The Nice Bloke — Catherine Cookson

Harry Blenheim wasn't what you might call a good-looking fellow, but his face was full of character, with the kindest eyes God ever made. That's what his wife Esther had said, back in the days when they'd loved and laughed together. Now, it was five years since they had even kissed goodnight.

Still, everyone in Fellburn respected Harry, even if there was no love lost between him and his hard-headed father-in-law. No one was more surprised than Harry that he should let himself become involved in a fling with an office girl. He knew it was a warning sign, that the cracks were beginning to show, but worse was to come. Nice bloke that he was, nothing could have prepared Harry Blenheim for the scandal that shook his life with all the force of an earthquake.