Page 62 of Be More Capybara

‘Only Helen.’

Nancy nodded. ‘I know you think I’m a meddling matchmaker, but it really is frustrating watching the two of you walking on eggshells around one another.’

‘Well, you said it earlier. I love her more than she loves me.’

‘That isn’t actually what I said. I said you thought she didn’t love you as much as you love her.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘You’re back to matchmaking again.’

‘I notice you haven’t invited Helen here for Sunday lunch yet,’ Nancy said.

‘Her boys were making her lunch today.’

‘But there have been several other Sundays. They come round with amazing regularity.’

‘I didn’t think it was my place to invite her.’

‘This is your home. Of course you can ask her over. And you know how I love having guests. Particularly ones who already feel like part of the family. Why would you think she wasn’t welcome?’

‘It’s not that. Visiting here can be intimidating sometimes.’

‘Are you saying I don’t make our guests feel welcome? Helen was in and out of this kitchen for years when you were younger. If she found us intimidating, she would’ve kept away.’

‘There’s always that undercurrent of “why aren’t the two of you an item?” Helen and I are friends and nothing more.’

‘When have I ever pushed you two together?’

‘Apart from your comments just now? New Year’s Day. I hadn’t seen her for donkey’s years, and you were clearly angling for me to ask her out.’

‘I thought you’d appreciate more time together to catch up, that’s all.’ Nancy rinsed her mug under the tap. ‘You were always so much happier when she was around when you were younger. Anyway, you did ask her out.’

He sighed. ‘Not on a date. I just wanted to see how she was faring after her divorce.’

‘And after that, you needed to know how well she plays tennis, how good she is at walking, how much she enjoys swimming and eating out, and how good she is at teaching you to cook again.’

‘We’re friends. Friends spend time together doing things they enjoy. And how did you know about the cooking?’

‘I’m not deaf and blind - I heard the conversation you had with her this morning about whether you should parboil the potatoes because you couldn’t get the same variety that you used on Tuesday. Did she advise you to abandon the meringues and go out to Marks & Sparks as well?’

He laughed. ‘No, that was entirely my own decision, though she did text me to say they were beyond saving when I sent her a photo.’

‘I’m grateful for that. I saw them in the bin. I’m not sure how you got them so wrong.’

‘It’s a good job I have no desire to become a chef. But to get back to your original question, I would like Helen to join us for Sunday lunch, but please resist any potential daughter-in-law-related conversations. I don’t want to scare her off.’

Nancy raised her eyebrows. ‘So you’ll invite her next Sunday?’ she asked as she grabbed a tea bag from the jar.

Nigel got up. ‘I’m supposed to be making that tea for you.’

‘It seemed like it needed a little help to get into the teapot,’ she said. ‘And don’t change the subject.’

He grinned. She wasn’t going to let this go, and let’s face it, he would love Helen to be there on Sundays. ‘I’ll ask her when we go for a walk tomorrow.’

‘Excellent. I promise I will steer clear of any conversations involving rings, living arrangements, and weddings. I will treat her just like I’ve always treated Em and Jack.’

That wasn’t remotely reassuring, given that he suspected his mother had had a significant hand in getting Jack and Em together. Perhaps if he briefed Helen first, it would be less of a risk.

‘And she can bring Rocky too. It would be lovely to have a dog around the house again.’