Harry's decision to take more notice of what he eats and to cut back on what he drinks in the hope that it will help him to live longer, has seen them eating more healthily and just as importantly at regular times. Helped by the fact that as both he and Ruth like to cook and because the village shop caters for all pockets and tastes, earning themselves not only the reputation as being inclusive by selling well known brands but brings in customers from beyond the village who are happy to buy locally sourced products which cost more. Which since Malcolm and Caroline have been staying with them, has seen Harry and Ruth added to the list of regular customers. Another step towards them being accepted.

Including today when with only two days left before Malcolm drives her back to Cambridge and as the rain had eased off, when he suggests he is more than happy to install their newly acquired security system, their usual breakfast consisting of fruit juice, cereal, toast, coffee and or tea, raises the idea of having a cooked breakfast instead. Something which normally only happens at the weekend and not always then. Which a very grateful Ruth can hardly argue against. If for no other reason than she knows that Harry will be footing the ladder and a hot meal will help to keep out the cold.

Now back from the shop, listening rather than engaging in the conversation when Caroline responds to Malcolm's suggestion by saying, 'you will be careful won't you,' squeezing his arm as she does so. When she is making the tea to accompany the sausages bacon and eggs which Ruth is manipulating around two frying pans whilst Harry is laying the table, is proof that beneath the veneer which Caroline uses to protect herself, is a genuine affection for Malcolm.

A thought which Ruth hangs on to until the work is underway. When in her I need you to know this voice she says, 'you won't find a better friend than Malcolm.'

Only for Caroline to respond by saying, 'I'm sure Harry would say that same thing about you,' before surprising her even further by saying, 'look I know it's none of my business but in this new life of yours, don't overlook the fact that spending time together and enjoying whatever life offers you from now on has been earned and I for one are happy about that.'

Words which Ruth has barely taken in, when Caroline adds, 'when you and Harry go down to London to collect your books, I was wondering wonder if perhaps I could meet up with you.' Then before Ruth can even imagine why, let alone say yes, says, 'as you know I couldn't face it at the time, but I wonder if perhaps you'd be kind enough to take me to see where my daughter is buried?' She asks her.

'Yes, and I'm sure Malcolm would like to pay his respects as well,' Ruth hears herself say, mentally re running what had happened on that day and more specifically from the moment that she had stood in the pulpit, knowing that Harry was hanging on her every word. What had happened after that and the miracle that is their reconciliation. Neither of them imagining that they would go back and how much she now wants to.

All of which she somehow manages to keep to herself for what remains of the day. The highlight of which had anyone seen them, would have been to wonder why four apparently sane adults muffled up against the cold were creeping around outside, watching lights coming on and going off, before drinking mugs of cocoa on the back terrace.

The chance to tell Harry finally coming when Malcolm yawns and he and Caroline disappear upstairs ahead of them.

'How was your day?' asks Harry, who Ruth knows without him saying so that his back is aching. Because rather than fold his trousers, a habit that is a throwback from the time when he'd lived in a suit, they are where he's stepped out of them.

'A lot less strenuous than yours by the look of things. So just lie still while I fetch you a couple of painkillers,' she tells him, disappearing in the direction of the bathroom. Before returning with a glass of water and a lot more confidence.

Misplaced perhaps when he says, 'I assume you said yes,' referring to Caroline's request. But with the subtext that it raises the possibility of him asking the question as to whether she will marry him again and in the same place. But not after a funeral and certainly not by guessing how many might be at their own. And yet? Going through his mind is how Ros is still, albeit indirectly, pulling the strings. That and when Ruth instigates their goodnight kiss and ignoring the fact that he could easily turn over despite the pain but it suits his purpose to stay where he is in ordered to be pampered, perhaps she too is thinking what he is? Either way it is the last thing that crosses his mind before he falls asleep.

.

'We'll be fine, you three go and enjoy yourselves,' Malcolm tells them when Sally drops Jacob off complete with a towel some swim trunks and a change of warm clothing. Their newly acquired child seat being tested and in Ruth mind, the fact that this is the first time that they are being entrusted with someone else's child. Before the now familiar drive into Norwich with a children's programme on the radio to keep Jacob amused.

'Harry's sitting up there so that he can see what we're doing,' she tells Jacob when they emerge from the changing rooms hand in hand. Her feeling very self-conscious as they walk the short distance to where a group of six other children and assorted adults are being supervised while they put armbands onto their offspring. The weight of responsibility which had felt acute up until now, diminishing as she watches Jacob taking it all in.

Helped even further when, 'I'm Pam, this is Robbie,' says a woman who is sitting on the first of what were several steps which are part of the pool structure, with a boy who looks about Jacob's age.

'It's Jacob's first lesson, I don't quite know how I feel, she tells her.'

'All four of mine learnt to swim here. Your little lad will be fine once he gets in, right here we go.'

Here we go requires Ruth to put one arm under Jacob's shoulders and the other under his hips, rather than having to explain Jacob's parentage to a woman she had just met, at the same time as the instructor is telling him to stretch his legs and look up at the pictures on the ceiling. Doing as he is told and with apparently no fear, Ruth finally feels herself relaxing. Not enough that she allows herself to look at Harry who when the lesson finally came to an end, she knows Jacob will be bursting to see. In the same way that once they are walking around the city afterwards which will include having lunch somewhere rather than go straight home, he will be fascinated by the evidence that Christmas is just over a month away. As is his birthday. Which is why Sally has the list of fun things to do in the run up to Christmas, in the hope that she will take up their offer that they all do something together.

.

With the promise to keep in touch and that as soon as the Lucas situation is resolved they will set a date to meet up in London, Harry and Ruth breath a sigh of relief as Malcolm's car disappeared up the lane.

'Is it me or has the world stopped spinning?' he says with no intension of doing anything else for the rest of the day other than lounge about and maybe watch something on TV. Which is exactly what they manage to do until two hours later when they are part way through the second episode of a travel programme where the presenter is striding across the North Yorkshire Moors in conversation with a local, when Harry's phone rings.

'Call Alec or do you want me to do it?' Ruth hears Harry say. Then after a short pause, 'I'll phone you back and let you know what he says.'

'What's happened?' She asks him.

'Caroline's study has been turned over. The only upside being that she has nothing written down that will give you know who a link to where we live.'

Ruth doesn't need to ask him who you know who is or to wonder why Lucas is arrogant enough to believe that the team won't make the link between the break in at Malcolm's and this. Her comfort coming as it always does from hearing Harry without the emotion that he knows he must be feeling in a calm and confident voice talking to Alec.