You join us in the garden, and Mr Dear is up to his arms in petunias. What he’s doing, though, is anybody’s guess. He’s supposed to be weeding, but at the moment he is resting on his hands and looking serious. Well, as serious as anybody can look while squatting in a flower bed.
‘You don’t really think I’ve got a thing about Jane, do you? Not really,’ he says.
He has stopped looking serious, and is now looking aggrieved and disappointed. The last time he deployed this expression for any length of time was when he thought he’d won the football pools in 1984, only to discover that Nottingham Forest hadn’t managed a draw (please note, this might not be an entirely accurate recollection – I didn’t understand football pools then, and I certainly don’t now).
‘What do you expect me to think?’ I said. ‘You’re always popping next door to see her. You’re always telling me how interesting she is, which I suggest would come as a surprise to anybody else who has actually met her. Where did you put the secateurs?’
As I pruned a rose that was trying to peer through the kitchen window, Mr D removed himself from the petunias and stood up.
Esta historia es de la edición August 10, 2021 de WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 10, 2021 de WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest