慖抣l be careful,?he says.
After Nelson抯 abrupt departure, Ruth and Zoe finish their wine and say goodnight. Ruth wonders if she should try to explain Nelson抯 appearance and disappearance but what is there to say? This is Kate抯 father, he抯 here because his wife抯 away? This is DCI Nelson of the Norfolk Serious Crimes Unit, he抯 driven twenty miles in a pandemic to take his dog for a walk? In the end, Ruth just wishes Zoe a good day at work tomorrow. 慖抦 off on Fridays,?said Zoe. 慣hank goodness. So I抦 here if you need anyone to keep an eye on Kate.?
Ruth thanks her for the offer and the wine and pushes open her front door which she has left on the latch. She goes to stand by the window and looks out into the darkness. The security light has gone off and she can hardly see Nelson抯 white car, parked only a few metres away. Will he come back when he抯 taken Bruno for a walk? Is that even allowed? The rules say that you can only exercise within walking distance of your home. Of course, Nelson is, to some extent, above the law but Ruth knows that he doesn抰 like using his position for personal advantage. In her obsessive reading of Covid news, she has come across some discussion about divorced parents being allowed to see their children. Perhaps Nelson抯 visit comes under this heading? But Ruth knows that Nelson did not come to see Kate.
Flint, who ran away at the first sight of Bruno, now squeezes through his cat flap and meows loudly. Ruth feeds him and wonders about pouring herself another glass of wine. At this rate, she抣l be an alcoholic by the end of the first proper week of lockdown. She compromises by putting the kettle on. I抣l have a cup of tea, she tells herself, and then I抣l go to bed. Nelson will drive home. The whole episode will be forgotten in the morning.
She is pouring boiling water onto a tea bag when there抯 a soft tap at the window. Ruth puts the kettle down and goes to the front door.
慦ho is it??she says.
慖t抯 me.?
Bruno charges in and immediately knocks several books off the coffee table. Ruth shuts the kitchen door. Flint will be safe in there and can come and go through his cat flap. When she turns, she sees Nelson watching her from the middle of the room, his dog at his side.
慖抦 not sure you should be here,?she says.
慖抦 sure I shouldn抰，？says Nelson.
Ruth knows that she should tell him to go. It抯 a pandemic and they are breaking all the rules, to say nothing of the other rules sanctioned by the state and the Holy Catholic Church. But, instead, she抯 the one who steps forward and puts her arms round Nelson抯 neck, raising her face to his.
Chapter 20
Ruth wakes up knowing that something is different. For once the new normal worries ?Covid, school, work ?don抰 come rushing into her mind. But there抯 something else. And the bed feels different. Warmer. Uneven. Ruth reaches out a hand and sits bolt upright. Nelson is lying next to her. She can see the 慡easiders?tattoo on his shoulder. He is deeply asleep, his dark hair somehow shocking on her white pillow. The last time Nelson stayed the night here, there was no grey in his hair. That was the night Kate was conceived. Kate! She mustn抰 come in and find a strange man in Ruth抯 bed. Well, not exactly strange ?Nelson is her father, after all ?but definitely unexpected. Ruth looks at the green numbers on her alarm: 8.04. It抯 years since she slept this late. Recently she抯 been waking up before dawn. Kate will be awake any minute. She抯 starting to sleep later in preparation for being a teenager but it抯 rare that she sleeps past eight.
慚um??The door opens. Just in time, Ruth realises that she抯 naked and clutches her sheet to her. The movement wakes Nelson who also sits up.
慔allo, Dad,?says Kate. 慦hat are you doing here??
慔allo, love.?Nelson rubs his eyes. 慦e were just . . .?
慉re we doing yoga with Cathbad this morning??says Kate. 慖t抯 five past eight.?
慪es,?says Ruth. 慓et dressed and I抣l be with you in a minute.?
慜K,?says Kate but, instead of going into her room, Ruth hears her feet on the stairs. Then there抯 a cry of surprise. Ruth pulls on her best dressing gown and follows.