Walter nodded. ‘The house is empty without you.’
Beth stared at him, trying not to read too much into it.
‘So is my heart,’ he added.
Beth blinked. ‘Excuse me?’
He froze, his expression closed. ‘Never mind. I shouldn’t have said anything.’ He turned away and she heard him mumble, ‘Stupid, so stupid.’
‘Walter!’ Her voice was sharp, but she couldn’t leave it like that. She couldn’t leavehim.She had to know if he meant what he’d said.
He stopped, his back to her.
‘Do you love me?’ she called, amazed and frightened at her boldness, dreading his reply. If he said no, if she’d got it wrong, she didn’t know how she would be able to face him again. She would die of embarrassment. Or possibly a broken heart. Either way, the result wouldn’t be pretty.
She saw his shoulders stiffen, read the tension in his back, and feared the answer.
‘Yes.’ Then a low, almost furious, ‘God help me.’ She guessed he didn’t want to love her but he couldn’t help himself. She understood that, because she felt the same way.
‘And I loveyou, Walter.’
He didn’t turn around, not for a long time, and the silence stretched between them.
Peg broke it. The dog came charging out of the house, thundered past Walter and threw herself at the car door, whimpering ecstatically.
In slow motion, Beth watched Walter topple as the dog unbalanced him.
Beth was out of the car in a second, pushing Peg away as she knelt beside him. ‘Are you hurt?’ she cried, scouring his face for signs of pain.
‘Only my pride. Damned dog. I swear she likes you better than me.’ He was on his side, gazing up at her, his expression as grumpy as when she’d first met him.
It made her laugh. ‘Thank goodness. For a minute, I thought I’d have to move back in.’
‘Would that be so bad?’
‘No…’
‘I love you, Beth.’ He pushed himself into a sitting position, as Beth fended off Peg’s enthusiastic licks. ‘Peg’s a good judge of character,’ Walter said. ‘She’s been pining after you.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘So have I. Can I kiss you?’
‘I think you should. But can I get up first? There’s a lump of gravel poking me in the bum.’
It took Beth two attempts to get to her feet, and Walter three. She had to help him up.
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ she asked.
‘I am now. How about that kiss?’
‘Go on then. And afterwards you can make me the cup of tea you promised, and I’ll have two pink wafers, please.’
‘You’re wish is my command.I’mgoing to look afteryoufor a change.’
Beth’s hand slipped into his. ‘How about we look after each other?’ she suggested. ‘That’s what married folk do.’
‘Beth Fairfax, are you proposing to me?’
‘Not on your nelly! If there’s any proposing to be done, I expectyouto do it. Anyway, I would probably say no – after all, we can’t stand the sight of each other, can we?’
‘Nope, that’s why I’m going to close my eyes when I kiss you. Now, stop talking woman, and pucker up.’
