Festive Fling with the Single Dad

‘Esme’s offered me the use of one of the therapy centre’s vehicles, so I’ll drop in there to get the keys first thing and then pick you up.’

‘Oh, great. I’ll see you then.’ She gave him a little wave, making for the main staircase, and Aksel watched her go.

Flora was an enigma. Beautiful and clever, she seemed to live inside a sparkling cocoon of warmth. When she was busy, which seemed to be most of the time, it was entirely believable to suppose that she had everything she wanted.

But he’d seen her with Mette, and he’d seen the mask slip. Beneath it all was loneliness, and a hint of sadness that he couldn’t comprehend. Maybe he saw it because he too was searching for a way forward in life. Or perhaps the connection between them, which he’d given up trying to deny, allowed him to see her more clearly.

But this chance to work together would set his head straight. Aksel had made up his mind that it would banish the thought that Flora could be anything else to him, other than a friend and colleague. And when he made up his mind to do something, he usually succeeded.

CHAPTER SIX

FLORA SAW THE battered SUV draw up outside at ten to eight the following morning. Aksel was early, and she gulped down her coffee, hurrying into the hall to fetch Dougal’s lead. But the expected knock on her door didn’t come.

When she looked again, she saw Aksel had opened the bonnet of the SUV and was peering at the engine. He made a few adjustments and then started the engine again. It sounded a bit less throaty than it had before.

That was a relief. The therapy centre’s SUV had done more miles than anyone cared to count, and although it was reliable it could probably do with a service. Aksel looked at the engine again, wiping something down with a rag from his back pocket and then seemed satisfied, closing the bonnet and switching off the engine. Then he walked up the front path of his cottage, disappearing inside.

Fair enough. He’d said half past eight, and that would give her time to make herself some toast. She put Dougal’s lead back in the hall and he gave her a dejected look.

‘We’ll be going soon, Dougal.’ The little dog tipped his head up towards her at the mention of his name and Flora bent to stroke his head.

When she wandered back into the sitting room, still eating the last of her toast, she saw that Aksel was outside again, in the car and that it was rocking slightly as he moved around inside it. Flora put her coat on and Dougal once again sprang to the alert, realising that this time they really were going to go.

‘What are you doing?’ Flora rapped on the vehicle’s window, and Aksel straightened up.

‘Just...tidying up a bit. I didn’t realise this car was such a mess when I offered you a lift.’

He tucked a cloth and a bottle of spray cleaner under the driver’s seat and opened the car door. The scent of kitchen cleaner wafted out, and something about Aksel’s manner suggested that he’d really rather not have been caught doing this.

‘It sounds as if it’s running a lot better.’ Flora wondered if she should volunteer her car for the journey, but it seemed ungrateful after he’d spent time on the SUV.

‘I made a few adjustments. The spark plugs really need to be replaced, I’ll stop and get some if we pass somewhere that sells car parts. They’ll be okay for the distance we have to do.’

‘I’m sure they will. It’s not exactly a trip into the wilderness. And if the SUV breaks down, we can always call the garage.’

He grinned suddenly, as if she’d understood exactly what he was thinking. ‘Force of habit. When you’re miles away from anywhere, you need a well-maintained vehicle. I’ll just go and fetch Kari.’

The dogs were installed on the cushioned area behind the boot divider, amidst a clamour of excited barking from Dougal. Aksel stowed Flora’s bag of medical supplies on the back seat, and then gave the passenger door a sharp tug to open it. Flora climbed in, noticing that both the seat and the mat in the footwell were spotlessly clean.

‘You didn’t need to do all this...’

‘You don’t want to get your coat dirty.’ Aksel looked a little awkward at the suggestion he’d done anything. He closed the passen

ger door and rounded the front of the vehicle.

All the same, it would have been a nice gesture on anyone’s part, and on Aksel’s it was all the sweeter. He clearly hadn’t given the same attention to his own seat, and Flora leaned over to brush some of the mud off it before he got in.

‘Anything I should know about the sheltered housing?’ He settled himself into the driver’s seat, ignoring the remains of the mud, and twisted the ignition key. The engine started the first time.

‘It’s a group of thirty double and single units, designed to give elderly people as much independence as possible. Residents have their own front doors, and each unit has a bedroom, a sitting room and a kitchenette. There’s a common lounge, and a dining room for those who don’t want to cook, and care staff are on hand at all times to give help when needed.’

‘And what’s your part in all of this?’

‘I’m the Tuesday exercise lady. Mondays is chiropody, Wednesdays hairdressing. The mobile library comes on a Thursday, and Friday is shopping list day.’

‘And everyone gets a rest at the weekend?’

‘Kind of. Saturday is film night, and that can get a bit rowdy.’