That Special Something: A heartwarming, small town romance to fall in love with

Twenty-two

‘Did Tom Hardy find you darling?’ Pat asked when Hope returned home half an hour later.

She and Rob had talked for a while after that hug and although he still maintained he loved her, Hope was certain it wouldn’t take Rob long to get over it. He said he might as well do a bit more travelling.

‘You never know. I might meet someone on my travels. Although I haven’t so far.’

‘You never know how or when you might meet the love of your life, Rob. I genuinely hope you do and I truly hope it’s soon.’

‘I’ll send you a postcard and tell you,’ he said.

‘Just don’t say I wish you were here,’ she quipped.

They had walked back up the three hundred Lookout steps together with Lady E and had parted as friends with a final hug at Lookout Point.

‘Tom?’ Hope said now, an odd feeling itching at her skin. ‘Was he looking for me? Did he call?’

‘He was looking for you, yes. But he didn’t call. He couldn’t because you left your phone at Della’s engagement party, last night. Or so he said. But I’m not sure I believe him.’ Pat grinned. ‘He came to the door about an hour ago. What a lovely young man he is. He apologised for calling round but said he thought you might need it. I told him you’d taken Lady E to the beach and how to get there via Lookout Point and the steps.’

‘Oh God! When was this?’

Had he seen her with Rob?

‘About ten minutes ago. Why? What’s wrong Hope? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’

Hope grabbed her phone and called him but it went to voicemail so she left him a message. She tried to sound cheerful but her heart was thumping and not in a good way.

‘Hi Tom. Mum told me you called round. Thanks for my phone. That was kind of you to bring it. I was on the beach with Lady E, our dog, and I bumped into an old friend. Erm. I’m home now so perhaps you would call me when you get this message. Bye for now.’

Pat eyed her thoughtfully. ‘What friend? What’s going on Hope?’

‘Nothing. I’m fine. I need coffee. Do you want one?’

Hope counted the minutes and then the hours and Tom did not call back. She had now left him another two messages each one sounding less and less cheerful and light hearted to her own ears. She dare not call again or he would definitely think something had happened between her and Rob and that she felt guilty, if he had seen them hugging.

But what if something had happened to him? What if he’d had an accident and that was why he wasn’t calling her back?

She phoned Della and put on a huge fake smile hoping it would reflect in her voice.

‘Hi Della. Sorry to bother you but have you seen Tom?’

‘Yes,’ she said sounding less friendly than she had last night. ‘He’s gone back to Bournemouth. He’s in the middle of negotiating a big deal and he got a call and had to go back. Or so he said. Why?’

‘Back to Bournemouth! Oh. Erm. I just wanted a word with him. If you speak to him would you please ask him to call me? It is quite important. I’ve left him a message but I just want to be sure he knows I need to speak to him.’

‘Okay. Is everything all right, Hope. Between you and Tom, I mean. Because one minute he’s telling me how great you are and how he might stay in Folkestone for longer than he’d planned and then today he comes bursting in here saying he’s got to go back to Bournemouth and he doesn’t know if or when he’ll be coming back here. I thought you two might’ve hooked up, because you seemed to be getting on so well. Last night you looked like a couple. But when I asked him, he said it was nothing. And he wouldn’t be seeing you again.’

‘He … he said that? Those … those exact words? Nothing happened and he wouldn’t be seeing me again.’

‘Yeah. Even Alice was surprised. But Tom doesn’t fall for people that often. In fact, I can’t remember the last time he had a serious relationship. He’s not a monk, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not the kind of guy who sleeps around. Anyway, I’ll tell him you called. Bye Hope. Thanks again for last night. Alice and I are still buzzing.’

So that was it. Either Tom had seen her with Rob, jumped to conclusions and left in a fit of rage. Or she had just been a hook up, even though he didn’t have many of those.

And yet. Last night he had definitely said he loved her.

She was going to give up that easily. She kept ringing but each time it went to voicemail.

Finally she received a text.

‘I’m back in Bournemouth, Hope. Business called and I had to return. Pretty busy so I can’t talk right now. In constant meetings. Thanks for everything you did. And I do mean everything. It was a great hook up and we had a good time, didn’t we? Take care, Hope. Send me your invoice and I’ll pay it right away. Don’t worry about the friends and family discount. We’re not really friends, are we? And I don’t believe in taking advantage of people. All the best. Tom.’

Hope’s heart broke for the second time in her life.

But this time she was certain it would never mend.