The Antique Love by Helena Fairfax

“Are you all right?”
    “Yes, fine, Granddad.” She pulled off her wet coat. “I don’t need to work so late now, you know. Kurt’s going to help me with the accounts.”
    “Oh yes, the cowboy.”
    The cowboy from White River story had made Penny’s grandfather laugh out loud. Penny always tried to bring home a few light-hearted stories from her day to share with him over their evening meal, and he’d particularly enjoyed hearing about her meeting with Kurt. There was a time when she would have told her granddad everything—all her worries regarding the accounts and David’s aggressive behaviour before he dramatically quit—but these days she kept her problems to herself. Daniel was becoming increasingly frail. Penny had noticed the change in him and could date it from the day of her grandmother’s funeral two years ago. Since then, he had visibly shrunk. It was as though everything was an effort, and Penny was frightened to burden him with her worries in case he became physically ill.
    Kurt’s arrival was a blessing in more ways than one, since she no longer had to fret that her grandfather would discover the wretched state of the shop’s accounts. Penny knew instinctively that Kurt could be relied on to sort through the shop’s books with efficiency and tact.
    “I’m going to see Kurt’s house in Richmond at the weekend,” she told him, hoping to interest him in the project. “I brought home some brochures and stuff.” She lifted the paperwork out of her briefcase and set it on the kitchen table. “Thought you might be interested in helping me with some ideas.”
    It was the sort of project her granddad would normally pounce on with enthusiasm. Although too fragile for the everyday stresses and strains of business, he still shared the same passion for the world of antiques as Penny. So she was dismayed when he cast an absent glance at the documents before turning away.
    “Okay, love, I’ll have a look later…”
    His hands shook slightly as he lifted a saucepan onto the cooker. When Penny stepped toward him, she noticed his lined face was paler than usual.
    “Are you okay, Granddad?”
    He lit a match to the ring and then shook the flame out a little unsteadily. “David came round to see me this afternoon.”
    “David! What did he want?”
    “Said he wanted to give his side of the story. Tell me why he felt he had to leave. When I said you were in charge of the business now, that it was nothing to do with me, he started to get a little belligerent.”
    “He has no right bothering you at home.” Penny strode over to the sink to pour herself a glass of water. “He knows how things are, with Grandma dying and everything. After everything you’ve been through, he should be leaving you in peace to enjoy your retirement.” The water streamed out of the tap in a furious burst.
    “Yes. I know I’m officially retired, but I’m always here if you need help, Penny,” her granddad reminded her. “I’m not senile yet.”
    She turned round to see him leaning against the kitchen units. Suddenly he seemed incredibly fragile. She started forward.
    “I know, Granddad,” she said. “And I appreciate your help. That’s why I brought you the paperwork for Kurt’s house to look at. But as far as the accounts go, David needn’t worry. Kurt’s looking into them now.”
    “That’s what I told David,” he said. His eyes screwed up, and he rushed to finish his sentence. “And that’s when he started losing it. He started saying some terrible things. Said you were a dreamer and a romantic, and you wouldn’t last two minutes in business without him. The chap’s a total dope. You’re well rid of him.”
    Her grandfather caught hold of a chair back and gripped it. Penny hurried to place, her hand over his thin one, feeling the skin pathetically taut over his bones.
    “Granddad, don’t worry about me. I can look after myself. And I told you, I’ve got help anyway. Tehmeena’s great, and I’ve