It was while Sarah was luxuriating in a bubble bath and having her hair very gently washed by Al, that she suddenly realised that she didn’t feel at all self-conscious in his presence.  In all the years with Andy, she had avoided any wandering around barely clothed, and averted her eyes at the sight of his pale, spindly body.  Any sex that had taken place in their early years was carried out in the dark and with a minimum of affection. Clutching a towel to her face in order to avoid getting the dressing wet, she smiled and closed her eyes as Al massaged her head, and the warm water washed the shampoo and conditioner away.

“How come you have so many nice things like bubble bath in your house Al?”

“Maggie’s fault.  She has always been keen on me finding someone new, and as a consequence makes sure that there are some girly things around in the house.  I have been known to have a bubble bath myself, although I am a shower man really. I’ll get a quick one while you’re getting dressed.”

He wrapped her hair up in a towel and checked that the dressing was still intact and dry, then held out a large bath sheet to wrap the rest of Sarah up in. She looked up at him, and felt a surge of happiness as he helped her out of the bath, and hugged her. It was another of those moments where time became irrelevant as he kissed her, and all thought of getting dressed was abandoned.

“We’ll have to ration this sort of thing if we’re going to get anything done.” she said, feeling very glad that Al’s bathroom floor was mostly covered with a large fluffy rug, and a slightly damp bath sheet.

“Ration?” Al pulled a disappointed face but kissed her nevertheless.

“You know exactly what I mean Al.  At the moment, I would be perfectly happy tucked up on the sofa with you, or in bed, or on the bathroom floor, or anywhere as long as it’s just you and me.  We have to get dressed and feed Buster though. I also think that we need to go back to work tomorrow before the media blows this story out of all proportion.”

“I must admit that the thought of shutting us both away from the world for a couple of weeks sounds wonderful, I’d been thinking that maybe time off should wait under the circumstances.  I’ve worked with Oliver’s mob for long enough to know how quickly situations escalate once the gossips start.”

“Are you worried about them gossiping about us?” she asked, feeling a little disappointed.  “Oliver knows, which means that it’s common knowledge now.”

“Not about us my love, about the incident; how it was handled by security, how much of it relates to Oliver’s show.  Don’t be surprised if they ask you to do an interview for radio or TV. Your reaction last night made me wonder if you needed to stay away a bit longer?”

“I was a bit freaky, wasn’t I?” Sarah grimaced at the memory. “Things have changed though Al; I can’t pretend that it didn’t happen, or that I haven’t got a cut on my face.  If we are talking media, I need to work with the company as to what I can and can’t say, so going back into work tomorrow is the best thing to do.  How about you though?  There are bound to be nudges and winks all over the place.”

“If you can cope with it, then so can I.  You said last night that we make a good team?”

“If you hadn’t understood me so well, you wouldn’t have realised what I was trying to communicate to you when I was opening and closing my eyes. You trusted me to know what I was doing, and you gave me the courage to do it.  All Andy ever did was undermine me, and treat me like a naughty child.  Anyway, I’m going to get dressed and contact Jenny and Oliver. I’ll leave you to your shower.”

Sarah gave him a swift kiss and hurried off to the bedroom.  Al stood in the bathroom, slightly stunned but revelling in that same rush of happiness.

Not surprisingly, Jenny and Oliver were very happy about Sarah and Al returning to work so soon.  Al’s boss was even more relieved at not having to juggle an already overstretched workforce at a difficult time.   Buster was almost pleased to see them when they walked into Millie’s flat.  There was still no sign of Millie though. 

‘If we’re both going in to work tomorrow, should we use two cars or one?  Should we go from the cottage, or do you want to stay here?  Not in Tom’s little room of course. I’m not trying to make life more complicated, but I have to know what clothes I’ll need, and what you need if …”

“Sarah,” he said very calmly.  “Come here and take a few deep breaths.”

She sat down on the sofa and leaned against him, feeling the moments of panic ebb away as he put his arms around her.

“We can stay here if you prefer.  I’ll need to nip home and get my uniform and stuff; you can have a playfight with Buster, and update Jude.  We can go to work in my car and leave a parking space for someone else. At the end of tomorrow, we can make a decision about which home to spend the night in.  Variety is the spice of life and I haven’t even looked in your bedroom here yet.”

“Do you have time to have a look now or shall we leave that to later?”

“All the time in the world for you. Not Buster though.  He keeps giving me funny looks.”

After eventually waving Al off from the balcony, Sarah sent a text to Jude asking if she was free for a chat.  The answer came back very swiftly.

Yes, yes, and double yes!

It was a relief to be able to tell Jude about what had happened, and that included the progression of Sarah and Al’s relationship, which Jude found extremely romantic, and just what Sarah deserved after all those years of living with Andy’s commandments.

“Are you happy Sarah?  Apart from being wounded in the line of duty?”

Sarah laughed.  “That’s what Al called it.  Did I tell you that he’s an ex-policeman?”

“A couple of times, but that doesn’t seem to be his major attribute as far as you are concerned. What happens now?”

“We are both going into work tomorrow.  Ever eager to milk some positive publicity, Oliver has asked Jenny to set up a press call for the morning. In a way it’s good, because it gives us a chance to tell our side of the story – within reason because of the pending charges against Marta and Natasha – rather than have the trashy tabloids get the wrong end of the stick.  I’ve no doubt that they’ll make a big thing about me and Al, and how I’ve fell for my ‘rescuer’ on that fateful night. The fact that Al and I have been out on dates already, and according to Al, I rescued myself, he just helped. Thank goodness we did that self-defence course years ago.  In the short term, we have to wait for Millie to return from India; I may need to find alternative accommodation…”

“…Al’s cottage maybe?”

