'til fate do they part. Part 4 of 6 parts
Over the next couple of weeks, we had little contact with John or Jayne. I saw John once and he was clearly getting stronger. I wondered if Liz would be able to fulfil her ambition as Jayne appeared not to need help. John was now able to get himself to and from his bed, albeit with some effort. Liz and I called in once as we were passing just to say hello. It was quite something to watch John's reaction when he met Liz; he was clearly pleased, and I noticed a look of fondness in his gaze. I wondered if he was falling in love with her.
As it usually does, fate presented an opportunity to those who recognised it as such.
Jayne 'phoned one evening. Liz answered and Jayne asked if I could come up to John's house. Her husband was working away and had taken the car. John had taken a minor fall by being over-ambitious. He wasn't hurt but she asked if I'd keep an eye on him until the evening as she wanted to attend her college class. In relaying this to me, Liz said that she had told Jayne that she would come with me and stay with John and that I would take Jayne to the college and wait for her in the library and then take her home. How quickly and neatly her mind worked and with no reference to me; she was committed to whatever she'd planned.
We quickly freshened up and set out for John's house. I noticed that Liz wasn't wearing anything that could be called provocative; I supposed so as not to appear so with Jayne being there. When we arrived, John looked well, if a little pale and Jayne looking cross rather than concerned. When she described what had happened, she was as annoyed as she was concerned. John listened with some exasperation, saying that he was alright and not to go on so. Liz defused it by saying that she'd see John to his bed and in the meantime, I could take Jayne to the college. The suggestion calmed everybody down and Jayne prepared to leave with me. I looked at Liz, but she gave me no clue, and then at John; he was clearly quite happy to be looked after by Liz and I could understand why.
I opened the car door for Jayne. She thanked me as she got in, showing rather a lot of her legs as she did so. I started the car and drove off towards the gates giving access to the common and on to the college. Jayne was silent for a couple of miles; then she spoke.
'My father!' she exclaimed, 'he so exasperates me at times. As if I don't have enough problems right now without him adding to them by being stubborn.'
'Don't be too hard on him,' I said, 'he hates being reliant on others.'
'I don't think I can face college right now David, would you take me home please?'
I looked across at her and noticed that she had the tears in her eyes.
'Of course I will.' I said and reached across and gently squeezed her hand.
She surprised me by putting her hand over mine, leaving it there for a while before removing it. Now I had both hands free, I set about diverting to her home. On the way, I mused that I'd need to while away a couple of hours before I could return to John's house.
I pulled into the driveway, turned off the engine and then went around to open her door. She got out, thanking me again. She turned to face me.
'Come in and have a drink,' she said, 'it's the least I can offer you for all your kindness.
I followed Jayne into the house, she walking ahead, putting on lights and drawing curtains as she did so.
'What would you like to drink David?' she asked, 'We've got most things.'
'Have you a vodka?' I asked.
She did, and poured two generous glasses.
'Ice?' she asked.
I thanked her and said I would.