‘Yesterday, I was checking the food cupboard to make sure nothing had expired and right at the back, I found a sachet of cheese sauce.’ She grinned. ‘I’d been making the sauce from scratch and I’d totally forgotten she used a packet mix.’
He could feel his fingers almost touching hers now, as though each of them had subconsciously moved closer. ‘I suppose the big question is… are you going to make cauliflower cheese using a packet mix or not?’
‘I don’t know. I’d rather fresh but if it tastes the same as Mum’s…’
‘Treat yourself.’
‘I could make it for you,’ she suggested. ‘You know, seeing as you “cooked”for me.’ She put the word cooked in air quotes.
‘Hey, less dissing of the cheese and Branston on toast.’ The dog’s ears pricked up and his tail thwacked against his basket. ‘Not you,’ they both chorused with laughter.
‘I’m not dissing your cooking at all. But maybe I’ll make it. One day next week before the last market session for you. A going away meal. You’re still planning on heading back to Wales at the same time?’
‘I think so.’
‘It’s not definite?’ Was it his imagination or did she sound as eager as he felt that that plan might change? ‘Is it because you’re still worrying about your dad being on his own?’
‘I think that will always be a worry. A lot of that stems from Mum and the guilt but I know I have to back off. I know it’s been a lot for Dad to have me stressing over what will happen when he’s doing pretty well here.’
‘Very well,’ she agreed. ‘You can go back to Wales and know that he’s all right.’
He caught her gaze then. ‘What if I don’t want to go?’
She bit down on her bottom lip, a habit he’d noticed she did when she was nervous and thinking hard. ‘But you’re here for four weeks.’
‘What if I’m not?’ The air between them was thick, barely allowing for breath. But then it dawned on him, again, as if he needed reminding, that he had no right to suggest anything when she was with someone. She had a fiancé, a plan. ‘You’re right, four weeks is what I planned for. And I’ve got jobs lined up when I get back. I can’t let people down.’
‘No, I don’t suppose you can.’ Looking around the workshop, she asked, ‘What’s under the sheet over there?’
He went over and unveiled the item. ‘This was what I was making for Mum.’
She came over and ran her hand across the rustic, reclaimed wood. ‘It’s gorgeous.’
He crouched down on his haunches the same way she was. ‘It’s a blanket box. I told you Mum had a lot of blankets – I thought she could perhaps store them all in this at the foot of the bed.’ The summer heat coming in through the open door wasn’t the only rise in temperature he could feel being this close to Morgan.
He didn’t miss her swallow, the delicate movement in her neck hard to look away from.
And then she lost her balance and fell against him rather than the blanket box.
‘I’m sorry,’ she laughed. ‘Balance never was my strong point.’ She pulled a wisp of hair away from her mouth and stood up.
‘You’ve got sawdust on your knees.’ Still crouched down, he brushed them gently to get rid of the debris. And when he looked up at her, the way she watched him had to be more than friendship, didn’t it?
But there was the engagement ring again, glinting right next to his face.
He stood up, so close and yet with more distance between them than he wanted. His chest rose on a breath. ‘I’ve been that guy, Morgan.’
‘What guy?’
‘The one on the side. I didn’t know at the time, but if I had, I never would’ve got involved. I won’t do it again.’ And yet he still wanted the kiss so badly, it hurt.
She looked away but only for a second, and only over at the blanket box. She didn’t bother to respond to what he’d just said either, simply told him, ‘You should finish it. It’s too beautiful to leave or to scrap.’
‘It needs hinges, a varnish.’ He felt it easier to talk about the practicalities, what had to be done, than try to work out what she was thinking or deny what he was.
He moved the sheet completely out of the way and piled it in the corner by the back door. ‘Do you want to help me varnish it once I’ve done the hinges?’ He began to find everything he’d need to do the job.
When he looked over at her, she beamed a smile his way. ‘I’d really like that.’
