CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
‘Put like that, it sounds horrendous,’ I agreed, looking at Penny’s frown in profile.
Had a past experience of online dating left her with these doubts and fears?
‘I suppose you just have to be careful. Arrange to meet in public places until you’re fairly certain they’re not going to kill you and chop you up into little pieces. ’
This made her laugh, breaking her out of her gloom. ‘You’re right, of course. And I think I’m quite tuned in to people and what they’re really like under the small talk.’
I nodded. ‘There’s definitely something so freeing about being single, though. Relationships have so many challenges.’ Like me being crazy about your brother but feeling as if he’s drifting further and further away from me . . .
‘That’s true.’
‘But I still think you should dip your toe in the water . . . go on this date.’
She smiled. ‘He actually seems nice. Martin, he’s called.’
‘Go for it. Nothing ventured and all that.’ I shrugged. ‘You never know; he could turn out to be “The One”.’
She laughed loudly at that. ‘Probably more chance of finding a pink unicorn in my garage, to be fair. But I suppose you have to start somewhere.’
‘Exactly.’
‘I thought Tom was “The One”,’ she said sadly, ‘Will’s dad. But I was wrong.’
‘I think “The One” is a myth, anyway. I’m sure there are lots of people you can gel with in life.’ I grimaced. ‘I hope so, anyway.’
Penny gave a wistful smile and nodded in agreement. ‘I worry about Will as well. He’s been through some really tough times.’
‘Tough times?’
She was staring into the branches of the tree and at first, I wasn’t sure she’d heard me.
Then she turned and seemed to check herself with a smile.
‘Oh, well, lately there’s a boy in his class called Lewis Hatcher who seems to like making fun of him.
But we’ve talked about it and Will seems to have the right attitude, thank goodness.
He says he just ignores him.’ She frowned.
‘Mind you, if I ever get my hands on the nasty little scumbag, I might not be responsible for my actions.’
I swallowed.
Was now the right time to mention I’d just witnessed the bullying myself?
Remembering Will’s anxious face, I hesitated. Penny would have to know. But maybe I should talk to Will about it first, rather than blundering right on in. I really didn’t want to make the situation worse for him . . .
Penny was changing the subject back to dating. ‘I don’t know what on earth Will is going to think about his mum going out on dates.’
I smiled. ‘As long as you’re happy, I’m sure he’ll think it’s fine.’
‘You’re probably right.’
‘I’ll babysit any time you like,’ I offered.
‘Really?’ She looked at me doubtfully. ‘It was so good of you to help me out that last time, with Caleb. I can’t ask you to babysit again.’
‘You’re not asking, though. I’m offering.’
‘Aw, that’s so lovely of you, Katja. I hope my brother realises what an absolute gem he’s hooked up with? He’s definitely punching,’ she joked.
I attempted a laugh which sounded more like a groan. ‘I don’t think so.’
If Penny thought things were going smoothly with Caleb and me, she was sorely mistaken. But I wasn’t about to start probing her about her brother’s feelings for me, however tempted I might be!
I told her the nights I was free to babysit Will, and she said she would call me when she’d arranged her date. And then Will was marching across the snowy green towards us, the loaf in its bag tucked under his arm.
‘It’s exciting!’ I whispered to Penny, just before Will arrived.
She gave me a sheepish smile. ‘Nerve-racking is how I’d describe it. But I guess it has to be done.’
As I walked away, I couldn’t help thinking about Caleb and the first time we went out on a date.
Unlike Penny and her potential date, Caleb and I had known each other a while, having crossed paths at the Lockley Meadow market on many occasions.
The attraction had been there from the start, and although we’d both initially thought it best to take things slowly, it hadn’t really ended up like that at all.
That first proper date had been one of the best nights of my life.
We’d gone out for dinner to a cosy little restaurant in Lockley Meadow and we’d talked and laughed so much, I’d had a bit of a croaky throat the next day.
I’d walked around with a goofy smile and a warmth deep inside, and a funny feeling that meeting Caleb had been one of those defining moments in life .
. . the sort where you looked back and realised that was the point at which your life altered course and you went zooming off on a whole new adventure.
Later, of course, I’d started to feel scared that I was falling for him too fast and I’d tried to pull back.
Had that been my big mistake? Had Caleb imagined I wasn’t as keen as he was? (In fact, nothing could have been further from the truth.)
What would happen to us now?
Had the magic we’d enjoyed together for those first few precious months vanished for good? Would we ever get it back?
It was as if Caleb had suddenly put up a barrier and I couldn’t work out how to get over or under it.
All I knew was that our relationship felt on shaky ground now, and I had no idea what to do about it.