1948

Former Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle was enjoying a quiet evening at home when there was a knock at the door. He frowned slightly and rose with a sigh to find his good friend, Superintendent Hugh Reid, standing on his doorstep. "Good evening Hugh, do come in."

"Evening" Reid responded dully as he stepped inside, his face was grave and Foyle felt his gut twist uncomfortably.

"Hugh is everything alright?"

"It happened."

"Err what happened?"

"A boy asked Maggie out and she said yes!" Hugh's voice was filled with hurt, anger and disbelief and Foyle closed his eyes briefly in relief. His friend had looked so serious that for a minute he had been worried Elaine or one of the girls was ill. But this…

"I see" there was humor in his voice and Reid scowled at him.

"Well you might think it's funny but I don't! She's only 16 years old. She's too young! I wanted to say no but Elaine wouldn't let me."

Foyle was still smiling and it only made Reid more cross, "I seem to recall being promised sympathy and scotch for this occasion and all you've done so far is smirk at me."

Foyle nodded gravely and clapped Reid on the shoulder, "Right you are. I'm sorry Hugh. Take your coat off and then come sit down while I pour us some Glenlivet."

Reid obeyed, albeit rather sulkily, and both men were soon situated in front of the fireplace, a tumbler of scotch apiece.

"So who is this err boy then?" Foyle asked after he had let Reid stew for a bit.

"Some wet-behind-the-ears lad from her class, John Edwards. I don't like him."

"Any particular reason for that?"

"He asked Maggie out!"

"Anything else?" Foyle asked amused.

"Isn't that enough?" Reid replied indigently.

"Err quite." Foyle was having a very hard time not smiling he didn't recall being this upset when Andrew had first asked a girl out and if he remembered correctly it had been around the same age.

"So when is this err date?"

"Tonight! He picked her up and they went to the pictures. My Maggie alone at the pictures with a boy! I wanted to send Grace along too but Elaine wouldn't hear of it."

"What time are they due back?"

"9:30pm and if they're late I'll have his hide." Reid said darkly and Foyle found himself hoping that John Edwards had the good sense to make sure Maggie got home on time.

They sat in silence for a little while and then something occurred to Foyle, "You followed them didn't you?"

"Hmm?"

"To the pictures, told Elaine you were coming over to see me followed at a distance and then back tracked so you could use me as an alibi!"

Reid shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Foyle couldn't help chuckling. "You did! Oh Hugh what exactly did you think was going to happen between your house and the cinema?"

"Well…I just…" Reid blustered, flushing slightly and taking a swallow of scotch. "You won't say anything will you? Elaine will never let me hear the end of it."

Foyle nodded still chuckling, "Not to worry your secret's safe with me but honestly Hugh don't you think you're being a little ridiculous about this? I mean it was bound to happen at some point, you have two very pretty daughters."

Reid nodded somewhat despondently and ran a hand through his graying hair, "Yes but I just thought I'd have more time I mean she's only sixteen."

"Same age Andrew was when he started stepping out."

Reid nodded again and took a drink, "When did they grow up Christopher? When did they stop being my little girls and turn into young women?"

There was real melancholy in Reid's voice and Foyle felt a surge of sympathy for his friend, it was never easy to watch your children grow up. Andrew was almost thirty now and newly married but there were still days when Foyle longed to have his little boy back.

"It just does Hugh, one day they're children and suddenly they're taller then you. I know it doesn't make it easier but you've done an excellent job, you and Elaine, they're wonderful girls."

Reid smiled, "thank you Christopher. You did a splendid job with Andrew especially on your own for so many years." They both looked at Rosalind's picture and took another drink.

"How is Andrew these days?" Reid asked after a while.

"Well, he and Lily seem to be enjoying London although they've dropped some hints about maybe moving back to the coast. They both grew up here and Andrew always said he missed it during the war."

"It would be nice to have him close again."

Foyle nodded, "Yes it would."

They sat in comfortable silence for the next 20 minutes and Foyle was pleased to see that Reid seemed to relax more as time went on. At 8:50pm he glanced at the clock and threw back the last of his scotch. "Well I should go, they'll be back soon."

Foyle nodded and rose with him, following him to the hall.

"Thank you for listening and for the Glenlivet. Sorry to come over like this." Reid said as he put on his coat.

"Not at all Hugh, you know you're always welcome. Do try not to fret too much, Maggie has a good head on her shoulders and Andrew assures me that he taught both girls how to throw a decent punch."

Reid stared at him in shock, "What? When?"

"Oh years ago now. He had taken them to a picture and apparently Grace complained about the fact that women always had to wait for a man to rescue them and wanted to know what was a woman supposed to do if there wasn't a man around."

"Andrew told them that if they ever had a problem like that they were to scream and run to the nearest shop but Grace was insistent so apparently he taught them both how to throw a good right hook."

Reid threw back his head and laughed, looking honestly happy for the first time since he'd arrived. "Oh that does make me feel better! I shall have to remember to thank Andrew the next time I see him."

Foyle smiled back, "He'll be glad to know you're pleased, he was a little unsure about it after the fact but I assured him that both you and Elaine would approve of the girls being able to look after themselves."

Reid nodded, "And you were right" he paused in the doorway and clapped Foyle on the shoulder. "Thanks again Christopher."

"Anytime Hugh, now you'd best get home, wouldn't do if you were the one out past curfew."

Reid nodded, "quite right. We still on for fishing tomorrow?"

"Of course, 9am at the river?"

"Excellent, I'll be there. Goodnight Christopher."

"Goodnight Hugh."

Foyle watched his friend walk away and then closed the door, smiling to himself. He had predicted years ago that Hugh would be in a state when the girls finally started dating and it appeared that he had been right.

He glanced at the clock, 9pm. John Edwards had thirty minutes to get Maggie Reid home before he had the entire Hastings constabulary on his case. Foyle chuckled at the thought as he sat back down I'll hear about it tomorrow I'm sure.


A/N: I hope you are all staying well, staying home if possible and washing your hands a lot. Thinking about you all - TT-5