A Change for the Better? by Stephanie Drury Read Free Book Online

cucumber, cheese straws (and scones for Poppy), brioche stuffed with cream cheese and smoked ham, freshly baked bread sliced and buttered with a variety of toppings of pate, cheese and cooked meats, but nothing too ‘slippy ’ to land unexpectedly in someone else’s lap. Katie had also made mini quiches and sausage rolls for the meat eaters, cheese & onion for the veggies. In addition she had made the promised coffee cake and added a tray of oatmeal honey flapjack. She had just put the white wine and orange juice in the fridge to chill and the re d wine was on the side to acclimatise when the front door bell echoed through the house. Cursing under her breath as she really didn’t want a distraction now, she grabbed a towel and rubbed her hands quickly on it, ran them through her hair to straighten it out, make it more presentable. Opening the door she found Ben Wilson on the other side crouched down inspecting the lower part of the door frame.
     
    “Er hi, was I expecting you?” Katie asked
     
    “Well sort of - I said I’d let you know when I found a door suitable for Tolpuddle House, which I have, and I have a couple of hours to spare so I can put it on now if that’s ok?” Ben responded with what Katie presumed he thought was his ‘winning’ smile.
     
    “Well I don’t know, I mean I do want the door sorting out but a bit of notice would’ve been appreciated.” Katie paused, feeling a bit ungracious, after all, the guy was doing her a favour “but sure it’ll be great to get it fixed.” Grinning even more broadly Ben stepped inside producing a toolbox that had been hidden round the corner
     
    “Good, I was hoping you’d say that. I’ll just get on and you can get back to your cooking.” Katie’s indignation rose up straight away
     
    “Cooking, what makes you think I’m cooking, you chauvinist, just because I’m a woman at home during the day I must be cooking or cleaning or watching talk shows on TV I suppose” she snapped.
     
    “Well yes all that of course, - and your hair” Ben replied gesturing to the top of Katie’s head. Swinging round quickly to look in mirror, too late Katie realised that in running her fingers through her hair she had deposited a few streaks of flour and also had a fair sprinkling across her nose and cheeks. Quickly rubbing them away she spoke with what she hoped was dignity and disdain
     
    “Absolutely, I’ll leave you to get on. Just give me a shout if you need anything. The kitchen’s just through here.” She pointed through the open door on the left hand side of the hall.
     
    “Yes, I know my way about; I’ve done quite a bit of work for Mo in the past.” Ben informed her as he started to remove tools from his box. He looked up just as she was about to disappear he added “it wasn’t just your hair you know, the smell of freshly baked bread is everywhere - it’s making me quite hungry.” he winked and rubbed his stomach as he spoke. Katie turned towards the kitchen but couldn’t help a smile crossing her face. Ben Wilson was just as annoying, cheeky and funny as he had been twenty years ago. Never mind, she thought, I’ll get my own back when he least expects it and then Katie realised she too was a lot more like herself twenty years ago – really, he definitely brought out the worst in her.
     
    For the next hour Katie polished glasses, set the big kitchen table and finished up the food preparation for the evening, to the accompaniment of various bangs, crashes and sawing noises from the hallway and also the occasional burst of song when things were going well and a few mutterings when things clearly weren’t. As she’d done everything she needed to in preparation for the house guests, she decided to put the kettle on and made Ben and herself a mug of tea. Shouting through the doorway she asked if he took sugar, just one came back the reply and just as she was about to ask if he wanted the tea bringing through Ben stuck his head round the