Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Clara duly returned Margaret home from the doctor’s, and wondered if it was too late to call Tom to see if he was free for a drink or dinner.
They might have missed the movie, but at least they could still see each other.
She wanted to call him but he also sounded so put out when she’d cancelled.
She could understand that it was annoying when someone abandoned plans at the last minute, but it was the nature of her job and life.
You never knew when an emergency might arise.
The heatwave they were experiencing made the evening feel hot and sticky and Clara tried to persuade herself that it might have been for the best that they didn’t waste such a lovely evening in the confines of a stuffy cinema.
Instead, she could now enjoy a glass of red wine in her garden, admiring her blossoming hydrangea while she pondered on all that had been happening.
She found it hard to fathom how her life could have suddenly become so shaken up with the arrival of Tom.
Pouring herself a larger glass of wine than normal, she plonked down her drink on her little bistro table quietly, in the hope that Julie wouldn’t poke her head over the fence.
As much as she was a people pleaser, she didn’t feel in the mood for much pleasing tonight and might even say something she would regret if Julie made another of her petty complaints.
Staring into the glass as though it had all the answers, Clara contemplated the past few weeks.
Her life had never been complicated; it had always been slow and steady.
Some might say it could be deemed boring, but Clara was quite happy to plod through life with her wonderful parish and fabulous friends.
There wasn’t anything else she felt she particularly needed, such as a promotion or a boyfriend.
However, now that they had been presented to her, they had stirred something.
Could she truly have it all? After all, it was what she told the young students as she tried to motivate them with her talks about reaching for the stars and going for your dreams. Now she was starting to believe it could apply to her too and as she took a sip of the Beaujolais, she felt that she could indeed have it all, despite a long-distance relationship being a potential problem.
With a yearning in her heart, she picked up the phone to Tom to apologise once again for letting him down. What was to stop her asking him out on a date and planning it? So far, Tom had done all the asking. It was time for the tables to turn.
Clara hurried inside with her glass of wine and her mobile in her hand. Making sure Julie, and anybody else, was out of earshot, she dialled Tom’s number.
‘Hey, what you doing?’ she asked.
‘Not much. I was about to put a repeat of Songs of Praise on. I’d have preferred the movie.’ Tom tried his best to hide the disappointment in his voice and realised it made him sound grouchy so tried to make a joke. ‘But I tell you what . . . Ask me why you’re like a set of dentures?’
She wondered if there might be an insult coming her way, whether he was disgruntled about her cancelling. ‘Oh, I don’t know.’
‘Because I can’t smile without you.’
Clara let out that honking laugh she was famous for and was relieved that he wasn’t holding a grudge. ‘Tom, that’s absolutely terrible!’
‘I know. Dad jokes, what can I say?’
‘Go on, tell me another . . .’
‘Knock, knock.’
‘Who’s there?’
‘Muffin.’
‘Muffin who?’
‘Muffin in this world is sweeter than you.’
‘Groan! Maybe we should quit while we’re ahead.’
‘Well, if you insist.’
She grinned so hard that her cheeks started hurting.
‘Moving swiftly on from dad jokes, I was ringing to say that, since I let you down today, how about I arrange a date for us? But, before I go on, I want to point out that I’ve never asked a man out in my life.
This is definitely a first, so I’m being brave here.
’ Clara waited a moment to gauge his reaction.
‘What an honour. Go on. I’m all ears.’
‘How would you like to go for a walk along the river with me? I have a day off tomorrow and that is absolutely confirmed. Nothing will get in the way this time. Is it too last minute for you?’
‘Not at all. Sounds wonderful. Have to make the most of the sunshine. In fact, I should have thought of that instead of a movie. The cinema is probably better saved for cold, dark evenings.’
This remark made Clara think about the future. Would they be together in a few months as the leaves changed colour? She hoped so.
‘Not at all. Any date is fun with you, Tom. I’m so glad you can make tomorrow. You know what? In that case, I’ve a joke for you.’
‘Go on.’
‘Knock, knock.’
‘Who’s there?’
‘Lettuce.’
‘Lettuce who?’
‘Lettuce go out on a date.’
‘Oh, Clara. That’s terrible. Even worse than mine.’
‘We’re a right pair then. Maybe we’re better talking about other stuff and staying off the jokes.’
* * *
Indeed, the next day when Clara met Tom at the agreed weeping willow that gently leaned in on the riverbank, once more they chatted easily about all sorts of things. From a discussion about the best steak and kidney pies in Oxford, to the beauty of the birds they spotted along the river walk.
‘You know, there are said to be fewer than four thousand pairs of kingfisher across the UK. How lucky we are to see them down here. We must live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world,’ said Tom.
As Clara agreed with Tom, he took her hand in his and she felt as though it belonged there. Was this why relationships hadn’t worked out with anyone before? Was it God’s will for her to wait until she met the right man? The old adage ‘better late than never’ sprang to mind.
The couple walked along the towpath, admiring the boats that were moored on both sides. Clara pointed to a particularly pretty bright blue barge with a red roof. A man with a big bushy beard and a bandana tied around his head worked on the tiller in just his denim shorts.
‘Isn’t that one gorgeous?’ said Clara, pointing over.
‘The man in the skimpy shorts or the boat?’
Clara laughed. ‘The boat, of course. I didn’t even notice a man there. Was there one? I only have eyes for you.’
‘Ooh, you’re a smooth talker.’ The remark made Tom want to kiss Clara and he couldn’t help himself as he leaned over to her.
Clara felt that tingle all over, the one Tom always managed to give her even with just a glance. She felt quite flushed and wasn’t sure if it was the sun or Tom. She decided it was probably the combination of the two.
Finally, letting go of Clara, Tom remembered an old friend.
