Ann looked at him, her eyes suddenly thoughtful.
“It sounds very much as if you had been up to mischief. It’s nothing serious, is it?”
“The trouble with you is you have a suspicious mind,” Ken said, avoiding her eyes. “Besides, is it likely I would tell you if I had been into mischief? I admit I did think of going off with some woman, but I just didn’t have the time.”
Ann leaned forward and kissed him.
“You’ve had your chance, Ken. I’m not leaving you again.”
“That’s no way to behave when I’m driving. Wait until we get home.” He put his hands on hers and squeezed it. “I don’t want you ever to go away again. Now tell me what’s been happening to you.”
He listened while she talked, and he felt at peace with the world. She need never know, he told himself. It would never happen again. He had had a narrow escape, and he had learned his lesson.
“Well, here we are,” he said, as he pulled up outside the bungalow. “Take
a look at the garden. How’s that for hard work? And don’t miss the gate. It works now.”
“Darling. I think I’d better go away again after all,” Ann said, standing at the gate and looking at the weedless garden, the close-cut lawn and the clean-cut edges. “It looks wonderful, and the windows have been cleaned.”