Page 9 of Be More Capybara

‘Yeah.’

He didn’t say any more. They walked on in silence for another minute until they reached the back gate in The Grange’s garden wall.

‘How long is it since we last walked this way?’ she asked, thinking out loud more than anything.

‘August 1999. It was throwing it down with rain.’

So he remembered. ‘And you gallantly gave me your waterproof because I’d stupidly come out without one.’

‘You were never a fan of planning ahead,’ he said, laughing.

She grinned. ‘We can’t all be as organised as you, Nigel.’

5

NIGEL

‘I’m back.’ Nigel shouted from the boot room. ‘I’ve brought a visitor.’

No reply.

‘I guess they’re all busy,’ he said to Helen. He was glad. He didn’t want to share her with anyone else just yet.

‘Will they be alright with Rocky?’ she asked.

‘I don’t see why not. Is he housetrained?’

Rocky gave him a sad look. Nigel fondled his ear.

‘I think he’s taken to you. And yes, he’s fine. He’s normally very well-behaved. Unless you’ve got any small furry animals around.’

‘We’re an animal-free zone these days. Mum never replaced Basil. I miss having a dog. Madison was not a fan.’

‘That’s a shame. I remember Basil. Angus preferred labs too. But he took Benny with him when he left.’

‘Angus?’

‘My husband. Ex-husband now.’

That answered that question. His mother had casually mentioned that Helen was getting married a couple of years after he’d gone to New York. He remembered the pang of disappointment he’d felt and how he’d concentrated on counting the baubles on the office Christmas tree to stop himself from sobbing down the phone. Though why he’d ever thought he could go back and pick up where they left off after so long without contacting her he didn’t know. He met Madison shortly after that. Would he have thrown himself into a new relationship if he’d thought he still had a chance with Helen?

‘Is it ok if I leave my boots there?’ Helen asked, pointing to the shoe rack.

‘Yes. You know the drill. You’ve been here often enough.

Their conversation seemed stilted again. Helen probably felt awkward being back in this house after so long. He’d be the same way if she’d taken him back to her parents. And it was surreal bumping into one another. What were the odds of that?

‘Nigel, are you ok?’

‘Yes, sorry. I was just wondering what the chances of our paths crossing like this were.’

‘Not that low, I’d have said. It would have happened soon enough. Dashford’s tiny. It certainly feels that way after living in London for so long. It must be even more noticeable for you.’

‘I hadn’t really thought. I’ve barely set foot outside The Grange yet.’

‘When were you last here?’

‘Dad’s funeral.’