Jo's parents arrived at quarter past six. They were staying overnight. Her mother Fiona looked appraisingly round the cottage as she took off her coat. "You keep the place very nicely Joanna," she said, pleased.
"Thank you Mother," Jo said with a wry grin at her father Graham as he settled himself into the chair by the fire.
"So where's this young man of yours then Jo?" he asked her.
"Nick will be here shortly. And there's something I need to clear up," Jo said quickly looking at her mother. "Nick is a police officer but not CID, he's the village constable for Aidensfield. And he was amazing when I had all that trouble with Maxwell. Honestly, if it hadn't been for Nick I'm not sure - well, anyway.. " Jo took a breath.
"I see." Her mother seated herself, exchanging glances at her husband.
"Anyway," Jo said fighting the urge to gabble, "I'll get you both some drinks and when Nick's here - and I'm sure he won't be long - I'll serve dinner."
Nick was en route but had called in at Maggie's cottage on the way. He just wanted to find out what the state of affairs was with Tricia Crossley.
"Ouch," said Maggie as she opened her door and saw the livid bruising on Nick's face.
Nick grinned wryly as he followed her into her cottage. "Is medical assistance required?" Maggie wanted to know, "or is this a social call?" Then she looked puzzled. "I thought you were at Jo's tonight - meeting her parents."
"I am, I'm just on my way up there," Nick explained "But I wanted to check in what was happening with Tricia Crossley."
"Ah, okay. Well she has a Social Worker assessment next week and I am popping in most days." Maggie hesitated. "I went round the other day Nick and she was out - she'd left the baby in the house alone. She said it was only ten minutes and I did believe that but, still. Also, I wish I could say that house is now spick and span but ..."
Nick looked worried. "What's going to happen Maggie?"
"I think she's depressed Nick." Maggie paused. "I've suggested she see a doctor of course but as ever she was quite resistant to the idea. I'll keep trying though. As for what's going to happen..."
"But if she's depressed taking Susan away won't help," Nick pointed out.
"Look, we're a long way from that happening," Maggie said. "If we can get Tricia to take on board the help being offered, if we can sort out the underlying problems..." She smiled ruefully. "Its a lot of "ifs" isn't it! Anyway Nick Rowan you need to be somewhere else. Poor Jo was tense enough about tonight without you being late as well!"
"I know." Nick touched the bruised area around his eye lightly. "I'm afraid she was quite cross about this, this morning. Was all for cancelling dinner!"
"Well its not your fault!" Maggie said robustly. "Occupational hazard I'd say!"
"Jo's pretty worked up about it all," Nick said thoughtfully. "I'm wondering what I'm in for!"
"Perhaps you had better go and find out!" Maggie said steering him back to the front door.
Jo's tension levels were rapidly rising and shot through the roof as she heard Nick's car pull up outside. "Oh that will be Nick now!" she exclaimed jumping up. Her parents exchanged glances.
Jo opened the cottage door before Nick had chance to knock. "You're here at last!" she exclaimed although Nick was hardly late. "Come on in!" He stepped past her into the cottage and Jo's parents got up to meet him.
"Nick, this is my father, Graham, and my mother Fiona," Jo introduced them. "Mum, Dad this is Nick."
They stepped forward to shake hands. Graham exclaimed, "Goodness me that's a real shiner you have there!"
"Yeah, sorry," Nick said, "I got it making an arrest last night."
"Oh dear," said Fiona. "Does that sort of thing happen a lot?"
"Not all the time, Mrs Weston, honestly," Nick said.
"Well dinner is ready so do all sit down, "Jo said brightly.
They arranged themselves round the table and Jo went through to the kitchen to bring food through. As she did so, Graham said to Nick, "So - you're a constable at the moment Nick? For the local village?"
"Yeah, that's right," he said.
Graham frowned "But the accent - you're not from round here!"
Jo put the casserole dish on the table and began to serve up knowing all the while where this conversation was going to go.
Nick at the same time felt puzzled by how little Jo had clearly told her parents. He said, "No, we moved up here from London. My wife had a connection to the area and we wanted a change of lifestyle so coming here seemed the natural thing to do."
"Your wife!" Fiona exclaimed as Jo put her plate in front of her. "You're married?"
"No, I'm not." Nick spoke carefully. "My wife died two years ago. She had leukaemia you see. She died shortly after our daughter was born."
"Oh dear, that is terrible, I am so sorry," Fiona said but she was very cross indeed Jo hadn't told them this, warned them in advance if you like.
"Its fine," Nick assured her now.
"So," Graham said as they settled down to eat, "you stayed on in the village Nick?"
He nodded. "It was the best thing to do in the end.."
"Right." Graham paused. "So, its all about getting yourself up that career ladder now is it? Next stop Sergeant isn't it?"
"Nick's doing his Sergeant exams now Dad," Jo said.
"Not actually doing them," Nick pointed out. "I've been thinking about it. But I'm not sure its what I want. I love my job, like getting involved, and the more you move up the less you can do that."
"Yes, but surely we all need intellectual stimulation?" Graham queried. "Can't just stagnate can we?"
"Well there's not much chance of that with police work," Nick said quietly.
"I wouldn't have thought being the village bobby would present much in the way of challenge though," Graham said, "surely?"
"Oh you would be surprised Dad!" Jo said lightly. "Aidensfield can be a real hotbed can't it Nick?"
"Yeah, sometimes."
Jo's mother got to her feet. "Well, I shall go and make some coffee," she said getting to her feet. She went in the kitchen after giving Jo a meaningful hint. Jo got it and followed her.
"Mum, please don't start," she said as she followed her mother into the kitchen.
"You really could have given us some warning Jo. Told us of the complications to start with."
"What complications?"
"Nick seems perfectly nice but he's been married Jo and has a child. Its clear what he needs is someone to take over on the domestic front, thank you, to let him get on with what ever he does. And that's a whole other matter. He's not got a bit of ambition in him!"
"Mum! He's had to put his whole life back together! I would think moving up the career ladder has been the last thing on his mind!" Jo ran a hand through her hair. "Could you not just at least try Mum instead of being all judgmental and disapproving? For me, please?"
Graham meanwhile was making what might on the surface appear to be pleasant small talk but Nick was fairly sure there was more to it than that. "Aidensfield," he said to Nick. "We don't know it terribly well although having had relatives here and the cottage of course we have a connection. What sort of crime do you have to deal with? Lot of low level stuff?"
"Poaching, theft, sometimes the odd ruck when someone's had one too many," Nick said. "Get the odd domestic as well."
"Pretty different from the Met eh?"
"In some ways. The basic principles of policing don't change though."
"Hmm." Graham looked at Nick. "So, you and Jo? How serious is this?"
"We've been seeing a bit of each other," Nick said carefully. "Just feeling the way really. We get on very well."
"Right. I mean you'll appreciate obviously we only want the best for Jo. We want her to do well not have to skivvy hard all her life. She doesn't have to do that."
"No she doesn't," Nick said. "And that's not what I would expect of her."
He stayed for coffee but left shortly afterwards. He didn't feel any great urge to stay finding them both terribly hard work. He was also picking up some real undercurrents in the room and Jo was obviously tense and uncomfortable. With that in mind Nick left early.
Once Nick had left Jo shut the door behind him and turned to face her parents. "You couldn't have been any more obvious! You don't think he's good enough do you!"
"Jo, darling," her mother said gently. "He's very nice I'm sure but you could do so much better! You know you could!"
