Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
It was nearly seven in the evening, and I’d been painting on the school stage for a few hours. Painting the scenery had proved therapeutic as it had given me time away from the unfolding family drama. My painting brief was to make the sky come to life, create a stable background but leave it empty inside as the school has a crib and lots of eager children to play all the characters. Abi said that competition had been fierce for the animal roles which made me smile.
There was a knock at the hall doors. It was Ben. My heartbeat quickened despite my cautious mind replaying what Layla had told me about him. As I made my way across the hall I silently repeated, I don’t want to get my heart broken again and he’s a player.
I opened the doors, and he held up a plastic bag. ‘Blame Olivia if my food choices are wrong.’
He came inside, brushing past me with a smile. ‘I recall her telling me you love interesting sandwiches. She said that you would make the world’s best sandwiches, I think steak and onion were her favourites. Apparently, you used to say you were changing the world one sandwich at a time.’
I stared at him. Wow, he’d remembered what Olivia had told him about me. My heart went berserk. ‘Well, that’s true.’
He gestured at the stage scenery. ‘That’s great, the kids will love it.’
‘I hope so,’ I gushed, ‘I’ve not had much time.’
He grinned. ‘Well, I think you need a break from your artistic work. I have made us something which I am hoping will come up to your high sandwich standards.’ He laid out a picnic blanket on the edge of the stage. Out of the plastic bag he brought some tin foil wrapped packages. Whatever he’d made smelt amazing.
‘This is Ben’s Christmas club sandwich, which has turkey, maple bacon, cranberry chutney and spiced red cabbage in it. Plus, home-made potato wedges and a variety of dips. I also have an array of soft drinks as I didn’t know whether you’d want a drink.’ He arranged two plates and laid out his stacked sandwiches.
‘You made all this.’
He nodded. ‘I’m a foodie when I am not a builder.’
‘Really?’ Why had Olivia kept this from me?
His eyes held my gaze. ‘I hope you enjoy my Christmas club sandwich, and I will be nervous as hell as you eat it. Not sure what I will do if you don’t enjoy what I have cooked.’
‘Ben, I am sure it will be wonderful.’
His meal was delicious. It was so good neither of us talked, we just ate. I didn’t feel nervous about not talking and concentrating on enjoying his food. With Sam I always felt like I had to fill empty spaces between conversations.
After we’d both finished, he tidied everything away. Was this guy a heartbreaker? Because from what I had just seen he was thoughtful and considerate. He could have gone to a takeaway and bought us a chow mein or a pizza. Instead, he’d remembered everything Olivia had told him about me and spent the afternoon cooking something which would be meaningful to me.
He smiled. ‘So, what’s the verdict on my Christmas club sandwich?’
‘Ben, it was a taste sensation, and I am very impressed.’
A cute boyish grin spread across his face. He reached into his pocket and brought out his phone. ‘I’m still in touch with Sonia and I hope you don’t mind but I told her I’d finally met you.’
‘Ah, that’s nice. I messaged her on Olivia’s birthday. Is she okay?’
He nodded. ‘She and Ray, you know, Olivia’s dad, are back together.’
I gasped at his news. Olivia’s mum and dad had split up ten years ago. She always used to say that one day she hoped a miracle would happen and they would get back together.
Ben passed me his phone. ‘Read what she said. Losing Olivia brought them back together.’
As I tried to read the texts, tears pricked my eyes. Ben offered me a napkin. Sonia spoke about her love for Ray and how together they would learn to live again without their daughter. She knew Olivia would have wanted them to reunite and she hoped Olivia was looking down on them from heaven. I smiled at Ben once I’d got control of my emotions. ‘Anything Olivia-related and I’m a mess.’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, I know how that feels. Rachel,’ he said, holding my gaze. ‘I know we have the link to Olivia which is great. I want you to know that I am…’ His words faded away as we stared at each other.
‘You’re what?’ I whispered as our heads travelled towards each other.
Our lips were almost touching.
