"Scrambled egg?" said Ruth.
Harry looked rather ruffled and a little confused.
"It's only about eight hours late, but there you go."
"Oh, god, I'm so sorry Ruth." He realised he had sat down last night and fallen asleep.
"Where's James?"
"In the kitchen with a boiled egg and soldiers."
"That sounds good."
"You want the same?"
"If you're offering?"
"I'm offering Harry," she raised her eyebrows teasingly at him.
He was momentarily speechless.
She turned for the kitchen.
Harry came in to find James happily sitting at the table with yoke dribbling down his chin and a fist full of toasted soldiers.
"Hey, mucky pup," he said and ruffled his hair.
James laughed, he was a very happy little boy, happy and determined, Ruth thought.
Harry moved over to Ruth, "Can I help," he said standing a little too close behind her.
"Depends what you want to help with?" she said but didn't face him.
"You know, the tea, toast, whatever…."
"Tea's in the pot and toast is on its way, so I'd sit down if I were you."
He sat down.
"Mine!" said James as Harry tried to pinch one of his soldiers.
"You have to learn to share, James."
James pouted and looked sternly at Harry, clearly not a lesson he was going to learn anytime soon.
"No guessing where he got that look from then?' said Ruth laughing and she leant over with more toast. "Don't worry, James, Daddy's got some of his own now."
Harry tried to give Ruth the same look but he was smiling too much.
She brought him a boiled egg and he tucked in.
"Sit down, Ruth, please."
She brought her tea and sat with them.
"Thank you for last night," he said, "thank you for not judging me."
"Who am I to judge you, Harry."
"The one whose judgement I'd probably listen to."
"You were here alone, lonely."
He sighed.
"And I was in Cyprus and I knew what it felt like to be lonely too."
"But you met George."
"Yes, I did."
And then the kitchen was quiet but for James munching contentedly on his toast and occasionally saying 'my soldiers'.
"You can ask me the question again," she said, and Harry's heart missed it's beat wondering if she meant the question he was thinking about, the question he always thought about. She realised her error and hurried to correct it.
"About George," she said.
"Oh, right," he smiled, caught.
"Did you love him?"
"I was incredibly fond of him. I liked him. In a way I loved him but I wasn't in love with him."
Harry looked at her. 'Not like I'm in love with you' was what he wanted to hear. He begged her to say it as he looked at her. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Daddy, can have James's soldier now."
Ruth started laughing, "My god, his timing's as bad as yours!"