Chapter Twenty-Nine
The weather forecast had warned that snow was on its way, so I didn’t make any firm plans about signing the rest of the papers for Dewi. Sure enough, by the next morning, there is a blanket of snow settled on the ground and the branches of the trees are weighed down by the snowfall. We haven’t had heavy snow around here since the Eighties when my mother and I were completely snowed in and had to walk to the nearest farm to get eggs and milk. Somehow, the sky looks as though it could be a repeat of the infamous blizzard of 1982 when it snowed for thirty-six hours straight.
Just in case my feeling is correct, I make sure the bird feeders are topped up as there is not much chance of the poor birds finding food in this weather.
As I open the back door to feed them, I am happy to be greeted by my favourite robin.
‘Ah, there you are,’ I tell him. The robin chirps noisily and then rushes off, eventually settling down on his favourite rock, which is now laden with snow.
With the birds catered for, I get some logs from the shed to stack up ready in the porch. I have been in this shed many times since Craig left, but until now, I didn’t realise that some of Craig’s tools were still in here. It just shows what a daze I must have been walking around in. I brush against cobwebs as I near the tools that are laid together in a pile. I wonder if he wants them back. We haven’t spoken for a long time, but I will keep them safe in case he suddenly wants them returned. I have never been a vengeful person who would keep someone’s belongings, although the fancy wrench laid next to the tools would certainly come in handy for DIY at the mill.
There are all sorts of things in the shed that I haven’t taken any notice of when I have come in here before. Now I see it all with new eyes since returning from Prague. It is funny what you notice when you go away and come back home.
Craig put a lot of this stuff here when we first moved in. The tied-up bin bags probably needed throwing out years ago, along with the pile of old newspapers. I can’t resist peeking at them. One has an advert for a sale at Woolworths on the front, and I notice one of the papers is dated around the time we got married. I wonder if our wedding photo appeared in there. Even though it is getting colder in here, and I am eager to get into the warmth, I stop for a moment and search through the newspaper until I find the marriage, birth and death announcements. I gasp when I spot a photo of Craig and I looking out from the page.
Craig must have kept the paper in here for safekeeping, as he was always pottering about in this shed. I never realised he was so caring, and this shocks me. Maybe there was a kinder side to him that Aunt Grace never saw.
But then, as I turn over the page, there is a big red pen mark ringing an advert for a 1983 Ford Capri. Ah, now that is more like Craig. I should never doubt Aunt Grace’s judgment, which makes me think of Tomas again and how different he is. This makes me miss him terribly. His face comes to the forefront of my mind, and I see his smile again. I picture us on the horse and carriage, how he laughed when he showed me the upside-down horse tail in the shopping centre and the feelings I had for him during the boat trip in the snow. I recall how he bought me ballet tickets and gave them to me at beautiful Prague Castle, how he was so knowledgeable about everything and how his friends and family were so welcoming. Then I make myself remember his face as I walked away and remind myself that he chose to stay there with Milena. I bring myself back down to earth with a bump and get on with collecting the logs to take indoors.
From the shed window, I can see the snow is coming down heavily now, and it is certainly not going to stop anytime soon. I rush back inside, where the weather forecast on the telly confirms that we are facing a further heavy snowfall. I turn it off, enough of that doom-mongering. Thank goodness I had a food shop delivery ordered for when I got home. The groceries won’t last for too long, but they will keep me going for a bit. I am also thankful for the multipack of crisps I threw in impulsively.
By lunchtime, I am starting to feel quite isolated. It is just me, the birds, and thankfully, the log fire, which is burning brightly. I pop the television back on for company. Perhaps I should listen to the latest update about how bad the weather is going to get after all.
Indeed, the news headlines are all about the snowstorm, and they are now talking about closing the airports in the next forty-eight hours.
They expect train travel will be disrupted by tomorrow evening as more snow is on its way. I am so grateful for my lovely, cosy home and the fact that I don’t need to go anywhere. I suppose I should be thankful that I arrived home when I did. It is far from the ideal time to travel. Luck was definitely on my side.
I sit and watch the snow falling outside from my living room window. It looks so beautiful from here. I almost wish there was someone I could make a snowman with, or throw snowballs at. Perhaps if Ken manages to get up the road, I’ll throw a snowball at him for some fun.
I can feel the draught coming straight through the window from outside, and I am glad that I have already planned on spending some of the inheritance on making the mill a little more energy efficient. It shouldn’t be long before I can get new windows fitted, and the draught will be a thing of the past, and this beautiful home can be restored for future generations.
I watch how the birds outside leave their imprints in the snow. I love how their little prints leave a trail behind them. But the snow is getting thicker now and the trails are being covered up almost as soon as they make them.