‘You know, I was mates with someone who lived on a houseboat once. It was a great way of life.’
Tom was one of those people who had a story for everything but a wave of sadness came over him as he remembered yet another person that he had lost contact with. He thought back to the fun times he’d had with Ronnie on his barge.
‘Really? I’ve always quite fancied a canal holiday. Although the only holiday I’ve had recently – well, two years ago – was the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.’
‘No way. I’d love to do the Santiago pilgrimage. I’ve heard all about it. Maybe we could do it together one day.’
It was the first time Clara had heard Tom plan for a future together and despite the heat, she had goosebumps.
‘It’s truly amazing. One of the best things I’ve ever done. I’ve only recently stopped going on about it.’
‘That sounds like a plan for the future then.’ Tom said it confidently, like he truly believed they would go the distance, not only on the pilgrimage, but their relationship also.
The sun might have literally been shining right down on them, but it felt like it was metaphorically speaking too. It truly was the perfect day!
As they reached the ruins of Godstow Abbey, Clara had an idea.
‘Shall we stop at the Trout Inn for a drink? I could murder a Pimm’s.’
Clara worried there might not be room in the beer garden on such a beautiful day but was thrilled to find one table left.
Lady Luck always seemed to be shining down on her when she was with Tom.
She was even starting to worry less about the students catching her having a drink with her handsome friend.
She knew that she was hardly committing a crime and the more time they spent together, the more confident she became that he wasn’t some flash in a pan.
She had a good feeling that this was someone she could get serious with.
Settling on a table with a much-needed umbrella and a cool breeze from the riverbank, Clara ordered a glass of Pimm’s while Tom ordered a glass of water.
‘You’re wise. I should rehydrate myself in this weather but I can’t resist a cheeky one on a day like this.’
‘Pimm’s was made for the summer weather. Enjoy it,’ said Tom, wiping sweat from his brow. ‘I’m absolutely dying of thirst after that walk. Thank goodness for the breeze.’
‘Yeah, it is a scorcher today.’
On such a nice day, it wasn’t surprising that the inn was packed full of people enjoying lunch and drinks out in the sun. Clara loved meeting strangers and smiled at a couple who were leaving on the bench next to them.
‘Beautiful day,’ said the man, nodding.
‘Isn’t it just. There’s nothing like Britain when the sun is shining.’ Clara looked over at Tom so that he could join in the conversation but she noticed he was off daydreaming again.
Clara watched the couple leave as people were now being turned away. She was glad they had arrived when they did.
In between the crowds a resident peacock strutted along.
‘Oh, look at the peacock over there,’ said Clara, breaking Tom’s spiralling thoughts.
Even though the peacock that was posing around the beer garden had moved on by the time she got his attention, he was grateful. Overthinking wasn’t good for anyone and he needed to focus on the lady in front of him, not the demons that lived rent-free in his mind.
‘Sorry, I missed him. I was just thinking about something. Lovely little place though, isn’t it? Look at those hanging baskets. I wish I was that green-fingered,’ said Tom, admiring the variegated pinks and purples of the begonias hanging from an archway.
‘Stunning, aren’t they. I do try but it’s so busy with my work. One day, when I’m retired then maybe I’ll have more time for gardening, although I am quite proud of this year’s hydrangeas.’
‘So you should be. I should probably make more of an effort myself, but with the maisonette I can only really keep pot plants and I’ve killed most of them.
’ Although his indoor plants had struggled, Tom managed to maintain a couple of pot plants on his front doorstep, but that was mainly because the climate had looked after them. Rain always helped a lazy gardener.
Clara could have easily stayed on for another drink but there was an enormous queue for tables and she felt selfish to keep sitting there, so they headed back towards the Isis Lock.
Walking along, she admired the gracefulness of the swans and stopped chatting for a moment to listen to the surrounding birdsong coming from the trees.
‘Listen to that, Tom.’
They stood, languishing in the moment, in absolute silence as they listened to the flute-like melody of the wood thrush.
It was as though everything was well in the world, that is until the couple had to say their goodbyes once again and the parting felt harder than ever.
Clara asked herself how on earth you could miss someone before even leaving them.
Tom was already asking himself the same thing.
‘How can something feel so good between two people?’ said Tom as he intertwined his fingers in between Clara’s. He wished he could bottle up this feeling and that the date would last forever. Now he had to go back to his lonely home when all he wanted was to feel Clara’s soft hands in his.
‘I don’t know, Tom. I guess it feels right somehow between us.’
‘It really does. I feel like we’ve known each other all our lives. Strange, isn’t it?’
‘Not really. When two people are good together, I guess that’s what happens.’
‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘I know I am,’ said Clara who smiled at him teasingly. ‘So, what adventure shall we plan next? Where do you fancy?’
‘I’ve always wanted to go to the Ashmolean Museum. What do you reckon?’
‘You know, it’s years since I’ve been there. I think it must’ve been a school trip with Eleanora the last time I went. Go on then, that’ll be fun. I can revert to my childhood.’
Now she thought of it, spending time with Tom made her feel younger than ever. She was practically a teenager skipping around the place. Well, if it wasn’t for the knee that played up from time to time. It was all the kneeling down she had done over her lifetime that had done it.
‘Wonderful. Until next time then, ma chérie.’
‘Ooh, you speak French too. I like it. You really are an enigma.’
‘Not really. I just loved that song “Je t’aime”. That’s where I picked up most of my French.’
Clara laughed. ‘You know you could have fibbed there and I’d be none the wiser. My French is non-existent. That’s what I love about you. You’re so honest.’
Tom smiled, but if Clara had looked closely, she would have noticed that his eyes betrayed that smile. He averted his gaze and quickly said his goodbyes. After all, he knew only too well that honest would be the last word his family would use to describe him . . . and he agreed.