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When Lucas had offered not only to help with the registration paperwork, but also to collect the car for her, Libby had accepted gratefully.

“Bonjour, Lucas. Ça va?” Libby said as Lucas greeted her with his now customary kiss on the cheek.

“I am good, thank you,” Lucas replied. “And your car is good, too.”

“She’s even prettier than I remember,” Libby said, walking around the car. “I’m really looking forward to driving her. Oh, Lucas, meet my sister-in-law, Helen.”

“I have the papers for you to sign,” Lucas said after shaking hands with Helen. “You have the green insurance ticket for the windscreen?”

Libby nodded.

“It arrived yesterday.”

“Bon,” Lucas said, glancing at his watch. “I will post the signed papers on my way to evening surgery.”

While Lucas spread the papers on the kitchen table, Libby fetched the envelope from the insurance company and handed it to him before making the coffee.

“Right, you need to sign this one, initial this one and sign this one,” Lucas said, handing her a pen. “While you sign I’ll just go and put the insurance ticket on the windscreen.”

“I know the French love their paperwork . . .” Libby laughed “. . . but this is over the top!”

Lucas shrugged.

“It’s normal. Everyone now has proof you own the car and it’s a legal transaction.”

“I have to admit I’d never have found my way through all this paperwork. I can’t thank you enough,” Libby said.

“Sure you can. You can take me for a drive and buy me a drink,” Lucas said, looking at her. “I’m free most evenings after seven.”

“Now there’s an offer you can’t refuse,” Helen said.

“Oh, but I can,” Libby said lightly. “Sorry, Lucas, but I’ve got evening meals to organise these days. Maybe when the summer is over? How about I make you a chocolate cake instead?”

“Not the same, but so long as you share it with me, I suppose it will have to do,” Lucas said before going outside to the car.

Helen shook her head at her.

“He’s so nice. You should have agreed. It would be good for you to have a man in your life again.”

“Right now, getting this place up and running is enough. I don’t need a man in my life,” Libby said. However attractive and helpful he might be, she added silently to herself. “It would just complicate things.”

Margaret Scott

Margaret is a sub-editor within the Production Team on the "Friend". Her main job is to work on the stories and make sure the magazine leaves us in its best possible guise. When not doing that, however, she either has her head buried in the old “Friend” volumes or is out and about giving talks or going on Warner trips (fab!). She hates cheese.

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