Free Sara's Child by Susan Elle

obviously relies on you quite a bit.” She consoles herself that she hasn’t actually said that Henry has said as much to her in confidence, so she isn’t really betraying him. She hopes.
    Aida’s head lifts in pride. “I knew it,” she states with a smug smile and setting the kettle on the range to boil. “He always makes out like he’s the one doing me a favour, what with me being a widower and needing the job; but I can tell when a place needs a woman’s touch. Not that Henry’s lazy or fuddled like some older folk get,” she smiles fondly, obviously not putting herself in that category either, “he’s just a typical man. He can’t think like a woman because he isn’t one,” and that seems to be explanation enough to Aida’s way of thinking. And you care about him very much.
    Catherine chuckles then. “Is Henry still out in the back garden?” she asks, knowing that is where he disappeared to after breakfast.
    “No, no…,” Aida’s head is bent over the pastry she has begun to roll out again, “…he’s away in the library – just down the hall, second door on the left – I’ll bring you both a cup of tea when the kettle’s boiled.”
    Catherine finds Henry studying a large book spread out over a desk. Giving a knock on the already open door, Catherine smiles as he looks up. “Aida told me where to find you,” she tells him as she crosses the room. “She also said she’d bring us a cup of tea in; that’s if I’m not disturbing you?” Her smile is uncertain now.
    “Not at all,” Henry waves her over. “I’m just looking at the old plans for this place.”
    Catherine looks with interest at the old intricate blueprints for the Lakelands house and grounds. “Henry, these are amazing.” She moves to his side to get a better look. Probably worth a small fortune but obviously worth more than mere money to Henry. “Are you thinking of making some kind of alterations to the house?” she asks, as these are the pages he appears to be studying.
    He looks a bit flustered. “Well…I don’t know…needs change…and, one day…maybe…” Catherine actually sees a spot of red come in to Henry’s cheeks. “…well, Logan may want to make this his home, too,” he declares quickly.
    Oh you thoughtful, lovely man.
    She smiles wickedly. “You haven’t told Logan about this, have you?”
    “No I haven’t,” he replies, closing the book and putting it back on the shelf, “and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to him.”
    Aida wheels a tea trolley in then, and tells them that lunch will be ready in about an hour. After pouring two cups of tea and setting the small plate of biscuits, that Aida has thoughtfully provided, on the table between them, Catherine takes a seat opposite Henry and considers his request.
    “I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want Logan to know about your plans for the house?” she asks, frowning over her teacup. “I mean, how great is that, to have a dad who would go to all that expense and trouble to entice you back home?”
    I wish I had a dad like you – mine probably doesn’t even know I’m alive.
    “Mmm,” Henry smiles crookedly, “you’d think so, hey?”
    Catherine’s smile falters a bit, realising that she still hasn’t done what she originally came for. “Actually, Henry, I came here to apologise for this morning. I shouldn’t have made you so uncomfortable in your own home that you felt you had to leave it.” I’m such an idiot.
    “I only went to feed the chickens,” he offers, then sees that she isn’t buying that. “Well, couples sometimes need a little privacy to work things out. I know Ellie and I had our moments; life would get a tad boring without a few fireworks to liven things up now and then.” His smile is wide and sincere, and Catherine loves him for it.
    “Is that how you see us?” She asks tentatively. “As a couple, I mean.”
    Henry looks surprised. “Don’t you?”
    It’s too soon. It won’t last. But I