Page 54 of Be More Capybara

‘To a successful meal and a happy future,’ she said, clinking it against his.

‘I’ll drink to that.’

‘Shall we watch the sunset?’ she suggested.

‘Isn’t it too chilly?’

‘Not if we stay indoors. We can sit on Dad’s sofa. That’s where I usually start my evenings.’

She led him into the living room. ‘You sit there,’ she said, indicating the far end of the sofa.

‘Why have you kept it at this weird angle? I always wondered why he positioned it like this.’

‘There was method in his madness. If you lie lengthways and stick something under your head, you get a perfect view of the cove. Try it.’ She handed him a couple of cushions.

Nigel kicked off his shoes and lay down. The window framed the sunset perfectly. The colours in the sky reflected in the sea and the jagged cliffs on one side - it was like looking at a painting. He smiled. ‘I get it now. But you can’t enjoy the sunset with me hogging the sofa.’

‘I can if you sit up.’

He moved back into an upright position so she could sit next to him. They both turned their heads to look out of the window and watch the scenery change as the sun sank lower in the sky.

‘I see why you decided to keep this place,’ he said.

‘It’s my little haven from the ills of the world.’

‘We all need one of those.’

Helen turned to smile at him. ‘It will all work out in the end, you know. I felt terrible at times when Angus and I were divorcing, but now it’s behind me, I’m glad we called it a day.’

He knew she was right, but that hadn’t been what he’d been worrying about. He’d been talking himself out of leaning over and kissing her because being with Helen felt so normal, natural, easy. All the things that being with Madison had rarely ever been.

But if he kissed Helen, things wouldn’t be normal between them again for a long time - about twenty-five years based on previous experience.

‘I’d better check on those potatoes. I’m sure I was meant to put them on the middle shelf.’

40

NIGEL

‘Morning,’ Mark said. ‘You look tired again. Have you been to the gym already?’

Nigel looked up from his bowl of porridge. ‘No, I had a terrible night’s sleep.’

‘Woman trouble?’ Mark asked as he made himself a coffee.

‘In a way.’

‘You haven’t fallen out with Helen, have you?’

‘No, what makes you say that?’

‘Lucy heard you come in about eleven last night. We assumed you’d be staying out later than that.’

‘Why?’

‘You and Helen have been spending a lot of time together since you got back. We thought, you know, things might have progressed.’ He pulled a face.

Nigel huffed. ‘Chance would be a fine thing.’