Chapter 33
It was after work on Monday when Nora and Jay set off on their trip to track down her last remaining ex-boyfriend.
It wasn’t far, and she and Jay chatted on the way. ‘I saw the look in your eyes when Renee told us about her lost love,’ he said.
‘I know, right? Theo Carlisle, the artist.’
‘You’ve looked him up too, haven’t you?’ said Jay.
‘Might have done,’ said Nora. ‘But I didn’t find anything. Did you?’
‘Not really. There’s a couple of Theos exhibiting in the southeast, but he must be a similar age to Renee so it’s likely he’s not still working, or he could even be—’
‘Don’t say it,’ said Nora. ‘But I know you’re right. I think we should try a bit harder. See if we can track him down.’
‘Meddling doesn’t always end well though. It’s very unlikely it’ll turn out like Davina and her long-lost-family show. What if he’s still happily married with umpteen children and a football team of grandchildren? What then?’
Nora ran her teeth over her lip as she thought. ‘Maybe you’re right. But whatever it is, at least Renee would know.’
‘Hmm,’ said Jay. ‘OK. I’ll do a bit more digging.’
‘Any more weird messages?’
‘Yeah, a couple. They’re sick of my faffing about. If I don’t reply, things will get choppy. They’re saying they’re going to share all my secrets. And they still want me to take a trip to the corned beef factory.’
‘Jay, this is getting serious. I’m sure stalking is a crime. I think you should report it,’ said Nora, feeling anxious on his behalf.
‘It’s OK. I’ve spoken to the police about it.
Apparently it’s classed as harassment. They’ve said to keep records but they need quite a bit of evidence to actually arrest someone, and seeing as I have no idea who it is, it all gets a bit tricky.
They’re pretty sure there’s no intent behind it and say it’s best to ignore them.
They sent me a useful information sheet about home security, which was nice. ’
‘And you’re OK with that?’ she asked.
‘I think I have to be. Hopefully they’ll get bored or turn vegan then I definitely won’t end up as corned beef.’
Nora crossed her fingers. She hoped Jay wasn’t really in any danger. Worry clenched at her gut. The thought of anything happening to him sent a horrible sensation through her body. They both kept their thoughts to themselves for the rest of the journey.
Nora pulled up in a gravel car park where an ornate iron sign declared Bramble Brook Forge.
Bruce waited until Jay instructed him to get out of the car and he walked to heel the whole time he was sniffing all around.
It was clearly a good place for smells. Through some gates they found a paved courtyard dotted with metal sculptures, from bees on a trellis to a giant palm frond.
A welcome sign on a converted barn led them into a shop full of smaller pieces.
Through a split barn-style door with a large red warning sign on it, they could see a furnace and hear someone hammering metal against metal.
Unless it was a cleverly positioned soundtrack, in which case it certainly gave the place an authentic feel.
Nora wondered if perhaps sometimes she was a little cynical.
‘Can I help?’ asked a middle-aged man, appearing from outside. He had long grey hair tied back in a low ponytail.
‘I’m interested in the garden pieces. Who makes them?’ she asked.
‘They’re all designed and made here on the premises by our local blacksmiths. Was there anything in particular that caught your eye?’ She suspected the man could smell a sale.
‘I’m still browsing really,’ said Nora. ‘I’m hoping I’ll know the right piece when I see it.’
The barn-style door opened and with a backdrop of the roaring furnace behind him, out strode a bare-chested Adonis of a man.
‘Nora?’
‘Tyler?’
‘Oh, come on!’ muttered Jay behind her.
‘I thought I recognized that voice. It’s so good to see you,’ said Tyler. ‘I’d better not hug you as I’m all sweaty.’
The light seemed to catch the sheen on his chest as he spoke.
‘Yeah, probably not a good idea,’ said Jay. ‘Pleased to meet you. I’m a friend of Nora’s.’ He swapped the lead between his palms so he could shake hands, but Tyler only had eyes for Nora.
‘Hi,’ said Tyler. ‘It’s so good to see you. My astromancer said to expect good fortune and you must be it. What brings you here?’ He wiped his hands on his leather apron.
‘My garden isn’t very exciting. I thought something a bit different would add some interest.’
‘This stuff is definitely different,’ said Jay, studying a twisted lump of something unidentifiable on a table that Bruce was sniffing forensically.
‘I call this piece “Serendipity”,’ said Tyler, stepping in front of Jay.
‘Like the romcom film?’ asked Jay. ‘With Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack? I love that movie.’ Nora had had exactly the same thought – she and Jay were in tune like that.
Tyler scowled over his shoulder at him and addressed his reply to Nora, who was studying the sculpture with interest. ‘It’s a celebration of good fortune. Of the joy of unexpected good luck.’ Nora had forgotten how engaging Tyler was.
Jay squinted a little as he gave the piece another inspection. ‘Which bit is the good luck then?’ he asked.
Tyler had an irritated look about him as he addressed Jay. ‘It’s an interpretation.’
‘Huh,’ said Jay. ‘I like the bees. Did you make those?’
‘I specialize more in the intuitive rhythm of life and its manifestation.’
‘And then bash one out in metal. Interesting,’ said Jay.
Nora was giving him her wide-eyed shut-the-hell-up look. She smiled as she turned back to Tyler and his sculpture. ‘I really like your piece,’ she said.
Jay sniggered and hid behind the metal structure as best he could.
‘Thank you. That means a lot,’ said Tyler with sincerity.
‘Sorry if I interrupted you while you’re working,’ she said.
‘You are the best kind of interruption.’
Jay mimed being sick from behind the metal artwork.
‘This is a bit crazy, but maybe we could catch up some time? If you’re free.’ Nora watched Tyler closely.
‘You know part of me really wants to say yes but—’
‘You’re already seeing someone?’ anticipated Jay, coming from behind the sculpture as Bruce tried to pull him in the opposite direction.
‘Ah, no. I was dating this businesswoman. High up in pharmaceuticals. Worked away in the city a lot. But she was seeing other people and that doesn’t work for me.’
‘Sorry, that sucks,’ said Nora. ‘Was it a recent split?’ She was wheedling, but she hoped Tyler couldn’t tell.
‘About seven months, two weeks and three days. You always remember the day your heart gets broken into a thousand pieces.’
Jay and Nora were stunned into silence for a moment.
‘I’m joking,’ said Tyler. ‘But your faces were hilarious.’
‘So not heartbroken then?’ asked Jay. Nora scowled at him. And in response he mouthed, ‘What?’
‘Not exactly.’ Tyler fiddled self-consciously with his leather apron, making Nora think that it was most likely unpleasantly sweaty in the groin area.
‘Then you’re single,’ said Nora, unable to hide a small smile.
Tyler sighed. He had a melancholy look on his face, which made him even more attractive. He was still fiddling with his apron. ‘I am.’
‘Then we should definitely catch up some time. Hey, here’s a thought …’ She waved a hand as if something had just popped into her head. ‘We could maybe go out for a meal.’
They were all momentarily distracted by the clip-clopping of hooves as a horse was led past outside. This really was a rural idyll. Bruce almost dragged Jay to the doorway to watch the horse walk by.
Tyler tipped his head down. ‘But, Nora, you see, you did break my heart and if you’re suggesting what I think you might be suggesting then I definitely can’t go through that again.’
‘Woah,’ said Jay. ‘I didn’t see that coming.’ He pointed at Tyler who scowled at him. ‘I’ll be somewhere else,’ he added quickly. Although it seemed he didn’t want to miss the rest of the discussion, so instead of leaving he skulked behind the sculptures.
‘I feel bad that I hurt you,’ said Nora.
‘Don’t. I’m fine now after a period of grieving, learning how to activate my light energy and a week of healing therapy in Goa.’
Nora chuckled. ‘Joking again?’
Tyler’s jaw was tight as he slowly shook his head.
‘I thought everything was great between us and I didn’t see it coming,’ he said.
‘It’s taught me a lot about my ego and to not take things for granted.
And for that I am grateful. I genuinely think I’m a more whole person now than I was back then.
And I am better placed to share my light and my love. ’
This showed her there was a different side to Tyler. Perhaps it was a clever play on his part.
‘I may have been a little hasty in ending things,’ said Nora. ‘I look back now and all the things I thought were important … I’ve learned that they’re not. People are what’s important. That’s all there is.’
‘That is true,’ said Tyler.
‘I’m sorry I hurt you,’ said Nora. Tyler and Nora exchanged weak smiles. There was nothing here for her.
Nora got a whiff of something unpleasant.
‘Blimey, that makes your eyes water,’ said Jay. Nora and Tyler both glared at him. ‘Sorry. Horse.’ He pointed out of the open door and began wafting his hand, although it didn’t seem to make much difference.
‘It’s been lovely to see you again,’ said Tyler.
‘Anyway, my number hasn’t changed if you decided you wanted to keep in touch,’ said Nora, turning to leave.
‘Did you not want to talk about something bespoke for your garden?’ asked the older man, popping up out of nowhere and making Bruce bark. Had he been lurking this whole time, she wondered.
‘I need to think about it a bit more,’ said Nora.
Jay followed her out into the sunshine. ‘Are you OK?’ he asked.
‘Yeah, I’m fine actually.’ Although she wasn’t sure that she was fine at all.
She felt bad for hurting Tyler and didn’t want to open his old wounds.
But it was making her wonder. She definitely still fancied Tyler, but there was something missing.
They had never laughed much, and certainly not as much as she and Jay did.
It had been quite serious and intense. Something made her glance at Jay – she liked silly and relaxed.
She liked Jay. He was a strikingly good-looking man.
Of course she’d known that. He was an actor after all but looking at him now her heart was doing crazy things.
In that moment she realized, like Thor’s hammer to her head, that Jay could be the one.
Jay Pandey was everything she wanted in a man and – more importantly – everything she needed. He cared about her, made her laugh and supported her unconditionally. And, quite frankly, he was hot. Not in a beefy macho blokey way but in a subtle, kind and delightfully charming way.
But, with as much force as the Hulk punching her in the face, she also realized that he could never be hers.
She valued their friendship too much. Friendships of the sort she shared with Jay were rare.
She wouldn’t risk that for anything. Once before she’d made the mistake of going from friends to lovers, with Liam, and when they had split it had been devastating.
There was no way she could risk that happening again, especially not with Jay.
He meant far too much to her to risk losing him from her life.
The devil on her shoulder gave her a nudge.
What if you just told him how you felt? What’s the worst that could happen?
The scenario played out in her head. It could be instant rejection or – worse still – a brief relationship that destroyed their friendship for ever.
She could hardly sit and crochet opposite a man she’d bounced up and down on top of.
The thought of it made her catch her breath – this was getting out of hand and it had to stop.
‘That’s good,’ said Jay, pulling her back to her sad reality. ‘Out of interest, why did you dump Tyler?’
‘He was quite high maintenance. Needed a lot of reassuring all of the time. And there was something else.’ Nora waited until they were definitely out of earshot before she elaborated. ‘That smell …’
‘The horse’s bottom?’ he queried.
‘That wasn’t the horse,’ she replied, striding to the car.
It took Jay a moment to process what she’d said. ‘Ewww,’ he said with feeling.