With Rory in the house, I felt better, as though I didn’t have to face everything on my own. He cheerfully rebuilt Jem’s window frame and boarded up the broken window, but didn’t cover over the hole where I assumed the witch bottle had been.
‘I can put some filler in there, if you like?’ he said.
I shook my head. ‘Could you just leave it for now?’
He gave me a quizzical look but he agreed. Then he checked the wall and told me it was stable and the branch hadn’t done too much damage – much to my relief.
‘I can recommend a local glazier,’ he said, standing back to admire his handiwork. ‘Maybe a couple actually because there are broken windows all over the place and I think they’ll all be busy.’
It was warmer in the room already, now the wind wasn’t coming in, though obviously it was very dark. I switched on the light.
‘I wish I could just click my fingers and have it all sorted out,’ I said. ‘It’s a bit overwhelming.’
‘It’s hard when you’re on your own,’ he said sympathetically. ‘I remember after my divorce being paralysed with indecision in B&Q when I couldn’t decide which wallpaper to buy for my living room.’
I looked at him sharply. I hadn’t said I was single. He obviously realized what he’d done and looked sheepish. ‘Sorry, I just assumed …’
‘It’s fine,’ I said. ‘I’m divorced too. It’s just Jem and me here.’
‘I should go,’ he said, slightly awkwardly. ‘I need to see your neighbour too.’
‘I really appreciate you coming out so fast. If you give me your bank details, I can transfer the money,’ I said, pulling my phone from my pocket.
But Rory shook his head. ‘Nah, don’t worry. I’ll drop an invoice in later on.’
He grinned at me and I felt a tug of something – attraction? It had been a long time since I’d felt that. Perhaps it was just gratitude. I prided myself on being independent and capable but sometimes it was nice to have someone else lend a hand.
‘Do you have to rush off?’ I said suddenly. ‘Eva was taking a nap so she might not be awake yet. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve not eaten today and I’m starving. Fancy some lunch?’
He hesitated, and I thought he might say no, but then he smiled again. ‘Yes please. If you’re sure.’
I had some part-baked rolls in the freezer so I put those in the oven and warmed up a carton of soup. Then I laid it all out on the kitchen table with some cheese and Jem’s favourite ham – I’d have to get some more later – and we tucked in.
Rory was good company. He was a little prickly but he was funny and smart and interesting. We mostly talked about our jobs. I tensed, hoping he wouldn’t ask what my ex-husband had done. He asked a few questions about my work at the Haven instead.
‘They do really good work there,’ he said. ‘It’s important.’
He sounded very forceful. I wondered if the Haven had helped him – or more likely someone he knew, as they mainly helped women. ‘They do.’
‘And you work there for free?’
‘Yes, it’s voluntary.’
He seemed surprised by that and I felt the need to explain. ‘I’m trying to …’
‘Trying to?’
I shook my head. I’d been about to say that I was trying to make amends. For all the awful things Alistair had done. For believing him. For writing that stupid tweet. But nice as Rory was, I didn’t want to get into that. So I just smiled. ‘Trying to be a good person.’
I ate some of my soup, to give myself time to think, then I changed the subject. ‘How long have you been a carpenter?’
‘Not long,’ he said. ‘About five years. I was an accountant for years.’
I made a face and he laughed. ‘I know. Not the most exciting job. But it paid the bills.’
‘What made you decide to change career?’
He paused, looking thoughtful. ‘Michelle – my ex – and I broke up, and things got a bit on top of me there for a while.’
I felt a surge of sympathy for this quiet, quirky man. ‘Divorce is tough.’
‘I’d always been good at woodwork at school, and I’d done lots of jobs as a hobby. Building fitted wardrobes and that.’
‘A good choice, then?’
He looked straight at me, his eyes dark. ‘It wasn’t really a choice, but it’s worked out okay.’
I hadn’t finished my soup, but I wasn’t as hungry as I’d thought I was.
‘Do you have children?’ I asked, putting my spoon down.
Rory made a face. He tore a bit from his bread roll, scattering crumbs across the table and as he did so, he knocked over his glass of water. It spilled across the table and splashed onto the floor, soaking my own roll and dripping onto my lap.
‘God, I’m sorry,’ he said.
