Chapter 3 #2
‘What?’ Lara glanced at him trying to comprehend the change in his demeanour.
‘What hurts the most?’
‘All of it. It’s been almost fourteen years but sometimes it feels like yesterday. I still want to call them and tell them when something good or bad happens. I can think of them and smile, most of the time now, but you’re right about the knife. It stabs you in the heart when you least expect it.’
‘Like just now.’ He screwed up his face with an expression of regret.
‘Yes. Like just now.’
Each of them sat in silence for a moment.
‘Might be wise to move your car,’ he whispered.
Lara took a deep breath and continued the manoeuvre.
‘Your birthday must be difficult,’ he said, as soon as she was heading back in the direction from which she came.
Lara’s laugh was mirthless. ‘I don’t celebrate it. I try to forget it’s happening. I do everything I can to find a distraction.’
‘When is it?’
‘A few weeks away.’
He nodded sagely. ‘That explains it.’
‘Explains what?’ she asked, shifting in her seat.
‘The cottage.’
‘The cottage?’
‘Why you bought it without seeing it. But why this one?’
She sucked in a breath. ‘My parents and I came to Bluewater Bay for a holiday in the last two weeks of August. Two months before they died.’
‘Ah. I see. Then I wish you well.’
‘Thank you.’ Why was she telling him all her secrets? She could easily have lied. Too late now. ‘Right. Old Oak Lane, here I come.’
‘Here we come,’ he said, emphasizing the word ‘we’ and tapping her arm with his fingers. ‘I’m your neighbour. I live in the only other cottage in Old Oak Lane.’ He gave her a wink when she turned her head in surprise to face him. ‘My name’s Tom.’
Lara couldn’t believe it. ‘What are the chances? It’s good to meet you, Tom. I’m Lara.’
‘Welcome to Bluewater Bay, Lara,’ Tom said. ‘It’s good to meet you too. I look forward to getting to know you.’
Lara had already told Tom far more than she would have liked.
She had a feeling she would probably tell him a lot more if she got to know him better.
She wasn’t sure whether or not she liked that idea.
She usually kept herself to herself, and avoided people as much as possible.
But there was something about this man. She pressed her foot on the accelerator, determined not to speed, but to reach their destination before she had told Tom her entire life story.
She had driven less than half a mile when Tom pointed to what appeared to be a gap in the hedgerow. ‘This is Old Oak Lane.’
Lara burst out laughing. She wasn’t at all sure why, and she was astonished when Tom did the same.
‘Do you think you can find it again?’ Tom continued. ‘Only I am in a hurry. I was running late.’ He chuckled. ‘Well, not so much running as shuffling, but with you giving me a lift I might be on time.’
‘Yes. I’m sure I can, now I know what to look for. Ooh! I can pinpoint the exact location with my car’s navigation system. She found the spot on the map and tapped and held her finger on the screen. A moment later, a red pin appeared on that spot. ‘There. All done. Now where am I taking you?’
‘To my doctor. His surgery is on the other side of the village. You’ll need to turn around again and then head straight on and I’ll give you more directions when we get closer.’
‘Are you okay?’ Lara asked as she performed a second three-point-turn, this time without issue.
‘Fit as a flea and twice as sprightly. The old boy fusses though and insists on seeing me at regular intervals. My grandson’s just as bad. He made this appointment, not me. I wouldn’t go if I had my way. He thinks I overdo it, and that I don’t take enough care of myself.’
‘Is that why you were late? Trying to get out of it?’
Tom shrugged nonchalantly. ‘I fell asleep in my armchair. It was such a lovely morning and the sun was streaming through the window. I just closed my eyes for a second and then I had a wonderful dream. I was with Bonnie and we were having the best time. And then that blasted receptionist at the surgery phoned to remind me to book a cab. She’s such a busy body, that one.
Well, I tried. But there weren’t any, so I walked.
Don’t remember it being so far. Perhaps my legs are getting shorter.
’ He nudged her with his elbow. ‘Truth be told, it’s a blessing you came along when you did. ’
‘I’d never have found Old Oak Lane without you. So you’re the blessing.’
