A Springtime Affair: An utterly gorgeous feel-good romance

Gilly put the kettle on when she’d disconnected from Helena. She felt the situation called for real coffee and freshly ground beans. Although it was still early days in her and William’s relationship she felt a bit guilty that they still hadn’t told Daphne or any of their friends about it. Helena knew, of course. And she should probably tell Martin although she felt certain that her son and Cressida would not be pleased.

She would talk to William the next time he called. Although mostly she let him do all the getting in touch (she was horribly old-fashioned), now she sent him a text to say that Helena was coming for coffee but that she probably wouldn’t stay past ten or eleven. Helena, she realised, now kept builders’ hours which meant she started early.

When Helena breezed through the back door a little later, Gilly’s mother’s heart soared with joy to see her daughter so happy. But a part of her was doubtful. She had had that madly-in-love glow herself when she had first been with her now ex-husband.

‘Oh, Mum!’ said Helena. ‘You’ve made real coffee. Are there B & B guests here?’

Gilly laughed. ‘Do I only make coffee when I’ve got paying guests?’

‘Well, you know. But I’m not complaining. And shortbread! I’ve just had breakfast but I’m still starving for some reason.’

‘I can’t imagine what that would be,’ muttered Gilly, smiling to herself. ‘So how did World of Wool go? As successful as ever?’

‘Pretty much,’ said Helena, blowing crumbs. ‘Everyone loved my wall hangings. Not enough to actually buy them of course – after all, at do’s like that people make their own wall art – but I’m going to run workshops showing how to make them so they will have been worthwhile.’

‘It was worth doing them then. After all, courses are the gift that goes on giving. You can only sell a wall hanging once.’ Gilly didn’t join her daughter in eating the shortbread, she was a bit sick of it.

‘Deffo. But, Mum, the best bit was when I came home!’

‘Really?’ Gilly was fairly confident that Helena wasn’t going to give her a kiss-by-kiss account of her nocturnal exploits but she was just slightly anxious.

‘You know I have to keep coming round here to have a proper bath?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, Jago spent the whole weekend putting a proper tub into the bathroom that just had a shower in it. It was amazing! He’d cooked the most brilliant chicken tagine and then he made me wait downstairs until the pinger went. Then I had to go upstairs and he led me into the bathroom. He’d put candles everywhere and some gorgeous lavender bath oil and it was lovely.’

‘Oh, darling, how thoughtful! You’re absolutely sure he’s not gay?’

‘Yes! But it meant he’s now behind with his work and he was so brilliant when I was working so hard, doing all the cooking and stuff, I’m determined to do the same for him.’ She paused and made a face. ‘But the trouble is, he’s a brilliant cook and I’m not. I’m hoping you can give me some foolproof recipes.’

‘Of course I can. And you can cook perfectly well; you just lack confidence.’

‘I’ll need a recipe for crumble, your cheese scones, soup – all the lovely comforting things that you make.’

‘Those are the things that I don’t really have recipes for, but I’ll do my best. I’ve never seen you like this, Helly.’

‘I know. I’ve never been like this before. Being in love is just so blissful, isn’t it?’

Gilly sighed. ‘Yes, it is. The trouble is, you can’t just decide to feel like that. Some people seem able to fall in love all the time. I’m not like that.’ She realised she had never loved Leo, she had just been flattered by his attention and had enjoyed all her friends envying her.

‘I don’t think I am either,’ said Helena, ‘or it would have happened before now.’

Gilly nodded.

‘And are you in love now, Mum?’ asked Helena.

Gilly nodded again. ‘Yes, I think I am.’

Helena came round the table and hugged her mother. ‘Long may it last,’ she said.

‘Indeed!’ said Gilly, wondering if she would ever stop worrying about her children. She couldn’t bear to see Helena’s heart broken now.

‘Thank goodness you’re back!’ said Helena when Jago came into the house later that evening, ridiculously pleased to see him again.

‘Why? What’s wrong?’ He looked worried.

She laughed. ‘Nothing really. Supper’s ready when you are.’

She had come home from her mother’s laden with supplies including a stew from Gilly’s freezer (currently bubbling away), a box of broken shortbread, some frozen rhubarb (not turned into a crumble), recipes and a big bundle of herbs from the garden.

When she’d done most of her paperwork required to follow up after World of Wool, emailed several people about workshops, tidied the house and put some tools in a more sensible place, she set about finding somewhere nice for the ‘double date’ that was in prospect.

She had found a lovely wine bar, not too far away, with good reviews and parking, then ran it past Amy. This instigated a phone call that went on for some time but at least they had agreed a couple of possible dates and when they finally disconnected Helena felt she could text James with the dates and venue details. And all the time she worked she thought about Jago.

Now, he kissed her fondly and lingeringly. ‘I’ll just grab a quick shower first, then I’ll be down.’

The following Sunday evening they were in Helena’s car. Jago was driving. They’d tossed for it.

‘I’m quite nervous!’ said Helena as she fiddled with Google Maps on her phone although they knew the way.

Jago glanced at her. ‘Why?’

‘Because James may not like me!’

‘I like you. Isn’t that enough?’

Suddenly it wasn’t. She needed him to tell her he loved her. He’d certainly shown her this was the case but now she needed the words. She wouldn’t ask though. ‘You know how it is. Your best friend! I’d have been miserable if Amy didn’t like you and I was desperately upset when I thought my mother was getting together with Leo.’

‘A mother is different, though.’