I jumped up and found some kitchen roll to mop it up. ‘Don’t worry, it’s only water,’ I said. ‘No harm done.’ Rory wiped up the spill on the table and I dabbed my trousers and dried the floor. Then he gave me a slightly awkward smile. ‘Thanks for lunch. Now I should really go next door and check your neighbour’s window.’
I went with him to make sure Eva was all right. She was absolutely fine. I stayed with her while Rory boarded up the back window and gave us the names of some glaziers, and we had yet another cup of tea and chatted some more as Rory worked. There was a moment, when I took his empty mug to wash it up and save Eva the bother, when our fingers touched and I felt that little pull of attraction towards him again. I pushed it away. I didn’t want a new man. Even if he was handsome and funny and handy, and absolutely nothing like Alistair.
When Rory had finished, I was saying goodbye to him from my own front garden just as Jem and Cassie came tumbling down the road.
‘Cassie wanted to see the tree,’ Jem announced, throwing her bag past me into the hall.
‘Hello, Miss Blyth,’ Cassie said.
‘Oh, Cassie, call me Tess,’ I said. I couldn’t get used to being Miss Blyth again after so long as Mrs Robertson.
Cassie grinned at me and I smiled back. I liked this new friend of my daughter. She was boisterous and funny and very supportive of Jem, unlike the girls at her old school. ‘How was school?’
‘Boring,’ said Jem. She held out her hand to Rory. ‘I’m Jemima,’ she said. ‘Everyone calls me Jem. And this is Cassie. You must be Rory.’
Looking vaguely taken aback, Rory took her outstretched hand and shook it. ‘Nice to meet you, Jem. I’ve boarded up your window.’
‘Thank you.’ She turned to me. ‘Is my bed wrecked?’
I screwed up my face. ‘I’ve binned the duvet and your curtains. I thought we could go out to the shopping centre in a while actually. Get some new ones?’
‘Cool.’
‘Would you like to come, Cassie?’
‘Can’t,’ Cassie said. ‘I’m at my dad’s tonight. We’re having pizza and film night.’
‘What are you watching?’ Jem asked.
Cassie shrugged. ‘It’s Thea’s turn so something rubbish.’
‘You don’t live with your dad?’ Rory said.
‘No.’ Cassie exchanged a look with Jem that said ‘weirdo’. ‘He and my mum split up.’
‘You must miss him.’
‘See him all the time,’ she said. ‘More than when they were married.’
‘Can I go and look at my room?’ Jem interrupted.
‘It’s not great, so brace yourself,’ I warned. ‘Just pop up, get changed out of your uniform and we can head to the shops.’
The girls dashed off. ‘Thank you again,’ I said to Rory. ‘I really don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t been around to help.’
He ducked his head, looking embarrassed by the praise. ‘Pleasure,’ he muttered.
Jem and Cassie came thundering back down the stairs. Jem was wearing jeans and a hoodie now. I turned to look at them and then turned back to Rory, who was watching our front fence swaying in the wind.
‘What?’ I said.
Rory didn’t need to reply. Instead we all looked on in silence as ever so slowly, the middle panel of the fence creaked loudly and fell over, hitting the grass at the front of our house with a small sigh.
‘Shit,’ I said.
Behind me, Rory put a hand on my shoulder. It felt nice. ‘I’ll fix it,’ he said.
‘Oh, Rory, you’ve already done so much.’
‘Honestly, it’ll take me ten minutes. I’ve got some offcuts in my van. Though it’ll be a different colour so you’ll need to paint the whole thing when it’s done. You go to the shops and I’ll have it sorted long before you get back.’
‘Really?’
‘Really.’
I turned round and smiled at him. ‘Thank you.’ Something passed between us, a connection that made me shiver. ‘I owe you one.’
‘I’ll remember,’ he said.
‘Make sure you do.’
‘Muuuum,’ Jem moaned, breaking the moment. ‘Are we going? Can we drop Cassie on the way?’
‘Yes,’ I said, flustered all of a sudden. ‘Let’s go. Grab a coat, Jem, and I’ll get my keys.’ I ran around finding my handbag and phone and car keys.
‘You’re absolutely sure?’ I said to Rory, who was already examining the hole in the fence.
‘I’m sure,’ he said. ‘Go. Shop. Have fun.’
‘Thank you.’ I squeezed his – impressively firm – arm. ‘Honestly, I really appreciate it.’
‘Any time,’ he said. He winked at me and for a second I felt a little bit giddy. And then I beeped the car to open the doors and the moment was gone.