Chapter 44 #2
‘Don’t feel bad. In your shoes, I’d have done exactly the same thing. I’d have needed to get to the hospital and it wouldn’t have entered my mind to leave a note either.’
His hand was on the table and I instinctively placed mine over it as I thanked him for being so understanding. His fingers entwined with mine, sending electricity zipping up my arm and round my body, my heart pounding as he held my gaze.
‘I asked them for your number but, of course, they couldn’t give me it.’
‘I tried to find you later but I couldn’t find any music and drama teachers called Will. But, of course, there wouldn’t be… James.’
He grimaced. ‘I can’t believe you tried to find me.’
‘I had to. I had to tell you what had happened. I couldn’t let you think you meant nothing to me.’
‘I wish you had found me.’
‘Me too.’
The intensity of Will’s eyes on mine was almost too much to take. I wanted to sweep the drinks aside, pull him towards me and kiss him as though there was no tomorrow. Was he thinking the same?
‘Did you tell Cliff about me?’
‘No.’
He looked down at our entwined hands. ‘I have to ask…’ He paused and looked up. ‘What would you have done if you had found me?’
It was a fair question and it deserved an honest answer.
‘I told a friend about us recently. I’d kept it secret for all this time and it was eating away at me so I needed to let someone in.
She asked me that same question and I told her what I’m going to tell you.
I don’t know. All I can tell you for sure is that, that night in the hotel and the morning after, I was ready and willing to end my marriage. ’
Will still had hold of my hand, which surely had to be a good sign but, as I thought that, he let go and picked up his drink. My hands slipped onto my lap.
‘Any other questions?’ I asked. ‘Anything you want to know more about?’
‘Probably, but I think I’ve interrogated you enough for now. I know that can’t have been easy to share and I appreciate your honesty – then and now.’
I wasn’t sure whether that was the end of our evening together but I didn’t want it to be.
Even though I’d told him I’d chosen him before the phone call, it felt as though my inability to confirm that I’d have chosen him after the accident was casting a dark shadow over us.
That couldn’t be our final conversation.
‘Why don’t you tell me more what’s going on with you? I’m a good listener, remember.’
‘I know. I remember everything about you,’ he said, the intensity returning to his gaze, the atmosphere between us crackling once more. ‘And everything about that night.’
‘So do I. And I’ve relived it over and over and over.’
My hand was on the seat beside me now and he shuffled a little closer. His fingers brushed against mine and he kept them there. It was the loosest connection but it was enough for me for now.
‘Okay, here goes,’ he said. ‘Fen’s already told you a few things so I’ll come back to them in a bit but I know she didn’t expand on the work situation so I’ll start there.
As you know, I taught music and drama when we met.
I still do that although I’m a department head now, which is why I live in Keswick – moved here for the promotion and to be closer to my family who, as you’ve discovered, live here.
Outside of work, I’m also the co-director of a music school owned by my best mate, Aaron.
He’s the nicest, soundest bloke you could ever hope to meet.
I’ve been friends with him since primary school and we’ve always had each other’s backs but someone accused him of something really bad. ’
He took a sip of his drink and I noticed his hand shaking as he put the glass down.
‘I still can’t believe this happened. I teach piano at the music school and Aaron teaches guitar and drums. One of his guitar students boasted to her best friend that Aaron was having sex with her during her one-to-one lessons which, of course, was a blatant lie.
The friend told her mum, the mum reported it to the police and, quite rightly, they had to investigate.
It became a huge thing. Except the girl had made it all up and we could prove it because all lessons are recorded for safeguarding reasons for the teachers and the students.
All parents know this up front and sign a document to give their consent and all students should know this too but I guess the girl never thought it would go further than her friend.
As soon as the police mentioned video footage, she admitted she’d lied and that Aaron had never once said or done anything inappropriate. ’
‘Why would she do that?’ I asked, shocked that somebody could make up something so dangerous.