By the next morning, I am practically snowed in. My onesie, with a thick dressing gown thrown over, keeps me nice and cosy as I get the fire going again. I throw on an extra log to get it burning to the maximum and listen to the sound of it crackling. But then I hear a louder noise that I can’t work out as I watch the embers fly through the fireplace. I hear the noise again and listen carefully. It sounds like a screech. I run outside to check where the noise is coming from in case an animal is in trouble in the snow. But it is like a mirage. I can’t believe what I am seeing. Ken is driving the post van and trying to make his way up the track. The van is skidding everywhere. What on earth is he doing? My post is not that important. I know he is committed to the Post Office and takes his job seriously, but surely delivering post in this weather and up this lethal track is going above and beyond.
The van nearly lands in the hedge before I see it start sliding backwards. Poor Ken, I will walk and fetch the mail from him; there really is no need for this. I search for my wellies but can’t find them. I realise I’ve left them out the back. The slippers in front of me that I throw on quickly get soaked through as I try to reach the van. I feel the cold of the snow biting at my toes as I trudge along and focus on walking without slipping. I don’t want to break anything out here as I am not convinced an ambulance driver would even be willing to come up this far now. Then, as I get closer to the van, I see that Ken is not alone.
I squint my eyes to get a closer look at the passenger. Surely, I am seeing things.
‘Tomas?’ I say. This is impossible. How on earth could Tomas be in a post van with Ken?
I know people can hallucinate from heatstroke, but I am beginning to think there is such a thing as snowstroke – my eyes must be deceiving me.
The post van door opens, and Tomas climbs out wearing a pair of wellies and carrying a plain black overnight bag. I watch in disbelief as he says thank you to Ken and taps his shoulder, as though he is some long-lost buddy.
‘What on earth…?’
‘Aren’t you going to say hello?’ says Tomas.
My heart beats so fast that I begin to feel dizzy. I can feel it pounding through my chest. A grin is spreading all over my face, but I am also shaking at the same time. What a state I am in!
Every muscle in my body feels as though it is trembling. I can’t quite believe this is happening. I am afraid to blink in case Tomas is gone when I open my eyes. How on earth did he find me in the middle of nowhere? Ken explains some of it.
‘I found your friend at the bottom of the road. He was trying to walk ’cause a taxi refused to bring him up here. I said I’d try to get him as close as I could in my van.’
I am so grateful to Ken for delivering him safely. What a kind thing to do.
‘Oh, my goodness, Ken. You’re an absolute legend. You risked driving up here in this weather to help a stranger. I really must write to the Post Office about you.’
‘Oh, it’s nothing.’
‘It is. You’re amazing, Ken. A true superstar. Thank you.’
I look at Tomas again in disbelief. ‘Well, this is more exciting than the usual post Ken brings me.’
I hold my hand up to my mouth and just stare at Tomas. ‘I just… Well, I don’t know what to say.’
Ken grins at me and gives me a wink, and then he turns the van around as the tyres desperately try to grip the road and he heads off back down the lane, leaving me standing there looking at Tomas with so many questions. Why did he not message me? Why did he not say goodbye before I left? Why is he even here? But, while I do have all these questions, as I stand there with soaking wet feet, freezing in the snow, I can’t help but feel a warmth spreading all over me as I look at the beautiful, gentle face that I have been missing since I last saw it.
‘I’m sorry, I’d have brought you flowers, but it’s all been a bit of a rush. I saw this when I got dropped off by the cab. It’s not quite the same thing, I know.’
I smile at the branch of mistletoe that Tomas hands me. He must have got it from the tree I always pick from down the road.
‘Wow. Well, now that you’ve picked this, it would be a shame not to use it.’
For once, I make the first move and lean over to him, holding the mistletoe above us. I kiss him on the lips, and then we hold each other. The snow is seeping into my onesie now, so it’s not long before I have to pull myself away.
‘Come on, let’s get inside,’ I say.
‘Thanks. It’s a bit cold out here.’
Once my feet have dried off, I make Tomas a hot chocolate, searching for a Flake I know I have somewhere so that I can impress him with the extra sprinkling of chocolate. After all, I remember how he is a man after my own heart with his love of chocolate. I sit him down at my large oak kitchen table and look at him in disbelief. The sight of him sitting there seems so surreal.
‘How was your journey?’
‘You don’t want to know.’
‘That bad?’
‘The captain tried to land three times, the trains were delayed and then finally someone said I could get as far as Cardiff. I waited there for ages. Then I managed to find a train going this way. Got to the train station where there were no taxis, then I had to walk into a shop and ask if they knew of any. It’s been a long day.’
‘I can imagine. There’s only one taxi in the area, and he doesn’t work evenings. You’re lucky you got here when you did.’
‘Yup. I found that out. Then he dropped me on the main road out there as he refused to come up this way in the snow. Luckily, I saw the postman as I walked, and he helped me. He said he knew you. How was that for luck?’
