Without being aware of any transition he was awake. Completely. An automatic glance at the bedside clock showed midnight. Ha! The witching hour! But his witch was gone, off on honeymoon with her brand-new husband. The witch who had charmed him for twenty-three years, ever since he held the squalling red-faced bundle of her just after she was born.
A faint noise. Was that what had woken him? Better check. He swung his legs out of bed and reached for his robe, an automatic modesty response, because he slept naked and had shared the apartment only with his daughter these past five years, ever since his beloved Jenny, Carly's mother, had been killed. Cautiously, he opened the bedroom door, listening. Yes, a faint clink from the direction of the kitchen. Silent on bare feet, he moved towards the closed kitchen door, a bar of light showing at its foot. Taking a deep breath, he was about to throw the door open when he stopped dead, remembering his house-guest. His normal politeness reasserted itself, and he tapped on the door and opened it.
"Oh! You startled me, Jack."
"Sorry, Helen. I heard a noise and wondered what it was."
"Oh, dear. Jack, I
am
sorry. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd make some tea. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not. While you're here, treat the place like home."
"Thank you. Want some?"
"Please. Black, no sugar." While she poured, he studied her covertly, liking what he saw. Helen Daniels, the mother of his new son-in-law. His own age, she was trim, slim, attractive. Dressed now in a simple white nightdress, modestly cut, calf-length, opaque, but as she moved the fine cotton gave him hints of the treasures beneath. She passed him a cup and gestured to the chairs at the kitchen table.
"Do you mind sitting and chatting for a while, Jack? I still feel wide-awake."
"Of course not. Chat? What about?"
"Anything. Everything. The real Jack Rogers, maybe?"
"Real? I'm real enough, Helen. With me, what you see is what you get."
She made a face. "That's rare enough to be interesting." She glanced across at him. "I never did thank you properly."
He shook his head. "Not a problem, Helen. The spare room was available, so it might as well be used."
She laughed. "Only because Tim and Carly slept together."
Jack smiled. "I knew they were lovers, Carly doesn't keep secrets from me." He gave Helen a wry grin. "As far as I know."
Helen nodded. "I think you're right, Jack. Carly strikes me as transparently honest. I loved her from the first time Tim brought her to stay. They were lovers then, too."
"From college. Carly told me."
"She must trust you, Jack."
"I hope she does. I don't think I've ever lied to her. I've probably hurt her sometimes by being honest, but she's got a wise head on her shoulders, my daughter. She takes after her mother." He was miles and years away for a moment, thinking of the drunken driver who had killed Jenny and changed his life forever.
"You still miss her, don't you?" Helen's voice was gentle.
His half-smile was faint. "Every time I look at Carly."
"She showed me the photo of the two of them. More like sisters, twin sisters almost, than mother and daughter."
"That's the one that hurts most, I think. It takes a long time to get over, but I think I'm getting there. Hey, this is getting morbid. Time for a change of subject." He raised his tea-cup. "A toast, to the newly-weds. To Tim and Carly."
"Tim and Carly," she echoed, touching her cup to his.
There was a comfortable pause, as they reflected on the previous day's wedding. Jack glanced across at Helen. "What about the real Helen Daniels? Tell me about her."
Helen gave him a wry look. "Four years divorced, perpetually horny and never been laid in two years." She stopped dead, a look of horror on her face, flushing scarlet. "Jack," she gasped, "I'm sorry, that isn't what I meant to say! Believe me, please?" She groaned. "I cannot believe I just said that! God, what must you think of me?"
He almost laughed. "That you're an honest woman, perhaps? No, I don't think you did mean to say that out loud, Helen. Is it true?"
"Oh, yes, it's true. Unfortunately for me."
"Nearly five for me," he said, eyes unfocused as he remembered Jenny.
Helen reached across and took his hand in hers, squeezing gently. He looked at her, bringing himself back to the now. "Sorry, Helen."