nice,’ said Helena.
‘Get me a newspaper with a decent crossword in it,’ said Fred. ‘And if you can get in touch with my daughter, tell her I’m being very well looked after but I need to get somewhere I can move about more easily.’
‘I think she knows that, Fred,’ said Jago. ‘But I will pass on the message.’
Helena walked out with him to the car. ‘The trouble is,’ he said, ‘Fred’s daughter is struggling to afford the alterations. You do get some help from the government but not everything she needs.’
‘Oh dear, that’s worrying.’
‘It wouldn’t be worrying if she’d accept help from me! But she says her family has had enough from me and won’t take any more.’
Helena let her gaze take in what she now thought of as the Back-door View. ‘Isn’t there some way they could raise money from this place? It’s in such a heavenly spot. It would make the ideal holiday home – or rental. Anything really.’
He frowned. ‘Well,’ he said after a bit, ‘I suppose I could buy it from them, if they wanted to sell. I would be taking on a far greater mortgage load than I’m happy with, but if it did the trick for them I’d do it.’
‘Or maybe you pay for the renovations, etc., and pay yourself back from the lettings. Once you’re reimbursed the rental income would come to them. And they could come and stay too, when it’s done up. The cottage and the view would stay in the family.’
‘Why didn’t I think of that? It’s the perfect solution! Clever you! I’ll still have to borrow a fairly hefty amount but nothing like as massive.’
Excited, he put his arms round her and lifted her off the ground before giving her a big kiss on the cheek. ‘I’ll put it to Maureen; see what she says.’
When he came back from his trip a few hours later, he said, ‘First, the road’s back open; second, Gilly wants to hear from you ASAP; and finally, Maureen was delighted with your suggestion. I had to explain that the money for the repairs would be a loan and not a gift and she was quite happy. They’d thought they’d have to sell Fred’s house and although they knew it was for the best, they were very sad at the prospect. This way they can have their cake and eat it, so to speak.’ He grinned. ‘And as she’s accepted a quick injection of cash from me, her house will be Fred-friendly very soon.’ Now he looked more serious. ‘Then we can go home.’
Two mornings later Maureen and her husband came for Fred, which was a relief, for although Helena and Jago had developed techniques for looking after him, it had become increasingly clear he needed a properly modified home. When Helena heard a car drive up while Jago and Fred were in the bathroom, giving him a shower before his journey home, she went out to meet it.
‘So,’ said Maureen, a pleasant-looking woman in her fifties with a warm smile. ‘Are you the wonderful woman Jon has been talking about?’
Helena was thrown – partly by Maureen’s use of Jago’s old name but more by his apparent description of her. ‘I’m Helena,’ she said. ‘I can’t answer for anything else.’
‘You are wonderful because you’ve been helping Jon look after my dad so just accept the compliment.’ She gave Helena a quick hug. ‘It’s been a bit of a nightmare, getting the house ready for Dad.’
‘I bet,’ said Helena.
‘But Jon has saved the day, again!’
‘Well, he told me that Fred saved him when he was in a very dark place. So he’s delighted to be able to give something back.’
‘He’s given back with interest!’ said Maureen.
‘Come in,’ said Helena. ‘Though it’s your house really. I put the kettle on ages ago. It’s probably boiled dry by now. Jago – Jon is giving Fred a shower for the journey home.’
‘Not easy with that dreadful thing you put on the taps. I never have been able to work it without soaking the bathroom and myself.’
‘Oh no, nor me!’ said Helena. ‘Now, tea – or would you prefer coffee?’
They had a quick chat before Maureen said, ‘Well, Dad, it’s time we were getting off.’
Fred looked as if he would argue and then said, ‘I suppose you’re right. Not that Newport is that far …’
‘It will take us a while to settle you in the other end,’ said Maureen. ‘And the family are all eager to see you.’
Fred smiled. ‘They’re a good lot. I’m very lucky.’
When the car had driven away, leaving them waving on the hilltop, Helena realised she would miss Fred. She’d become very fond of him and remembered her mother saying that when you look after something or someone you begin to care about them.
‘He is a lovely person,’ she said. ‘I really like him.’
‘And he likes you, too.’
‘Really? How do you know?’
‘He told me. He said, “Don’t let that one slip through your fingers, young Jonathan. You’ll regret it forever.”’
‘Oh,’ said Helena, feeling herself blush.
‘Yes. He’s very wise, is Fred.’ He moved around so his arms encircled her. ‘What do you say to us making us a permanent thing?’
‘What do you mean?’ She looked up at him, fairly certain she knew but not quite sure enough to reply without clarification.
‘I’m asking you to marry me.’ He gazed down at her, a sense of wonder in his expression. ‘I’d decided I wasn’t going to try the whole marriage thing again. It was such a disaster before. But you’re different.’
A thousand thoughts and questions floated through Helena’s mind like motes of dust. Could she trust him? And did he love her as much as she loved him?
Her silence made him talk more. ‘I’ve never met a girl like you, Helena, so sweet and kind and yet so maddeningly attractive! I didn’t realise girls came in that model. I thought they were all selfish and narcissistic. But, to be honest, I think I’d have fallen in love with you even if you hadn’t rescued the kitten or done anything kind. I know it hasn’t been long but it feels right. I feel I’ve met my other half.’
‘But how do you know it’s real? You thought you were in love before.’
‘Because it’s happened without me realising it. I love you, Helena, for better, for worse. And if you leave me, you should know I’ll go on loving you for the rest of my life. I realise it’s not easy for you because you don’t know who is declaring their love to you. Is it Jonathan? Or is it Jago? Well, I’ll tell you, it’s Jago. Jonathan was the boy who was made a man by bad things happening to him. But can you believe me? Can you trust me?’
Helena’s uncertainty left her as surely as if had never been there. Of course she could trust him – and he had told her he loved her pretty clearly. ‘Oh, Jago! Of course. And yes, I’d love to marry you.’
He gave a deep sigh of relief before his hold on her tightened and he kissed her.
