Ed was walking along the pedestrian walkway over the Zebra crossing when he saw the extremely fast car waving across the road. He then saw the elderly thin lady and scooped her into his arms and ran to the pavement. The car clipped another and flipped over onto the crossing. Anyone walking across would have been crushed. Bec saw the man lift her up, then the car and the resulting accident. She looked at Ed and said “Thank you but why?”

Ed smiled “Why, because you were in danger and I have not done many good deeds since leaving the navy. How do you feel? I did not hurt you picking you up the way I did?” He looked at the thin elderly lady, smartly dressed, with such a pretty olden face. He bet she would have been a beautiful looking lady in her younger days.

“Well young man I better shout you a cup of tea at least, this early in the morning.” She held his arm whilst she directed him to a cafe three doors down. They sat inside and she asked for a pot of English breakfast tea with extra milk and some hot water in another pot. Looking at Ed he asked for a black coffee. They showed them the cake tray and she collected two apple turnovers and two coconut slices. She placed one each on the two plates. Ed smiled at her.

When the waitress walked away she said “Well young man, I am Rebecca Goldstein nickname Bec to my friends and I ask you to call me Bec please, my new good friend.”

He smiled “I am Edward Smith, Ed to my friends like you.” They went to shake hands across the table but he turned her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. Bec smiled at the gallant nature of his actions.

“That is an old fashion greeting Ed, and I must say, thank you.” Bec answered.

The tea and coffee arrived, Bec poured her tea and added one sugar cube. Ed sipped his coffee finding it very hot, not what he was use to. They chatted about various items and their history whilst they enjoyed their morning tea. They seem to click even when Bec announced their age difference.

After finishing Bec insisted she pays and asked Ed where was he going? Ed replied “I’m looking for a job, I was medically discharged from the navy with a damaged elbow. I am unable to straighten it after an accident, I’m also looking for a place to live, when I find my job I’ll find a place close by.”

Bec smiled at him, “Come with me.” She held his arm as they walked into the residential area and on the corner was this old red brick house that look posh, elegant but tired. Bec said “This is my home, I have owned it since I was 20 years old. I do need a man to assist bring it back to glory. If I offered you room, food and board, would you like to help restore my home. I’ll willing to pay you $500 per week?”

Ed replied “You know this will take quite a few months to finish?”

Bec smiled “Yes and it will mean I will get to see you daily. I have had a lot of offers for my property but to me it is my home not a building, anyway where would I go, I have no family anymore. I’ve been a widow for 50 years and one child who died the following year my husband was killed in an automobile accident. Please, as I feel you are a nice and kind person who need a purpose in life?”

Ed smiled “That I do, like you I do not have any family now-a-days. Yes I will take on the role as requested young lady.” She smiled at his kind words and kissed his cheek.

They entered the three story house which did have a basement. Bec took Ed up the stairs to her bedroom then into another room exactly the same size with a double bed. “This will be your room, next to me, you have a separate entrance or you can enter through my bedroom.” Opening another door there were plenty of clothes, “This use to be my late husbands clothes, so if any fit you, help yourself.”

Ed placed his bag on the bed and sat down. It was certainly a soft bed compared to sleeping in bunks onboard the ships. He looked around and noticed a lot of the doors and handles needed some servicing. About an hour later Bec called “Lunch is ready Ed, downstairs and on the right.

Ed went downstairs and found the dining room, it was an excellent room but in need of some tender care. Nothing major just minor spit and polish. Whilst talking Ed asked for a local hardware store so he could get some supplies. After lunch Bec took Ed to the hardware store two blocks away. He pickup some 3in1 oil, WD40, sugar soap, steel wool, timber and metal polish, cloths, window cleaner graphite power paint brushes etc and as he mentioned to her a 55 piece tool kit. She paid in cash for the lot. They carried the items back to her place and she showed him the ground floor workshop. It did not have much except a lot of dust. He placed the newly purchased items on the bench and returned to the kitchen for another cup of tea. The two of them were in no hurry to complete anything. After dinner they sat in the sitting room and watched TV on the old small 30 year old screen. Bec showed him her routine of closing and locking up. When they retired to bed Ed went in through his door, whilst Bec went through her door. He undressed but leaving his undies on he went to bed. His pillow went flying across the bed as he laid down. This was the first time he had ever slept on satin sheets. As he was tired and in this house he felt safe, he fell into a deep sleep.

Ten minutes later Bec looked in his bedroom and saw he was fast asleep, she smiled, it had been over 50 years since she had a man sleeping under her roof. Bec went to her bed, leaving the room connecting door open. Hearing his snoring she felt safe. After 20 minutes of his snoring, Bec went into his bedroom and tried to roll Ed over, He did roll over but held onto Bec muttering ‘Sleep with me sis’ She had no choice but to enter his bed as he cuddled her. She ended up having a very good night sleep as well.

Ed woke up at 6am and found Bec in bed with him. As she was sleeping on his arm, he remembered dreaming about his little sister who always ended up sleeping with him. He remain in bed until Bec woke up at 6.30. She smiled at Ed saying “Good morning, you were snoring loud so I tried to roll you over, you did but grab a hold of me asking me to sleep with you. Not that I minded. Bec cuddled him and got out of bed and walked to her room to dress for the day. Ed noticed the door open and saw Bec disrobe then dress in her days garments, he noticing she had a sexy body. He got out of bed and dressed himself.