‘I will, after I’ve finished my tea.’ He jabbed the fork into a piece of sausage and shovelled it into his mouth, then chewed vigorously.
‘Look, Walter,’ Dulcie said. ‘We’re not being deliberately awkward. We care about you, and we want to make sure you can cope on your own before we take you home.’
He sighed, pushing his empty plate away. Having a broken leg and being cross about it hadn’t affected his appetite, Beth noticed. She was pleased he’d enjoyed her cooking, though.
He said, ‘I know you care, but I need to be in my own home.’
‘This used to be your home, can’t it be your home again for the time being?’
‘No. It’s yours and Otto’s.’ His voice was firm. ‘It’s not mine. There’s been too many changes.’
‘Oh, Walter, I’m so sorry.’ Beth saw that Dulcie had tears in her eyes.
He said, ‘You’ve nothing to be sorry for. It’s only natural you wanted to make the place yours.’
‘It’s yours, too, Walter. It always will be.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, my lovely girl. My house is the cottage down the lane now. And I want to return to it.’
‘Walter, I—’
He slapped his palm down on the table, making Beth jump. ‘Damn it, Dulcie, I’m old enough and ugly enough to know what’s best for me.’
Beth snorted, disagreeing with both parts of that statement. Old didn’t necessarily mean wise, or even sensible. And he certainly wasn’t ugly. He wasn’t bad looking at all, despite his face being on the rugged side. It must be from all those years working outdoors.
‘What you need is a housekeeper,’ Beth said.
‘Are you offering?’
‘Not likely. I couldn’t think of anything worse than listening to you carping, like you did today. On and on, grizzle, grizzle, moan, moan.’
Dulcie was staring at her, her gaze intense.
‘What?’ Beth demanded.
‘Mum, you’re a genius.’
‘I am?’
‘Hear me out,’ Dulcie began, and Beth’s spirits sank. Nothing good ever followed those three little words. Dulcie said, ‘Being Walter’s housekeeper is a great idea. He would be happier, and you would be doing Otto and me a massive favour.’
Beth was shaking her head. ‘No, definitely not. No way!’ Could she be any clearer? ‘Over my dead body.’
‘That could be arranged,’ Walter muttered. ‘There is no way that woman is staying in my house.’
Dulcie smiled at him. ‘Even if it means you can stay there too?’
‘Don’t I get any say in this?’ Beth demanded hotly.
‘Of course you do. If you don’t feel you can look after Walter in his own house, you can help look after him here. But can you keep the noise down when you’re doing it? One of my callers thought there was a domestic going on and asked if they should call the police.’
Beth glowered at her. Hadn’t she been helping already? And what thanks had Walter given her? None, that’s what. He’d done nothing but complain, and whine, and—
An idea struck her. Walter in his own home would be a less miserable Walter. If he stayed here he would continue to gripe, and she didn’t think she could face another day of him carping. And once he was back in his cottage, she would do her utmost to convince Dulcie and Otto that he could manage on his own. Then she could move back into the farmhouse and enjoy some peace and quiet until her house was ready for her.
The surprise on Walter’s face when she said, ‘Okay, I’ll do it,’ was the highlight of her day.
CHAPTER SIX