‘I’m very attracted to you,’ he whispered. ‘You were pretty in the photo Olivia sent me but in real life you’re gorgeous. That shorter haircut is so sexy and don’t get me started on those reindeer pyjamas.’
We both smiled.
‘To be honest I’m struggling…’ He paused and reclaimed his serious look. ‘You’re making me want to spend hours cooking delicious things for you. I see you in the kitchen and I must refrain from pulling you close. It is getting harder to…’
‘To stay away?’ I murmured, tilting my head so our lips could meet.
‘Mmmm…’ he murmured. ‘All I want to do is kiss you.’
I closed my eyes and he pressed his soft lips against mine, and we kissed. It was a beautiful and tender kiss until my mind began replaying Sam telling me that he and Chantelle had been seeing each other. I broke away abruptly. My defences rose at lightning speed. I couldn’t allow myself to get hurt again. ‘I’m sorry, Ben. I can’t…’
‘It’s okay,’ he said interrupting me, ‘we’re probably moving at a hundred miles per hour.’ He packed up his stuff. ‘I better get home. Rosie will probably be expecting a bedtime story.’
I tried to catch his attention, but he wouldn’t lift his eyes to mine.
‘I better go, see you around, Rachel.’ He headed towards the door.
Panic set in as he hurried away. ‘Thanks for the lovely food,’ I called out.
He didn’t look back. ‘No worries, good luck with the painting.’
I returned to my painting feeling uncomfortable. It had felt right to pull away, but I now felt like I’d hurt him.
Picking up my phone I facetimed the WhatsApp group I had with Connor and Kate. At the same time, I prayed they were both able to talk.
Connor appeared first. He was grinning and holding aloft a tall flute of fizzy Prosecco. ‘Don’t tell me,’ he chuckled, ‘Grandpa Eric and the dog have gone AWOL again.’
Kate appeared and laughed as she caught the tail end of what Connor had said. She was holding a gin glass.
‘I need advice,’ I said. ‘Ben and I kissed tonight.’
Connor gasped. ‘Wow – Olivia will be chuffed in heaven tonight.’
Kate nodded. ‘So, what’s the issue? Is he a naff kisser?’
‘Washing machine kiss?’ Connor enquired. ‘Or was it a cold clamp kiss?’
I shook my head. ‘It was a great kiss. His technique is brilliant, but…’
Connor peered at the nativity scenery behind me. ‘Did you paint that?’
I nodded.
‘Did you not want to make out with him in front of the nativity scene?’ Connor asked, arching his eyebrows at me.
‘Stop it,’ I snapped, getting frustrated with Connor’s quips. ‘Someone told me that Ben is a heartbreaker and a player.’
Kate took a sip from her gin glass. ‘Olivia wouldn’t have set you up with a love rat.’
Connor nodded. ‘She had a red flag radar. One of the best. Remember when I was dating that hygienist guy. Olivia told me after one look at him that she sensed he had a lot of red flags. I ignored her and on the fifth date the guy told me he was bankrupt and on bail for an assault charge. To this day I still don’t know how she knew all that in one glance.’
‘Olivia knew you were fragile,’ Kate explained.
‘I don’t want to get hurt again,’ I said, rubbing my chest. ‘Also, I will be gone after Christmas.’
‘And?’ Connor asked. ‘Surrey and London are not hundreds of miles away. Relationships have survived across longer distances.’
‘How have you left it with Ben?’ Kate asked.
‘He left looking embarrassed.’ I wiped a layer of sweat from my forehead. ‘I feel bad because he’s a foodie and he made us these delicious Christmas stacked sandwiches. He’d remembered what Olivia had told him about me and my love for a good sandwich.’
Connor drained his flute of fizzy wine. ‘I hate to say this, but heartbreakers don’t do stuff like that. They turn up with a bag of chips, a battered sausage, a cheap bottle of wine and a cheeky smile. They certainly don’t do embarrassment. Trust me, I have dated quite a few.’
Kate nodded. ‘I agree. Also, Olivia will be managing this situation from heaven, and she won’t let anything mess up her good work.’
I smiled. ‘You’re right.’
‘Talk to Ben,’ urged Kate.