‘I could pick him out in a crowd but it’s my powers of description that are failing me now.’ She thought about him. ‘He has a small scar above his eyebrow and his hair has a sort of straw-like quality. Not that it’s like straw exactly, but it’s the colour really.’ Thinking about him, Helena realised she felt a bit warm towards him. While she was perfectly capable of having men as friends and liking them, with Jago she felt the stirrings of attraction which was rare.

‘Voice?’ prompted Amy as Helena had stopped trying to describe him.

‘A nice voice. No noticeable accent.’

‘Eyes?’

‘Yes, he definitely has eyes.’

‘Agh! Colour?’

‘Not easy to define. Bluey-greeny, or maybe greeny-bluey.’

‘Nothing else you can tell me about him?’

Helena shrugged. ‘To be honest I was mostly dealing with my claustrophobia.’

Amy looked at her. ‘Helena! What on earth have you been doing?’

‘Earth does come into it, as it happens.’ And Helena related the story of how she’d had to rescue the kitten. ‘So we know he’s definitely an animal lover.’

Amy was less impressed. ‘Yes, but does he want kids? Some people prefer animals to children.’

‘Strangely, we didn’t get on to whether or not he wanted children. He does know I don’t take sugar in my tea, though,’ said Helena, not bothering to hide her sarcasm. ‘Nor does he.’

‘Ah!’ said Amy triumphantly. ‘Something in common!’

Helena sighed. ‘But seriously, I think he is a nice guy. He’s making our space into affordable housing and says that’s what he’s most interested in. You should definitely get to know him.’

‘I will,’ said Amy. ‘If you’re leaving this diamond on the beach.’

‘He’s all yours. Now tell me about the workshop. Was it OK doing it on your own? I am sorry I couldn’t come and do it with you.’

‘It’s fine. I know you had to work. And it was OK although it is better doing it as a couple. People aren’t left waiting for help for so long.’ She twiddled the fringe on the throw. ‘Tell me more about this Jago Pengelly. Is that Welsh, do you think?’

‘Cornish, I imagine, though I’m not sure. Amy, why don’t you pop over and ask him?’

‘He won’t be there now,’ said Amy. ‘It’s nearly nine o’clock in the evening. Builders don’t work that late.’

‘He’s living on site! Which is why he was able to look after his sister’s cat and her kitten. Though I think they’ve gone back now. I saw him putting a loaded cat basket into his pickup.’

Amy had lost interest in the cats. ‘But is the house fit to live in? It doesn’t look like it.’