“I feel so comfortable there Jude; you and Dan will love it.  It’s far more your kind of place than Andy’s house or even Millie’s flat.  I can’t go into it at the moment but there’s trouble brewing regarding the show, and I might be looking for a job again.  Al’s okay because he works for the main security company rather than just the show.  The press call tomorrow will do his company the world of good too.  There are things I need to ask you though Jude; you are the only really happily married woman that I know.”

“Would this be anything to do with the fact that you and Al can’t keep your hands off each other by chance?”

“How did you know?”

“I know you, sweetheart! You skimmed over what actually happened when Al took you back home after the hospital, but I had a feeling that you two became – how can we put it politely? Intimate?”

“Very intimate, and not just the once either.”

“Enough!  Dan and I still have our moments, even with three demanding daughters.  I am very glad that you’ve finally found what you’ve been missing out on all this time.  I was afraid to tell you in case it made you even more miserable with Andy.”

“I guess Al and I are both making up for lost time then?  Tell me though, when Dan’s out of the house, do you worry in case he’s involved in a car accident?”

“Even after all this time together – yes!  I still get butterflies when I hear his key in the door.  Sound familiar? I take it that Andy never had that effect on you?”

“I don’t remember ever feeling this way before.  When Andy took me under his wing, I felt protected from everything that was falling down around me. In retrospect I should have escaped once I realised what was going on, but at the time it seemed easier to just immerse myself in work, and let him sort everything out.  With Al, I feel that I can make my own decisions; he makes me feel strong Jude.  That’s good, isn’t it?”

“If he makes you feel that way, as well as giving you butterflies when you’re with him, I would say that the future looks pretty rosy.  Good luck for tomorrow.  I shall watch the news with interest.”

Deciding that keeping busy was the best thing that she could do while waiting for Al to return, Sarah stripped and changed Millie and Tom’s beds.  Buster wasn’t that pleased, and had to be reassured with some treats.  He disappeared and Sarah found him curled up on her bed.  She smiled at his contentment, but her face reminded her that it was time for more painkillers, and food.  The cupboards and fridge looked a little bare, and Sarah wondered if she could cope with a supermarket trip if wearing a huge scarf around her face.  She was just beginning to get seriously worried about Al, when the door buzzed, and the butterflies started up again as she heard his voice on the intercom.

She rushed to open the door, and was about to fling her arms around him when she realised, that not only did he have a bag of work clothes and equipment, he also had several bags of shopping. He put them down gently in the hallway.

“I missed you!” she said.  “I was convinced that you’d been in a fatal car accident.  Jude said that was a perfectly normal thing, and that she feels the same every time Dan is a bit late home.  It gets a bit easier apparently.”

He picked her up in a huge bear hug once his arms were free.

“I thought we could do with some supplies, and I didn’t think that you’d feel like a shopping trip today.  Yes, I missed you too, but at the same time knowing that I was shopping for both of us made up for it.  Baguettes, cheeses and ham for lunch.  Is that okay?”

“Wonderful. I’ve just been looking through the fridge and cupboards for something to put together for us.  A bit Mother Hubbard I’m afraid.”

“I called Maggie.  I told her.  About us and you moving in.  Was that okay?”

“Of course!  What did she say?”

“She asked me to call in on the way back.  I have some things to give you.  Tonight’s dinner which is a couple of portions of one of Maggie’s casseroles, and potatoes to bulk them out a bit, and…”

“…and?”

“Our Maggie’s a bit old-fashioned, and when I told her about us moving in together, she pulled a face.”

“What kind of a face?”

“An ‘I don’t really believe in people living together without being married’ face.”

“Oh. Does she know that Andy and I weren’t married?”

“It didn’t seem relevant so I didn’t mention it.  That’s all in the past.  Anyway, she said I was to give you this.  It used to belong to my Mother.”

Al pulled a small red leather box out of his pocket and handed it to Sarah.  She sat down on the sofa and opened it very carefully.  Inside was a ring; a garnet, set in gold and surrounded with marcasites. She felt the tears welling up, as she looked from the box to Al, and back again.

“You aren’t upset, are you?” he said.  “I didn’t know if you’d feel pressured or angry.  I didn’t know…”

“If this ring means what I hope it means, I will only be angry if you don’t go down on one knee and propose properly”

It was all that Al needed, and what made the moment even more perfect, as he put it on Sarah’s finger, the ring actually fitted.

“Sarah, in the short time we’ve known each other you have made my world a happier place, and I knew from the moment I met you that I wanted to share that world with you forever.  Will you marry me, please?”

“Yes!  Oh yes, Al! Are you sure that Maggie doesn’t mind giving up this ring? Especially as it was something of your Mother’s?”

“She says it was always far too small for her, and by the time any of her girls would be old enough to wear it, they’d probably turn their noses up at anything so old-fashioned.  Do you think it’s old-fashioned Sarah?”

“It’s my birthstone.  Garnets for a January girl – well, woman – and I love marcasite and the way that it catches the light and dances.  Oh Al!  I feel so happy I could burst!  Phone Maggie please, I need to say thank you before I phone Jude.”

“Can I get up now?  My knees aren’t as flexible as they used to be.”

“I have a feeling that this is one of those moments where a kiss and several hugs is definitely in order.  Buster’s asleep on my – our bed – so we won’t get any disapproving looks.”

Sarah curled up on the sofa next to Al as he dialled his sister’s number.  She answered very quickly, and he handed the phone over to Sarah, who lost no time in thanking Maggie and telling her how very happy she was.  Jude was next, and the news was greeted with great whoops of joy.  Life would be perfect if only Millie would come home.