‘She said she and her friend were talking about attractive older men and she mentioned that her guitar teacher was hot. Next moment, she’d made up a whole lie to impress the friend.
So Aaron has been through hell and, even though the police know there’s no case to answer to, mud sticks.
The accusation spread like wildfire and parents started pulling their kids out of the music school – even from lessons which Aaron doesn’t teach – which has left Aaron facing financial ruin.
With so few students left, income has plummeted to the point where he can’t pay the mortgage on the school and he’s struggling with his house too.
That’s why I was selling mine. I was going to downsize and give him the difference to tide him over but it’s fallen through so I can’t even do that. ’
‘That’s horrendous. I’m so sorry for your friend and for you.’
‘It’s mainly about Aaron. I’ve got no financial investment in the music school and there were never any accusations about me, although losing a stack of my students doesn’t look good.
The head at our school knows all about what’s happening and the authorities know too, just in case anything creeps out of the woodwork down the line.
It hasn’t been a pleasant experience for me but it’s been nothing compared to what Aaron has been and still is going through. ’
‘Is there anything he can do legally?’
‘The girl was stupid and na?ve but she didn’t do it maliciously. Aaron doesn’t want to destroy her life too and, even if he did pursue a civil case and won it, what good would it do? He’d still have lost his reputation and possibly his home and business.’
‘Does he have a wife and kids?’
‘A husband, which makes the accusation even more ludicrous. They’ve got two adopted kids, both in their late teens, who are showing amazing resilience in dealing with it. They think it’s funny that anyone thinks their dad’s hot.’
‘It’s good that they can find the humour in a dire situation. What a horrible thing to go through.’
‘I just wish there was a way to make it all better. I know the money from my house sale wouldn’t have had a massive impact but it would at least have bought them time.’
‘That’s such a generous thing to do.’
Will shrugged. ‘He’s my best mate. He’s always been there for me and this was me trying to be there for him.’
We were near the end of our drinks so Will got another round in, suggesting we move onto a lighter topic of conversation when he returned.
He wanted to know more about Created With Love so I told him how my love of crafts had led me to Cake & Craft Club last September.
We talked about music, his teaching, his children, Trevor.
The conversation flowed easily and, while neither of us were overtly flirty, there were sparks flying between us.
Every so often, he’d move a little closer to me around the seat and I’d do the same until our legs were touching, our fingers entwined once more.
The landlord called for last orders and, all too soon, glasses were being cleared away and we were the only customers left.
When some of the lights went off in the bar, we took the hint and left the pub.
Will told me he was walking distance away and pointed up the town, but he insisted on walking me back to the car park, even though it was in the other direction.
‘Tonight’s been good,’ he said as we stood by my car.
‘It has. Thanks for listening.’
‘Thanks for explaining.’
We stood there for a moment, smiling at each other.
‘Would it be too much to…’ He put his arms out to either side and he didn’t even need to finish the sentence. I eagerly stepped into his hug and, as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him, I felt overwhelmed by how much love I felt for him and wondered what he was thinking.
‘Can I see you again?’ he asked when we stepped apart – reluctantly in my case.
‘I’d love that.’
‘I would too. This week’s tricky for me, though – a couple of school events on evenings – but I’m free on Saturday if you fancy a walk. Unless you’re working.’
‘I am, but I’m sure someone will swap with me. I’ll text you when I’ve confirmed it.’
He held my gaze once again. ‘You have no idea how much willpower it’s taking not to kiss you right now,’ he said, his voice husky.
‘I think I do because I feel the same.’
‘I don’t want to rush things.’
‘I know. Me neither. Goodnight, Will.’
‘Goodnight, Yvonne.’
And he leaned forward and gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek which made my innards feel like jelly.
I could still remember how his lips felt against mine, feel his hands in my hair, his breath on my neck and I longed for a repeat of that incredible night together, but it was right for both of us that we took the time to talk and get to know each other again because it would lay the foundations for a positive future together.
It was exactly as I’d written on the cover of my journal – tomorrow starts today.