Chapter 15
After Beth had come outside to inform him that Walter and Dotty were on their way from the hospital, Noah had stopped work on clearing up and went to get changed into dry clothes.
When he finally came downstairs and went into the kitchen, he was glad to see both his aunt and uncle were home at last.
‘How are you?’ he asked Walter, going straight over to where his uncle was sitting at the head of the table. Walter’s face looked pale and he had his arm in a sling.
‘I’ll be fine. Don’t you start fussing like everyone else.’ He looked up at his nephew. ‘Glad to see you still here though.’
‘Noah’s been hard at work all day clearing nearly all of those trees that came down,’ Lily told him. ‘And we’re very grateful for that.’
‘Good lad,’ said Walter. ‘Sorry I couldn’t be around to help.’
‘I think you’ve done enough today,’ Dotty told her husband, looking weary and strained. She shot Noah a thankful smile. ‘Glad you stuck around for us though.’
‘Of course,’ replied Noah.
Outside the storm was still continuing, the sound of rain lashing against the kitchen windows. Sitting at the table, Ben appeared very downbeat that evening and Noah wondered whether his grandad’s accident had upset him more than he was letting on.
‘The roads are blocked everywhere now,’ said Dotty. ‘And flooded too.’
‘That’s too bad,’ muttered Hannah, with a grimace.
‘Why?’ asked Dotty.
Hannah sighed. ‘Jeremy’s still here,’ she whispered. ‘Wish he’d just leave, to be honest.’
‘Not sure anyone’s getting down those country lanes tonight,’ said Walter, as another gust of wind whipped against the windows.
Noah looked up as Beth appeared at the door with Jeremy close behind her.
He was still surprised by Beth’s choice to have a boyfriend like Jeremy.
They didn’t seem exactly connected like the soulmates that she had told him she dreamed about.
Of course, he could see why she appealed to Jeremy.
She was beautiful, so of course he would make a beeline for her.
But Jeremy was quite old-fashioned in both his way of speaking and his manner.
Noah wondered if perhaps it was the man’s intelligence that had attracted her.
As dinner was prepared, with Ben still quiet and both Walter and Dotty looking weary, Jeremy seemed intent on adding to the lacklustre atmosphere.
Beth had tried her best to cheer everyone up but when she began to tell a tale about the stars, Jeremy yawned in the middle of her story and patted her hand in a condescending way. ‘I think you’re boring your friends, darling,’ he told her.
Beth frowned and instantly blushed. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered.
‘Actually, she wasn’t boring us at all,’ snapped Ella, glaring at Jeremy.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Beth quickly. ‘I can’t remember the rest, anyway.’
Noah instantly saw the change in her. She’d completely changed from the normal chatty person he’d met only the day before. He thought of her eyes lighting up when teaching him the basics of astronomy on the veranda. She’d turned into a shadow of herself that evening.
Things became even more strained when the lights suddenly went out.
Noah heard Ben swear before apologising to his grandparents and mother.
‘That’s all we need,’ he grumbled. ‘Another power cut.’
Everyone drew out their mobiles to switch on their torches whilst Faye lit the candles in the middle of the table.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Jeremy, sounding panicked and looking around in an alarmed manner.
‘I thought you’d be used to the dark, being an astronomer,’ said Dotty, raising her eyebrows.
Jeremy shot her a glare before quickly disguising it.
‘Of course,’ he said, switching on a wide smile. ‘I’m just used to being in control of the lighting set-up, that’s all.’
Ella snorted but buried it in her wine glass before she drained it.
‘Perhaps we should light the candles in the lounge,’ said Faye, in a pointed tone.
‘I’ll do it,’ said Beth, standing up.
‘I’ll help you,’ added Jeremy quickly before they both left the kitchen.
Everyone appeared to sigh in relief and finally appeared more relaxed.
‘That man,’ muttered Ella, shaking her head.
‘What’s he doing here?’ said Lily, with a heavy sigh.
‘Trying to get back with Beth, presumably,’ said Hannah.
Noah had to agree. He had assumed that Beth and Jeremy’s relationship was over but it appeared not. Shame, he found himself thinking, remembering how Jeremy had talked over Beth at dinner.
‘Can’t we just make him leave?’ asked Ella.
‘It’s a bit dangerous outside with the storm, unfortunately,’ said Ben. ‘He could get hurt.’
‘That’s why I thought it was a good idea,’ said Ella, with a grin.
‘Listen, I can keep the stew warm on the gas hob for now,’ said Faye. ‘As the heating’s gone out, we could all warm up in the lounge whilst we wait for dinner.’
Everyone headed across the entrance hall towards the lounge which was now glowing with candlelight and the large fire in the hearth.
However, upon reaching the doorway, they all heard raised voices and stopped in their tracks.
‘Of course I’m right,’ Noah heard Jeremy saying.
‘No, you’re not,’ he heard Beth reply. ‘Our relationship is over, Jeremy.’
‘There’s no point giving me a reason and then not backing it up with proof, darling,’ replied Jeremy. ‘I can see why your research papers never made the grade.’
Noah heard Beth’s small gasp of dismay at the insult and felt something flare inside of him. He decided to interrupt their conversation before Beth became even more browbeaten.
He stalked into the lounge and saw Beth standing next to the fireplace, her face lit by the flames and nearby candles. She was looking pensive and strained, hugging her arms close around her.
‘I mean,’ carried on Jeremy, who hadn’t seen Noah and was only looking at Beth, ‘who’s going to put up with you like I do?’
‘Maybe I’m already seeing someone else,’ she replied.
Jeremy merely laughed in disdain at her.
Noah took another step forward and Beth looked up upon hearing the movement. She looked at him for a second before her expression altered.
‘You know what? I can tell you exactly who’s putting up with me at the moment,’ she said.
Noah realised her voice had completely changed. She sounded confident and almost a little husky.
Beth began to walk towards Noah with purpose and wearing a wide smile on her face. And there was something else glowing in her eyes, he noticed. Excitement.
She came to stand directly in front of him and suddenly reached up to fling her hands around his neck. Then Beth leant forward and pressed her body against his.
As she tilted her head up, Noah, who was standing motionless in shock, saw her mouth the words ‘I’m sorry’ silently to him before she pressed her lips against his.
He was astonished at her actions but automatically drew his arms around her, drawing her even closer to him. Sorry? He’d never known a sweeter kiss before.
He didn’t know what was happening or why but for some reason he was entirely happy to play along with Beth’s little charade.