It had been the worst fish and chips he had ever eaten in his whole life. But the boys had liked them. Since he had already taken the day off they wandered around in London, played some football in their back garden. (Maltravers realized that it was much harder to do so in a coat and keeping a hat on ones head)

Four days after wards she was dead, on a saturday. He didn't know how to tell them, they looked so happy, even though they were a bit thinner. He sat down with them, they where playing on the floor and looked surprised when he actually sat down with them. ”William, Charles.” He began. ”Mommy is not going to come back home.” He followed the pattern in the carpet with his eyes. ”She is dead.”
William looked at him, then down at the toys again. Charles looked really sad. ”Mommy.” he said. ”Mommy come if Charlie call.” Charles said.
”No Charles. Mommy is with God now.” He said. ”Her soul is with our Father in heaven.” He looked at William. ”It's alright to cry.”
”Was it my fault?” William asked.
Maltravers was startled by the question. ”Of course not, William. She was sick, and then she died.”

Maltravers pulled in a mattress in the boys bedroom where he spent the night, mostly talking to William and insuring him that nothing was his fault. Charles wanted to sleep with him in the middle of the night, crawled up next to him. He hugged his little boy, who fell asleep fast in his fathers arms.

Blenkinsop went to the funeral, only after Maltravers had insured him that is was alright. Helen did not come since she was to busy with Anne, who was almost 5 months by then. ”I am so sorry.” He said when meeting him outside the church. He sat at far back as he could, and he had brought candy to the boys, to give them after wards. Nothing cured death, but caramels helped as a distraction.
Blenkinsop did not need any invitation to help Maltravers serving the coffee and cake to the family and friends. He also told Elizabeth's mother that he would do the washing up after wards. He stayed long into the night, just holding his George who cried and cried for the first time since he had understood that he was a widower. ”She will not be back.” he said. ”The person I shared 10 years of my life with is gone.” He looked up at Blenkinsop who looked just as sad. ”I can't even cook, Albert.” he said. ”No one prepared me for this.”
”Your boiled potatoes are smashing though.” Albert tried to ease his pain with a joke.
”I can boil things, that's it.” he said. Blenkinsop smiled and kissed him. ”Don't do that, don't try to make it better with kisses...” Blenkinsop looked at him, with his large brown eyes, and he looked so adorable. ”She said it was fine. You and me.”
Blenkinsop nodded. ”That's good to know.” And he kissed him again. ”And that she will not come back to haunt you.”
”Don't joke about it, Blenkinsop.” Maltravers said, but couldn't help to smile.
”No, I should get going.” Blenkinsop said after a while, he got up and pulled down his sleeves.
”I need you.” Maltravers said. Albert turned around, ready to take him right there on the sofa, right now in that very moment. He could be quiet. ”But not today.” His heart sank, he sighed, but nodded.
”Of course.” He kissed his George. ”You need to get some sleep.” He helped George up the stairs and then into a pajama, made sure to kiss every inch of his body while doing so. ”Goodnight old bean.” Albert said and kissed him goodnight.
”Good night... my Albert.”
”I could stay.”
”You are lying to yourself.” Maltravers said, looking utterly adorable tucked into bed.
”I'll put the key under the doormat.” Blenkinsop and kissed him again. ”See you soon, old bean.”