put his arms around her. ‘You ’ad smooth and devoted from that womanising idiot you was married to, remember?’ He nuzzled into her neck, his beard tickling her. ‘But I reckon I suit you better.’
Helen felt her shoulders relax. She had missed him too. ‘I need to turn the roast potatoes.’
‘They’ll be fine for a couple more minutes.’
She ducked out of his arms with a kiss. ‘The reason you and I work is because you give me the space to be me and I give you the space to be you.’
Piran’s eyes, as dark as the night ocean and as deep, softened. ‘I don’t say this often, but thank you for putting up with me. I know I’m a pain in the arse at times.’
‘Most of the time, actually.’
‘But we belong together. I don’t know what I would do without you.’
Helen frowned comically. ‘Who are you? What have you done with Piran Ambrose? The grumpy, selfish, commitment-phobe I call my boyfriend?’
‘If you’re gonna be like that, I’m off to the pub then.’
There was a knock at the door.
‘That’s them.’ Helen looked around at the untidied kitchen. ‘Shit.’
‘All right. All right. I’ll let them in.’ Piran moved to the door. ‘You get a bottle out of the fridge.’
‘I do love you,’ she said.
Piran growled a bit before saying, ‘Likewise.’
‘This is so kind of you.’ Angela handed her coat to Piran. ‘Our first night out for a long time, isn’t it, Robert?’
‘I can’t remember the last time.’ He looked around at the inside of Gull’s Cry, Helen’s cottage. ‘This is lovely.’
‘Very small,’ said Helen, passing her guests a glass of cold wine each. ‘But I love it.’
‘Typical cottage for this area,’ said Piran. ‘Villagers round here didn’t have money to build mansions like up in London.’
‘I love the way the front door opens straight into the lounge, it’s so welcoming. And the fireplace is wonderful.’ Angela smiled. ‘Can I see the kitchen?’
‘Sure. It’s almost the same size as the sitting room. Come and see.’
‘Another Aga! I’m not sure how to use the one in the vicarage. I’m learning as I go but maybe you could give me some tips?’
‘Of course.’ Helen was liking Angela more and more. ‘It’s basically like a camp fire. Use common sense. When you have time I’ll come over and show you. Penny couldn’t get her head round it at the start either but now she really is a good cook.’
Over dinner, Angela had to get something off her chest. ‘Piran, I must apologise for our first meeting on the beach, and also thank you for saving my aunt’s life. She was very rude to you.’
Helen answered, ‘I suspect Piran may have been less than charming to your aunt. He doesn’t always remember to take his charm pills.’
‘The water was bleddy cold, woman!’ Piran said. ‘It didn’t improve my mood. But I am sorry if I caused offence to an old lady. I may have been a bit gruff.’
Robert stepped in. ‘You’d better not let her hear you calling her an old lady. She believes she’s still in her prime.’
‘She is!’ said Angela. ‘More stamina than any of us. But she does tend to be free with her opinions and that day she was less than gracious to you.’
‘Was she OK? Afterwards?’ Piran asked.
‘Right as rain,’ smiled Angela. ‘But thank you again for rescuing her.’
Helen stood up and collected the empty plates from her guests. As she put them in the dishwasher she asked Piran, ‘Would you get the fruit salad and ice cream out the fridge, darling?’
‘Ice cream? No clotted?’ he asked.
‘I didn’t get any. Did you?’ Helen asked pointedly.
‘Why would I get clotted cream?’ he said, pulling the bowl of chopped fruit out of the fridge.
‘Well, if you like it, you can get it,’ smiled Helen. ‘That’s the way things work around here.’
She took the bowl from him and placed it into the centre of the table while he pulled a tub of Cornish vanilla ice cream from the freezer.
Piran sat down and said to Robert, ‘Women ’spect us to be bleddy mind readers. Sometimes, I come in here to see Helen, and from the look on her face I can tell I have failed a test I didn’t even know I was taking.’
Robert looked at Angela and thought better of agreeing with Piran. ‘Well, you know, sometimes perhaps we are just preoccupied with our own things and forget that. I mean, Angela and I have decided to reverse our roles for this coming year. She has always been the one at home, keeping the home fires burning, shouldering the child care. I never had to think about anything domestic. She did it all while I worked in the world I love. Now, I shall do the same for her while she’s here.’
‘Oh, aye? Gonna be one of them househusbands, are you?’ growled Piran.
‘Yes,’ smiled Robert. ‘And happily.’
Helen passed a bowl of fruit to Robert. ‘Well, I think that’s wonderful. It’s high time some of the men in this village had a bit of a shake-up and began to value what the women do around here.’
‘Was that aimed at me?’ Piran said gruffly. ‘’Cos you know perfectly well, Helen Merrifield, that I treat all people as equals.’
‘I do know,’ Helen answered, ‘you treat all people equally badly.’ She handed a bowl to Angela, laughing. ‘And yet, beneath that beard and hard exterior, this man here is the kindest man I have ever known.’
Piran tucked into his pudding with a dark look.
‘You are, Piran. And you know it.’ Helen took his free hand and addressed Robert and Angela. ‘He and the Reverend Simon have known each other since they were boys. They swam, fished and surfed together. When Simon was deciding to go into the Church, it was Piran he turned to. And when the opportunity to help in Brazil came, Piran was the one who encouraged him. And when Piran had a difficult time some years back, Simon was there for him.’
Angela was sympathetic. ‘May I ask what happened?’
Piran put his spoon down and rubbed his chin. ‘My fiancée was killed by a hit-and-run driver.’
‘Shit,’ said Robert.
‘’Twas,’ Piran said bluntly.
‘It’s why Simon and Penny’s daughter is called Jenna. In honour of the memory of Piran’s girlfriend,’ Helen finished.
‘That’s