‘Of course. I did wonder if I’d never want her to have a man in her life but I’m fine about William. I mean, it took a bit of getting used to and a lot of blanking out about what they do that isn’t just having dinner or whatever, but basically I just want her to be happy.’

‘I’m sure James just wants me to be happy. And I am,’ he said. As they’d reached a set of traffic lights just then he took the opportunity to kiss her.

Helena was glad Jago was driving – a glass or two of Prosecco would make the whole date a lot easier, at least in the beginning. If James didn’t like her, Jago would be torn between his girlfriend and his old friend forever. As for her liking James, she’d made up her mind to. A lot of things were a matter of choice, she realised, even those that didn’t appear to be.

As arranged, Helena and Jago arrived first. James appeared minutes later. Amy was due half an hour after that.

‘Hey mate!’ said Jago as he and James hugged each other.

‘So this is Helena?’ said James. He hugged her too and she took it as a good sign.

While Jago went to the bar, Helena and James inspected each other. She was a bit more intense with her inspection than he was. For her part she liked his curly fair hair, very blue eyes and intelligent expression, and thought Amy would too. He wasn’t as tall as Jago and, in Helena’s opinion, not as attractive, but he was quite good-looking enough, she felt.

When they’d finished studying each other she smiled and he smiled back. ‘So, you’re a weaver?’ he said.

‘Yes. But Amy and I do a lot of workshops together which are more lucrative than selling the things really. I hope you’re not anti-weaver generally.’

He laughed, as he was supposed to. ‘Certainly not. So far, I’ve never met a weaver I haven’t liked.’ He paused. ‘Of course you are the first weaver I’ve met.’

She smiled. ‘Amy is also a weaver.’

‘Well, let’s hope she fits the pattern.’

‘I don’t know if there’s a pattern but she’s bright, and fun.’ She paused. ‘Jago says she’s jolly.’

‘You don’t agree with him?’

‘Oh, I do! She and I have a lot of fun but I’m not sure it’s a flattering description.’

‘I’ll let you know if I think she’s jolly.’ He winked.

Helena decided she liked James – he was definitely jolly.

As the evening was going so well, they decided to stay and eat. Amy and James seemed to hit it off and, Amy had confided, she fancied James really quite a lot.

But while they were sharing a selection of puddings, Jago frowned and got out his phone. ‘Sorry,’ he said, having looked down at it. ‘I’ll have to take this.’

Something in the way that he left the table made everyone else a bit less cheerful. ‘I hope it’s not something dreadfully wrong with one of his properties,’ said Helena. ‘We may need to leave at once to put buckets under burst pipes.’

‘Well, if you have to go, maybe me and Amy can stay on for a bit? Would you be up for that, Amy?’ James asked.

‘I should think that would be all right,’ said Amy. She sounded fairly relaxed about it but Helena guessed she was delighted by his suggestion.

Jago came back. ‘We’re going to have to go, I’m afraid,’ he said.

‘Burst pipes?’ said Amy.

‘No. Why should it be burst pipes?’ Jago seemed confused.

Helena got down from her stool. ‘We were just speculating about what your phone call was. I guessed a plumbing crisis at one of your rental properties.’

‘If only!’ he said. He pulled some notes out of his wallet and put them on the table. ‘Let me know if that’s not enough and don’t go crazy, kids!’ He gave a cheery smile but Helena could tell it wasn’t sincere. He was obviously very worried.

He didn’t volunteer any information after they set off for home and eventually she had to ask. ‘I don’t want to be nosy, but can you tell me what the phone call was about or is it confidential?’

He sighed. ‘I do have a business problem, I’m afraid. Which means I’ll have to be away for a while and I’m not sure how long.’

‘Oh.’ This was a shock but she didn’t want to appear clingy by letting him see how much of a shock. ‘But we’ll be able to keep in touch with each other?’

He shook his head and looked straight ahead through the windscreen. ‘I’m afraid not. There’s no phone signal where I’m going. Or any Wi-Fi.’

‘But what about your properties here? Will you need me to do anything for you?’

‘Sweet of you to offer.’ He gave her a warm smile and patted her knee. ‘I’ll sort things out before I go.’ He was silent for a few moments. ‘Will you be OK on your own in the house? It could feel a bit spooky with it being unfinished and everything.’

Helena didn’t know if she’d be all right or not. She hadn’t minded living on her own in her little studio, but he was right, the house was a bit spooky, being big and half a building site. ‘I might ask Amy to come and stay if you wouldn’t mind?’

‘Of course not. She could have your old room. She’s fun, isn’t she? I think she and James will enjoy each other’s company even if they don’t get together forever.’

Helena sensed he’d rather talk about Amy and James than his own situation. ‘Could you tell if he liked Amy? And you know what I mean when I say “liked”!’

He chuckled. ‘I think he did. She’s sparky and fun and she’ll take his mind off his lost love.’

‘As long as his lost love doesn’t come between them.’

Jago was thoughtful. ‘I don’t think she will. She wasn’t all that great, to be honest. Although she thought she was and James did too. Amy is a far better bet, relationship-wise.’

Helena laughed. ‘Glad she’s been promoted from being “a jolly girl”.’

‘You took that all wrong!’

They argued about it cheerfully for the rest of the journey home.

In the morning he left, early, before Helena was properly awake.

She tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t and found tears slipping out of the corners of her eyes as she listened to the birds and saw the room get lighter.

In theory she had no reason to cry. Jago had been called away on business and had gone. It was no big deal. But somehow it felt like a big deal, as if something had changed – not necessarily between them but with him.