said slowly, not understanding.
They continued eating in silence, chewing their food without enjoying it until Claudine lifted her head. ‘I think I hear a car,’ she said.
Bethan was ready to go in a flash. In fact, as she tore down the path, Daniel had the impression that she was relieved to be going out. He decided to leave the car outside the police house and walk, with the two girls, through the gate at the back of the garden and across the field, then down to one of the tributaries of the river. They armed themselves with nets and two large Tupperware containers complete with lids. The girls ran on ahead, shouting and laughing and Daniel had to run to keep up with them. The breeze was cool in his face, the sunshine bright enough to make him squint through the trees dappling the light. At the bottom of the slope he could see the sharp glint of Perle Brook. He met one or two dog walkers and a courting couple who giggled and flushed as they greeted him.
He sighed. Today he was off duty. He didn’t want to think about anyone – not Anna-Louise or Chelsea or Cora or even Maud Allen. He only wanted to think about his daughter, her friend, spring sunshine and the tadpoles they were sure to catch.
Chapter Four
They were back at the police house by four o’clock, the girls chattering excitedly as though they had been friends for years.
Claudine looked at Daniel, hopping around on the doorstep, his hands still occupied with the Tupperware containers and their wriggling contents. ‘Why don’t you and Holly stay for supper, Daniel?’ she suggested as the girls scampered upstairs. ‘It’s nothing special, I warn you – just some chicken, but I’m sure Holly would enjoy it and I expect you enjoy being cooked for.’
He had the feeling her ‘nothing special’ was on a different plane than his and he couldn’t deny it, he would love to be cooked for. Not just Mrs Hubbard’s left-outs but properly cooked for. It is something married men value cheaply but once home cooking is gone they quickly miss it.
He read the warmth in her toffee-coloured eyes behind the invitation and just as clearly he sensed that PC Anderton wasn’t quite so keen on the idea.
Perhaps his wife picked up on it too. She swivelled around to challenge him. ‘We do want them to come, don’t we, Brian, and I always cook too much. I can’t bear the thought of being short of food.’
It would have been very churlish for the policeman to say no, and yet Daniel sensed that the word was on the tip of his tongue. Since his divorce he was beginning to realise that, whereas females found him an amiable challenge, males sensed something predatory about his single status and wanted to lock up their women. Inwardly he gave a wry smile. He wasn’t
that
attractive or Elaine wouldn’t have walked out on him. He knew he was average-looking, a bit on the bony side. He wouldn’t have minded being a couple of inches taller and he tended towards round shoulders from spending his youth poring over books.
So he eyed the policeman warily and waited. Failing to meet his glance, Brian gave a grudging nod and Daniel accepted.
So that was that.
His eyes moved from husband to wife, careful to address them both. ‘Actually,’ he said, ‘it would be really nice. I’m sure your cooking’s better than mine, Claudine.’ Now was his chance to reassure Brian Anderton that he wasn’t chasing after his wife. But he breathed in her fresh, clean scent, oranges mingled with sunshine. If she was single, he added mentally, it would be a different matter.
He gave himself a cop out. ‘Perhaps I’d better just check with Holly, see if it’s OK with her.’
‘Don’t worry, Daniel,’ Claudine said, her foot already on the bottom stair. ‘I’ll go and ask her myself. Brian, why don’t you put the tadpoles in the kitchen then pour Daniel a beer?’
‘OK. Yeah. Sorry.’ The policeman was obviously abstracted. ‘Lager OK?’
‘Yes. Thanks.’ Daniel nodded.
They continued eating in silence, chewing their food without enjoying it until Claudine lifted her head. ‘I think I hear a car,’ she said.
Bethan was ready to go in a flash. In fact, as she tore down the path, Daniel had the impression that she was relieved to be going out. He decided to leave the car outside the police house and walk, with the two girls, through the gate at the back of the garden and across the field, then down to one of the tributaries of the river. They armed themselves with nets and two large Tupperware containers complete with lids. The girls ran on ahead, shouting and laughing and Daniel had to run to keep up with them. The breeze was cool in his face, the sunshine bright enough to make him squint through the trees dappling the light. At the bottom of the slope he could see the sharp glint of Perle Brook. He met one or two dog walkers and a courting couple who giggled and flushed as they greeted him.
He sighed. Today he was off duty. He didn’t want to think about anyone – not Anna-Louise or Chelsea or Cora or even Maud Allen. He only wanted to think about his daughter, her friend, spring sunshine and the tadpoles they were sure to catch.
Chapter Four
They were back at the police house by four o’clock, the girls chattering excitedly as though they had been friends for years.
Claudine looked at Daniel, hopping around on the doorstep, his hands still occupied with the Tupperware containers and their wriggling contents. ‘Why don’t you and Holly stay for supper, Daniel?’ she suggested as the girls scampered upstairs. ‘It’s nothing special, I warn you – just some chicken, but I’m sure Holly would enjoy it and I expect you enjoy being cooked for.’
He had the feeling her ‘nothing special’ was on a different plane than his and he couldn’t deny it, he would love to be cooked for. Not just Mrs Hubbard’s left-outs but properly cooked for. It is something married men value cheaply but once home cooking is gone they quickly miss it.
He read the warmth in her toffee-coloured eyes behind the invitation and just as clearly he sensed that PC Anderton wasn’t quite so keen on the idea.
Perhaps his wife picked up on it too. She swivelled around to challenge him. ‘We do want them to come, don’t we, Brian, and I always cook too much. I can’t bear the thought of being short of food.’
It would have been very churlish for the policeman to say no, and yet Daniel sensed that the word was on the tip of his tongue. Since his divorce he was beginning to realise that, whereas females found him an amiable challenge, males sensed something predatory about his single status and wanted to lock up their women. Inwardly he gave a wry smile. He wasn’t
that
attractive or Elaine wouldn’t have walked out on him. He knew he was average-looking, a bit on the bony side. He wouldn’t have minded being a couple of inches taller and he tended towards round shoulders from spending his youth poring over books.
So he eyed the policeman warily and waited. Failing to meet his glance, Brian gave a grudging nod and Daniel accepted.
So that was that.
His eyes moved from husband to wife, careful to address them both. ‘Actually,’ he said, ‘it would be really nice. I’m sure your cooking’s better than mine, Claudine.’ Now was his chance to reassure Brian Anderton that he wasn’t chasing after his wife. But he breathed in her fresh, clean scent, oranges mingled with sunshine. If she was single, he added mentally, it would be a different matter.
He gave himself a cop out. ‘Perhaps I’d better just check with Holly, see if it’s OK with her.’
‘Don’t worry, Daniel,’ Claudine said, her foot already on the bottom stair. ‘I’ll go and ask her myself. Brian, why don’t you put the tadpoles in the kitchen then pour Daniel a beer?’
‘OK. Yeah. Sorry.’ The policeman was obviously abstracted. ‘Lager OK?’
‘Yes. Thanks.’ Daniel nodded.
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