Do I tell him that it isn’t necessarily luck but just how it is around here, as everyone knows everyone and their business? If they see a stranger, then chances are they will stop them to find out what they are up to. I am sure even my ex-colleagues in the bank will soon learn that a mysterious stranger from Prague has turned up in the snow to visit me. That will definitely give them something to talk about when they get back to work.
‘Well, I’m impressed with your tenacity. That takes some effort. I’m delighted you made it.’
‘Thanks. It was a bit of a journey, but I felt terrible about the last time I saw you, so I wanted to apologise.’
‘I wasn’t really sure what was happening, to be honest. I guess I never expected to see you again.’
He came all this way just to apologise to me and found me standing here in a onesie with my hair sticking up after tossing and turning in bed all night. I hope he isn’t disappointed.
‘Please don’t say that. I can’t ever imagine not seeing you again. That would be out of the question,’ says Tomas.
‘That’s nice to hear. Thank you. So… wow, I can’t believe you’re here.’
‘Neither can I,’ laughs Tomas.
We stand looking at each other in silence. Then Tomas hugs me tightly. The hug feels full of relief and longing, as though he has just crawled out of a natural disaster and thought he’d never see anyone again.
I have so many things I want to say, so many questions; but now is not the moment for that. After all, with the snowfall getting heavier he won’t be able to leave in a hurry. Even the windowsills are filling up with snow, and we can barely see out. It looks as though the blizzard is starting to seriously take hold.
Tomas looks absolutely shattered after a night of travelling, and I can’t help feeling sorry for him as he tries to stifle a yawn once we have both got over the excitement of seeing each other again.
‘I’ve so much to tell you, Olivia.’
I put my finger to his lips.
‘Shush, we have time. Why don’t you go and have a rest first. You look exhausted.’
‘As much as I want to stay here with you right now, that sounds like a great idea. What a journey!’
‘Of course. I’ll make the spare room up for you now.’
‘That would be really kind, thank you.’
‘It’s the least I can do after all the effort you’ve made. You sit by the fire, and I’ll get your room ready for you.’
I run upstairs to search for the spare sheets in the airing cupboard. I am still buzzing with questions and rehearse in my head what I am going to say when we eventually sit down to talk. I mean, why is he here just to apologise? Surely, he could have done that by post. What does it mean that he’s come all this way to see me? I have so much hope that I can guess the answers, but I don’t dare believe it.
Once the bed is made and I have removed some storage boxes from the room, I make myself a bit more presentable. Then I rush back downstairs nonchalantly and tell him that his room is ready. Due to Tomas’ height, he has to bend down to enter the room or risk hitting his head on one of the old oak beams, but he seems to like the character here.
‘What a lovely room. I’m going to sleep well.’
‘I hope so.’
I leave Tomas to rest and go downstairs, where I smile to myself. The lovely Tomas has come all this way to find me in the snow. Could this finally be my movie moment? I look over at Aunt Grace’s snow globe in the living room for reassurance that this is not a dream of some kind. If it is, then I certainly do not want to wake up.
Even though Tomas is resting upstairs, it feels nice to have company here. By the time he gets up, right in time for the snack I have prepared, I am showered and, for once, not dressed in my onesie.
‘That bed’s so comfortable. I feel so much better,’ says Tomas, walking into the living room dressed in jogging bottoms and a tight white T-shirt.
I can hardly take my eyes off him.
‘It’s the least I can do after your eventful journey. Now, are you ready for something to eat?’
I spoon out the leek and potato soup and serve it with a warm baguette. I do hope that it is as tasty as the food Tomas makes, although that would be hard to beat.
‘Thank you. This is exactly what I need,’ says Tomas, as he breaks off some bread.
And you are exactly what I need , I think, smiling to myself. I admire him as he tucks into the soup. Gosh, he really is so lovely.
‘I have to confess, I didn’t realise you lived so far away from the airport.’
‘Well, I like being tucked away up here out of the way.’
‘I can imagine. It’s a beautiful place.’
‘I’m glad you like it, and I’m sorry you had such an eventful journey to find me.’
‘It’s fine. What’s life without adventure?’ says Tomas.
Even after his trudge through a snowstorm, Tomas amazes me with his positivity.
When he has finished his lunch, and I put the bowls in the dishwasher by the kitchen window, I see something in my peripheral vision. Amid the snow and all the trees, something is running around. I strain my eyes to look closer and see that it is a badger. I call Tomas over quickly.
‘Look, there’s a badger in the snow!’
He rushes over and catches sight of the badger as it runs in and out of some bushes. We both marvel at the scene.
‘You do like snow, don’t you? I love the way you act when you see snow,’ smiles Tomas.
I grin back at him, full of happiness. Then he pulls me towards him, tucks my hair behind my ears and cups my face in his hands. At the kitchen window, where I have stood alone so many times, we kiss, and I don’t ever want it to stop. Sometimes you don’t need the excuse of mistletoe.