Always And Forever by Betty Neels

He was waiting for her when she got back to the lounge.
    â€˜We deserve a drink,’ he told her, ‘and I hope you are as hungry as I am.’
    It wasn’t a large hotel, but it had all the unobtrusive perfection of service and comfort. They dined in a softly lit restaurant, served by deft waiters. The maître d’ had ushered them to one of the best tables, and no one so much as glanced at Amabel’s dowdy dress.
    They dined on tiny cheese soufflés followed by roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, light as a feather, crisp baked potatoes and baby sprouts, as gently suggested by the doctor. Amabel looked as though a good meal wouldn’t do her any harm, and she certainly enjoyed every mouthful—even managing a morsel of the lemon mousse which followed.
    Her enjoyment was unselfconscious, and the glass of claret he ordered gave her face a pretty flush as well as loosening her tongue. They talked with the ease of two people who knew each other well—something which Amabel, thinking about it later, found rather surprising—and presently, after a leisurely coffee, the doctor went to fetch the dogs and Amabel her coat and they walked back to the shop.
    The clocks were striking eleven as they reached the shop door. He took the key from her, opened the door and handed her Cyril’s lead.
    â€˜Tomorrow is Wednesday—you have a half-day?’ When she nodded he said, ‘Good. Could you be ready by half past one? We’ll take the dogs to the sea, shall we? Don’t bother with lunch; we’ll go next door and have coffee and a roll.’
    She beamed up at him. ‘Oh, that would be lovely. Dolores almost always goes about twelve o’clock on Wednesdays, so I can close punctually, then there’ll only be Oscar to see to.’ She added anxiously, ‘I don’t need to dress up?’
    â€˜No, no. Wear that coat, and a scarf for your head; it may be chilly by the sea.’
    She offered a hand. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening: I have enjoyed it.’
    â€˜So have I.’ He sounded friendly, and as though he meant it—which of course he did. ‘I’ll wait until you’re inside and locked up. Goodnight, Amabel.’
    She went through the shop and turned to lift a hand to him as she opened the door to her room and switched on the light. After a moment he went back to his hotel. He would have to return to London tomorrow, but he couldleave late and travel through the early part of the night so that they could have dinner together again.
    â€˜Am I being a fool?’ he enquired of Tiger, whose gruff rumble could have been either yes or no…
    It was halfway through the busy morning when Dolores asked casually, ‘Did you have a pleasant evening with your friend, Amabel?’
    Amabel warmed to her friendly tone. ‘Oh, yes, thank you. We went for a walk through the city and had dinner at his hotel. And this afternoon we’re going to the sea.’
    â€˜I dare say you found plenty to talk about?’
    â€˜Yes, yes, we did. His visit was quite unexpected. I really didn’t expect to see him again…’
    â€˜Does he come this way often? It’s quite a long journey from London.’
    â€˜Well, yes. He came just before I started work here—my mother told him where I was and he looked me up.’
    She had answered readily enough, but Dolores was prudent enough not to ask any more questions. She said casually, ‘You must wrap up; it will be cold by the sea. And you can go as soon as he comes for you; I’ve some work I want to do in the shop.’
    She’s nicer than I thought, reflected Amabel, going back to her careful polishing of a row of silver photo frames.
    Sure enough, when the doctor’s large person came striding towards the shop, Dolores said, ‘Off you go, Amabel. He can spend ten minutes in the shop while you get ready.’
    While Amabel fed Oscar, got Cyril’s lead and got into