Just how long it will be before Lucas reaches the outskirts of Rye which is less than fifteen minutes from where Malcolm's house is they have no idea, which is the reason that Ruth is now driving and Harry is ringing Caroline using her phone. That Lucas has seen through Alec's attempt to send him on a wild goose chase by suggesting they are in Rhodes, is not only adding to the list of oversights that Harry is berating himself for, but raising his anger levels and quite probably his blood pressure. Because having spent her exile in Cyprus, the last place he would have chosen to take Ruth was to another island in the Med. Which means that someone as bright as Lucas will have known from day one that that they are still very much in the UK. That he intends to persuade Malcolm to tell him just which part they are currently inhabiting and how he plans to do that, Harry is struggling to put out of his mind. As he is the fact that Caroline will be confronted for a second time by the man who scared her half to death.

And is why, 'you try,' he says to Ruth when they pull up in front of the house, as though he believes that her dialling the number will make a difference, only for his own phone to ring.

'Alec tells me that you suggested that Malcolm and Caroline should come to you, so I thought you would like to know that they left here about ten minutes ago. This is Dimitri by the way.'

'And Lucas?'

'He took the wrong turning, so I gambled and got here ahead of him.'

'Thank God for that and Dimitri be careful. No heroics now. Not until backup arrives.'

'You know me Harry, careful is my middle name.'

.

The chaos of the last hour means that until they open the front door, the fact that Sally, a young widowed mum with a toddler called Jamie has been in on what is one of her two afternoons, which is part of the deal while they are renting in advance of buying has slipped their minds. That she lives in the village and according to her references is happy to do anything is the only information they have, so to discover that she has used her initiative and the house is spotless, gives them some breathing space between now and when Malcolm and Caroline arrive. Because for Harry in particular, who from the moment that they turned down the lane, there had been a need to replace the feeling of anger with one of calm.

Which once they unload the few items that they had managed to buy before Alec's call, Ruth supplies by making a pot of tea and with the simple statement that, 'if Alec and the team had known that he had resigned, they wouldn't have called him.' Both of which she delivers while he is sitting on the sofa with his feet up. Dinner with so little notice, Ruth again says 'will be simple and she'll prepare it,' giving him a chance to further unwind.

By the time that their guests do arrive it has been dark for over an hour, so seeing the view from the window is no longer an option. Not that it stops a revitalised Harry from describing the garden to Malcolm as, 'a project he is looking forward to tackling.'

'On you own?' asks Malcolm, his eyebrows stratospheric, knowing more than anyone that Harry's attitude when it comes to gardening is to get someone else to do it. Which becomes the main subject of discussion over dinner and to Ruth's relief sees the tension finally leaving Harry. As it does Caroline, who is quite happy to sit back and learn more about the couple who in her eyes have come to her rescue yet again.

.

With no further calls from Alec and waking up on a bright sunny morning, when Harry comes downstairs it is to find that Malcolm has beaten him to it.

'This is fabulous I had no idea you had a view like this,' he says. A mug of coffee in his hand and the numerous leaflets from the garden centre strewn across the table in front of him. Looking as though he belongs, which of course he does, and is why Harry chooses this moment to tell him their news.

'I know the why, she's upstairs and not before time, but am I allowed to ask when you made that decision?' he asks him.

'I think the seed was probably sewn on the evening when you told me that you wanted to retire.'

'And I told you that Ruth was cross with you.'

'Cross rather than angry which I know amounts to the same thing, but it was also the way that you said it and the look on your face which convinced me not to give up. That we did have a future. Aside from all the ups and downs and believe me there have been more than enough of those, the worst of which were losing Jo and Ruth's first day back, it was when Caroline rang and asked if we would come and see her that things changed. We could easily have driven there and back in one day, but it was Ruth who took the initiative and suggested we stay overnight. One night turned into three for obvious reasons. But more than that we talked Malcolm, properly without one or the other of us putting the brakes on. About future weekends and proper holidays in a way that as you know saw us moving in together. The logical progression being that one or other of us should sell our house and buy somewhere permanent rather than travel around, until as I said in my letter to Towers, I came to my senses. So now both our houses are on the market.'

By the time that the Ruth and Caroline come downstairs, not only is the table laid for breakfast, but Harry and Malcolm are ready to change the conversation to one which is designed to make Caroline feel even better. Because having been to hell and back due to having been married to an unspeakable bastard and lost her daughter, she is understandably terrified that it will be her turn next. Which as Malcolm has explained to Harry, is the reason she has decided to sell her house in Ely and buy somewhere near to where he lives. For the simple reason that it will much easier to cope with a past that she would rather forget and an undecided future, if she has someone who knows her story in advance.

And is why when Harry is plating up bacon sandwiches, which on their own were a distraction on a dull November morning, Malcolm says, 'Harry and I have been discussing this garden of yours and it seems to me that you could both do with a bit of help. And this is entirely up to you Ruth, but with Caroline and I at your mercy, how about we make ourselves useful?'

Without having to look at Harry, Ruth knew that Malcolm's offer was as much for Caroline's benefit as it was theirs. But drawn as she always was to his expression, she also knew that he had told Malcolm their news. A joint decision that rather than make a big deal about it and with Caroline in mind, he alone should tell the one person who had stuck by them.

Braving the elements was the next and last challenge of the day as twice during the space of an hour, the tape which Ruth and Malcolm were holding was whipped out of her grasp. Harry on the other hand she could see was either enjoying himself or thinking it was utter madness but give him his due, even when she went inside to make some warm drinks he stayed put. Not coming indoors until Caroline had manfully scribbled measurements and made notes under the headings of potential position and patience. Proving as they knew having seen her garden at home, that not only did she know what she was doing, but given the right circumstances would get on with her life in a way that would have made her daughter proud.

.

'Quite a day,' said Harry, who having locked the doors and climbed into bed, had made up his mind to talk to Malcolm about security. Because being at the end of a quiet lane even without the Lucas factor, made the house a target.

'A good one though,' said Ruth who had been reading but now closed her book and snuggled down beside him.

'Any thoughts on what she should do tomorrow?'

'Plenty, but for now I just to want to close my eyes and fall asleep with you.'