Winter's Fairytale. Maxine Morrey

folded next to the dryer. Nosing through it, I found a Help For Heroes sweatshirt. Unfolding it, I pulled it over my head and waited for it to settle under my bum. Heading over to where I’d spread out my work this morning, I sat down gently on my cushion and began looking at the drawings.

      An hour later I was just putting the last finishing strokes of colour to a design when I heard a key turn in the lock. I pushed myself up from where I had sprawled and watched as Rob walked through the door. His nose was shining as red and bright as the festive lights at Covent Garden Apple Market and he was rubbing his hands together in an effort to boost circulation.

      ‘Good run?’ I asked.

      ‘Yep.’ he replied, bending down to undo his laces.

      ‘How many times did you fall?’

      ‘Just the once.’

      ‘Are you all right?’

      ‘Yep.’

      I shook my head and got up, padding across to where he was still bent over fighting with his laces. I watched for a second before bending down to the same level. I could see his frozen hands were struggling with the soaking laces.

      ‘Here.’ I pushed his hands out of the way.

      ‘No, it’s fine. Really, I can–’ He attempted to move my hands.

      I didn’t reply. Just pushed his own back out of the way again and slid down on the floor so that my feet were either side of my hips. He’d made a right mess of the ties and I peered at them, before focussing in on the right end to start with.

      Rob leant back and sat his bum on the floor, finally accepting he wasn’t going to win this one.

      ‘How do you even sit like that?’ he asked after a moment, a hint of amusement in his voice.

      ‘It’s comfy.’ I replied, concentration creasing my face, ‘I’m really quite bendy.’

      ‘Good to know.’ He laughed, softly.

      I pulled a lace and it came free! ‘Ta dah!’

      Rob pulled the other one, and I could see his hands were turning a bit more of a normal colour.

      ‘Thanks.’

      ‘You’re welcome.’

      He quickly pushed himself up from the floor and held down a hand for me to grab on to. I did so and was propelled upward into a standing position far quicker than I expected.

      ‘Ooh!’ I wobbled, ‘Headrush.’

      ‘Sorry,’ Rob was apologetic as he steadied me, ‘I’m used to heaving blokes up off the rugby field. You’re a bit lighter.’

      I acknowledged the likelihood of that.

      ‘I’m going to take a shower. I picked up some lunch on the way back.’

      ‘Ok. Yes, go and warm up, for goodness’ sake. I’ll make us some drinks.’

      I was just dishing up the soup and warm bread Rob had brought back with him when he walked back into the kitchen. He was dressed in a pair of well-worn cargo trousers with a loose t-shirt over the top. Rummaging in the same laundry pile I’d gone through earlier, he pulled out a hoody and slipped it on. He took the dishes, put them in place on the breakfast bar, and turned to take the plate of bread.

      ‘I like this look.’ he said, smiling at the, admittedly eclectic, style I’d ended up with today.