‘You’d have found it eventually. And the other end of it is just outside the village, so you could’ve gone that way.
Wouldn’t advise it though. The stretch of lane between our cottages currently has a pothole the size of China slap bang in the middle of it, so it’s best if you use the end I just showed you, to get to your cottage, especially if it’s dark. No street lights in Old Oak Lane.’
‘Thanks. That’s good to know. Will they fix the pothole?’
‘Don’t hold your breath.’
‘I get it. There’ve been roadworks near my home in Woking for months and they’ve only just finished. Four months behind schedule.’
‘Humph. In Bluewater Bay, we’d consider that as being done in advance.’ He chuckled and shook his head and then a coughing fit stopped him.
Lara handed him an unopened bottle of water from the cup holder between the seats, and he took a few sips.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Second time you’ve asked me that. I’m fine. I’d be better if this was whisky though. Or beer.’
She grinned at him. ‘I don’t drink and drive.’
He grinned back. ‘Neither do I. But my grandson says I’m enough to drive him to drink sometimes.’ He chuckled again and immediately took another sip of water.
‘Does your grandson live nearby?’
‘No.’
‘Oh. Any other relatives in the vicinity?’
‘No.’
‘Ok-a-y. Will you be all right getting back from the doctor’s surgery?
I might be able to come and pick you up, only I’ve got some tradespeople booked to give me quotes for the electrics and the plumbing.
I haven’t been to the cottage, but I have seen photos and it looks like it needs work.
They won’t be coming for a while though, so if you’re not too long, that should be fine. ’
‘Don’t you worry about me. When the doctor’s done with me, I’ll pop into The White Lion for a pie and a pint.
Best pub in the village. Then I’ll take a little stroll and, after that, I’ll nip into Bluewater Cars and get a cab home.
Now listen to me, young lady. Don’t let those men take advantage.
If it’s local firms you’re using, tell them that Tom recommended them.
I was in the construction business for years and they all know me.
You’ll get a better price if you mention my name.
Turn right after these lights and pull over by the second building on the left. That’s the doctor’s.’
Lara did as she was told, but this time when she offered her help, Tom took her up on it.
‘Just maybe hold my arm until I’m steady on my feet.’
‘Perhaps you should rethink the pint and just have the pie,’ she joked.
‘Cheeky young whippersnapper. You sound just like my grandson. Only he says I shouldn’t have either and I should eat more fruit and veg.
He forgets my generation grew up eating nothing but bread and butter and fruit and veg.
’ He winked at her. ‘That old busy body will be looking out of the reception window. I’ve a good mind to tell her I’ve got myself a new lady friend. ’
Lara raised her brows, but she smiled. ‘You’ve definitely got a new friend, if you want one. Although I’m not really a people person. And the last thing I’d want is your grandson knocking on my door and telling me off.’
‘Don’t you worry about that. He lives in London.
He comes to see me once or twice a month, but he calls me almost every day.
He’s like an old woman. He even made me learn how to do those video call things.
Always says he knows more about how my carpet looks than he does me, because I never hold the damn thing right, apparently.
This new-fangled nonsense is too much for me. ’
‘He clearly cares about you. That’s a good thing, Tom.’
Tom beamed at her. ‘He’s a good lad. I love him to bits. But don’t you go telling him that. He’d think I was soft in the head.’
‘He’d think no such thing. He’d love to hear you say that. I know I would if I were him.’
Tom gave her a knowing look. ‘No family left at all?’
‘None that I want to call family. It’s a long story. And you’ll be late if you don’t get inside.’ Lara had already told Tom far too much. She wasn’t going to get into the rest of the sorry tale.
‘Good luck with the quotes,’ Tom said.
‘Good luck with the doctor.’
‘He’s the one who needs good luck.’ Tom grinned and shuffled towards the front door of the surgery as it was flung open by a redhead who looked like a glamorous granny.
‘There you are, Tom. We were about to send out a search party.’
‘Couldn’t get a cab.’
The woman tutted. ‘I told you to let me book one for you. Who’s that woman then?’
It was time for Lara to leave, although she laughed when she heard Tom’s response.
‘Mind your own business.’