“I haven’t ordered any food yet.” Tom handed her the menu before he sat down opposite her. “I didn’t want to chance getting it wrong.”
“I’m pretty easy food-wise.” Jessica laughed softly, her eyes meeting his.
“Yes, you’re right, you’re very pretty.” Tom flashed white teeth, showing his delight. He couldn’t quite believe he was actually here with his Jessica. He thought of her as his own now he’d met her and he had no intention of letting her go. He enjoyed the slight blush crossing her pretty face and the way she lowered her eyes as though disbelieving his compliment. “Shall we order?”
****
The meal was just what Jessica had dreamed it would be. Tom was polite and funny, regaling her with tales of his mischievous younger sister who would always use up the hot water on a Saturday night. She blushed a little at that but it didn’t spoil her fun and she couldn’t believe how much she had in common with Tom. His dad had been a bobby on the beat before retiring early to run a pub out in the country. Tom assured her that she would love it, hinting madly that he wanted her to meet his family.
“It was such a lovely meal, Tom. I had a wonderful time,” Jessica sighed, a lump in her throat at the thought of having to say goodbye to this handsome man. She never would have beloved how wonderful this Valentine’s Day could have turned out, especially with all the trouble caused by Greg.
“You’re not running out on me so soon, surely?” Tom held out Jessica’s jacket and she slipped her arms into it.
“I promised mum I wouldn’t be late.” Jessica smiled although she didn’t have to leave—not yet.
“Well we wouldn’t want to upset your mum now, would we?” Tom returned the smile yet. “I will have to walk you home; it’s not safe for a pretty girl to walk the streets alone at this hour.”
Jessica laughed, a sweet sound which caressed Tom somewhere deep in his chest.
“It’s perfectly safe here,” she assured him, but not too much. She didn’t want to put him off so easily.
“Nevertheless, I would be less of a gentleman if I didn’t guarantee your safe return home.” He took hold of her hand to lead her outside. “Of course, you’ll have to tell me where it is.”
The moon shone high above them as they walked through the almost deserted streets, passing a few folk who offered a greeting to Jessica and the young man who walked closely by her side. “This is a nice place,” Tom said, nodding at one of the houses he had his eye on. It overlooked the village green with its quaint duck pond, was close to the pub and had three generous bedrooms: more than enough for when his family visited which he was sure they would once he told them about Jessica.
“It’s the old Delaney house.” Jessica tightened her grip on Tom’s fingers. “My brother’s best friend used to live here.
“I, er, rented it out for a while,” he whispered, not wanting this very pretty woman to think he was being presumptuous but still needing her to realize how serious he was. The more he saw of this picturesque village the more he liked it plus there was the added attraction of the woman holding his hand. “Of course, I’ll need an expert in the area seeing as I’m the new boy and all that.”
Jessica glanced down both ends of the main street running through town. There wasn’t much more to see.
“Can’t have you getting lost now, can we?”
Chapter Nine
“Mum, Dad, this is Tom.” Jessica stood in the doorway, one hand held by Tom. A soft frown crossed her brow.
“Mrs Sanders, Mr Sanders, it’s very good to meet you. Jessica has told me so much about you.” Tom stepped forward, holding out his free hand in welcome but keeping a gentle hold on Jessica. He didn’t want to ever let her go.
“Jessica has told us very little about you.” Jessica’s mother stepped forward, her tone wary, but her husband moving easily past her took away any bad feelings.
“Come in, young man, fancy a brew?” Gordon offered his own hand,. “You’re not a local. Where are you from and how did you meet my Jessica?”
Tom grinned widely, accepting the warm welcome and the easy acceptance into Jessica’s home. He explained how he’d found Jessica’s diary and had been fascinated by what he’d read and that it impelled him to find her.
Tom soon found that Gordon was a very welcoming man, quick to laughter and eager to share police stories. Helen was a little harder to crack but Tom’s easy manner soon had Jessica’s mother warming to him too.
Tom glanced at his watch; it was getting late and he had a million things to do the next day. Moving house wasn’t easy and there were a thousand and one things to sort out before he could call the old Delaney house his own.
Jessica followed him to the front door.
“I really like them.” Tom bent low to whisper in her ear, a subtle scent rising from her hair as his mouth touched it.
“They really liked you too,” Jessica whispered back as though afraid her parents would hear. Tom moved closer, his arms reaching around her slender waist and gently urging her into his embrace.
“Your mum was right,” Tom reminded her of the last entry in her diary. “We were made for each other.”
Jessica sighed as his head moved nearer, his lips tentatively touching hers, but this kiss was everything she’d dreamed about and she wouldn’t be the one to end it.
“I can’t believe you found me.” Her words were soft, meant just for him and perhaps the smiling moon above.
“Believe it,” Tom whispered low as he held tightly in her arms. She was his; they were made for each other and he would never let her go.
Jessica sat on the end of her bed, her diary open on the soft duvet in front of her and with a careful hand she wrote beneath the last entry.
“It’s Valentine’s Day today and it’s been wonderful. Mum was right; there is someone out there for everyone. My special someone is called Tom and I think he loves me.”
About the Author
Julie Kavanagh was born in London. She still lives in the capital with her husband, one of her grown up daughters and seven felines, most of which are rescue cats.
Julie works in an Inner city school and loves it although she wishes the holidays were longer.
She has been writing for as long as she can remember and, despite modest success, a few years ago she gave it all up to concentrate on her family but now she’s back with a vengeance and lots of wonderful tales to share.
Julie writes under a series of names to separate the different genres she likes to writes.
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