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going to talk to Helen.’ There was a loud clattering noise. ‘Oh! that’s the post. Hang on … ’ There were a couple of cards. It explained Helen’s mood. It was February 10 th , their anniversary! ‘Jim, I’m going to have to go now.’
    â€˜One last thing, Max: even though you and I have not worked together, I know your reputation. Social services will miss your contribution. Happy retirement!’
    He’d better do something about this. They tended to ignore Valentine’s Day because it was so close, but it meant doing
something
! She’d be back before long.
    When Helen opened the front door with a large number of bags, Max came downstairs from the attic and pretended he’d forgotten the date to start with. He stalled. Next he tried to embrace her, but she had “all this shopping to put away”. Then the florist’s van turned up not a moment too soon, and he let her answer the door as if he couldn’t be bothered.
    â€˜Oh, Max, you old devil! They’re lovely. Come here!’
    â€˜Is Madame free zis evening?’
    â€˜Pourquoi?’
    â€˜Parce que I ‘ave booked a tebell at ze Franch restaurant, Lisette’s, for ett o’clock.’
    â€˜I might be.’ She pretended to start sulking again, but couldn’t keep it up. ‘Would you like this?’ She went over to the utility room and, reaching behind the door, pulled outthe heavy country jacket, still in its polythene cover, that he had admired recently in a shop window. ‘Try it on!’
    â€˜Oh, I’ll try it on all right!’ He chased her up the stairs and she shrieked in mock alarm.
    They lay naked on the bed after making love. He looked at their reflection in the mirror opposite while playing about with their feet. It reminded him of how they used to be before the girls came along. Helen was staring at the ceiling; he noticed her cheek move.
    â€˜What are you smiling at, beautiful lady?’
    â€˜Oh, I was just thinking about when we first met.’
    â€˜On that bateau mouche on the Seine. Quite romantic, I s’pose.’
    â€˜I don’t know if it was a bateau mouche, a vedette or a navette – I never really worked out the difference. But a boat of some sort, anyway. You were with your parents. You came over to ask me something, thinking I was French! When I didn’t understand your best efforts – and I had you going there, didn’t I, for a while! –’ she laughed, ‘you were embarrassed to discover that I was in fact from Edinburgh!’
    He kissed her shoulder. ‘It was a long way to go to find what was already at home.’
    â€˜Your parents; am I right in thinking that it was their first time abroad, ever?’
    â€˜You are. But I was worried that they were here in Howcester and I was so far away. I tried for two years to get a post down here, as you know, then when I did … It was as if I’d gone to Edinburgh just to meet you, pick you up and then take you away.
    It was a shame my mum and dad weren’t around long enough to make it to the wedding, but I shared yours.’
    Helen laughed. ‘Hey, Max. Isn’t it nice to have time together, to talk?’
    â€˜Yes, darling.’
    Helen was relieved to find the old Max again. For the past few months his sense of humour, important not only for his job, had been noticeably absent. The sex was better, too.Propped up on one elbow, she recalled their time in Edinburgh.
    â€˜D’you remember how we used to meet up in that café near the Royal? You were like a teenager! Hadn’t you had a girlfriend before me? I’ve been dying to ask you – I’m surprised I never got round to it. You were such a geek!’ She smiled, that amazing smile. How could she upset anyone when she smiled like that? But for a moment he too pretended to sulk.
    â€˜Actually, I did have a girlfriend before you.’ He smiled at her.