You've Got My Number: Warm your heart this winter with this uplifting and deliciously romantic story!

by Angela Barton

  Tess walked with him into the hall. She gently touched his arm. ‘I hope everything will be all right.’

  ‘Thank you. Me too. Bye’

  Later that evening, Tess had cleared away the food and was busy tidying the kitchen. Holly had left in a whirlwind of happiness and declarations of love for Daniel. Blake was mooching about, by now a little drunk after copious amounts of gin and tonics and several Jack Daniel’s. He grabbed Tess around her waist from behind as she bent to put some glasses in the dishwasher.

  ‘Come here, gorgeous.’

  ‘Blake, I’m clearing up.’

  ‘Leave it. I’ll do it later.’

  Tess was in no mood for sex with her intoxicated boyfriend. She was worried about Daniel’s phone call, on edge due to Holly’s flirting and Blake smelt like an ashtray. He was being insensitive to her quiet mood, but she supposed that alcohol blurred sensitivity. His hands grasped her breasts. Irritated by his touch, she escaped his arms with a swift turn and opened a cupboard to look for a dishwasher tablet. She placed the tablet in its container on the dishwasher’s door and felt Blake grasp her hips and press himself against her. Tess swung round and faced him angrily.

  ‘Stop it. You’re drunk and I’m not in the mood.’

  ‘I’m not drunk! I’ve only had three gins.’

  ‘And about six Jack Daniel’s.’

  ‘Daniel. Daniel. We can’t escape from fucking Daniel, can we?’

  ‘Now you’re being pathetic.’

  ‘I bet you wouldn’t say no to Danny Boy, would you?’

  ‘I’m not playing this silly game.’

  ‘Oh Danny, kiss me, Danny.’ Blake puckered his lips.

  ‘I’m serious. Stop it before you go too far.’

  ‘Look at my cakes, Danny.’

  Tess’s patience snapped. ‘Blake, I want you to leave. I can’t talk to you when you’ve had too much to drink.’

  ‘Tough. I can’t leave because apparently I’m drunk. And we all know what happens when you drink and drive.’

  ‘I’ll phone a taxi for you.’

  Tess dialled the number of her local taxi firm.

  ‘Well, thank you very much. Kick a sick man out. Thanks a million.’

  Tess was livid. His emotional blackmail didn’t dissuade her from continuing the phone call. She wanted him to go home and leave her to think by herself and try to piece together her fragmenting life.

  ‘Hello. I’d like a taxi from Rose Cottage in Halston. Yes. Into town, please. Yes, as soon as possible. Thank you. Bye.’

  Blake swayed in the doorway. ‘You’ve changed.’

  ‘I’ll speak to you tomorrow when you have a clear head.’

  ‘If I’m alive.’

  ‘That’s below the belt. I’m trying so hard here,’ shouted Tess. ‘You won’t let me in regarding your illness. You won’t talk to me about your treatment or your medication. You won’t let me come with you to the hospital. I’m fighting a battle with my hands tied behind my back. I do what I can for you. I look after you as best I can. I’m here for you, but you’re pushing me away.’

  ‘I’ve just tried to get close to you and you pushed me away.’

  ‘I’m not talking about sex. I’m talking about sharing and talking. We don’t communicate any more. We just seem to work, eat, clear away, sleep and then go to work again.’ Tess raked her hand up through her hair. ‘I’m tired of it.’

  Blake’s bottom lip quivered. ‘I love you, Tezza. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

  Tess sighed deeply. ‘Please don’t call me Tezza.’

  ‘Don’t leave me.’

  ‘I’m here, aren’t I?’

  ‘I feel like I’m losing you. You seem so far away these days.’

  Tess held out her arms. Blake fell against her. She held him numbly, feeling no emotion. Minutes passed and neither of them moved. Blake occasionally sniffed and the kitchen clock ticked. Tess’s mind reeled with images: her parents opening their front door, the whites of Blake’s eyes glaring at her earlier and Daniel standing at the door holding wine and flowers. She felt as if she was going mad. It really was time to sort her life out.

  The sound of a car horn pulled them apart. The taxi had arrived. Blake kissed Tess on her cheek, walked reluctantly towards the front door and left. She walked back into the silent kitchen, the dam of anxiety and uncertainty burst. Sobbing into her arms, Tess leaned against the kitchen worktop. Her body shuddered with anguish. She cried for wasted years, for unrequited love, for the evil touch of illness and for her helplessness in all these things.

  As the minutes ticked by, her body shook less and her gasps became quieter. Her breathing became easier and she became aware that she was leaning on something uncomfortable. She stood up and looked to see what was pressing into her forearm. It was a mobile phone. It wasn’t hers or Blake’s. Holly had lost hers last week and couldn’t afford to buy another until payday. In an instant she realised that it was Daniel’s. He must have put it down after the phone call telling him the bad news. Tess picked it up and held it in her upturned palms. Lifting it to her face, she pressed it gently against her cheek and closed her swollen eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tess slept deeply that night and was surprised to wake up at half past eight to the sound of a cyclist ringing their bell. The breeze from a small open window occasionally made her curtains billow like an intake of breath. She’d gone to bed imagining a night of torment and tears, but had fallen into a deep dreamless sleep within minutes.

  This morning she felt calmer and more determined to get her life in order. It looked like Holly and Daniel might become an item and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay with Blake. She could still support him through his illness as a friend, couldn’t she? Tess made a mental note to telephone her parents later to arrange another visit to Crimpton’s Tea Room. She groaned loudly and stretched like a starfish beneath her duvet. Thank goodness she’d booked two days annual leave this week.

  What could Daniel’s bad news have been? How was Blake this morning? What should she do about Daniel’s mobile? She’d slept with it beside her on her bedside table, sitting alongside her own phone. She reached to pick it up. It felt smooth and cool as she gently ran her fingers over the buttons. How could a collection of metal and plastic seem like a priceless object to her? She pressed the screen to her lips, letting it rest there.

  Brrrrrr! Tess was startled when it vibrated. Involuntarily, she threw it across the bed. With her hand shaking she picked it up again and took a second to steady herself.

  ‘Hello.’

  ‘Hi, Tess. You found my phone, then? I’m calling from my landline.’

  ‘Yes. It was on the kitchen table. Are you okay?’

  She heard him sigh.

  ‘Could be better, to be honest. Is it alright to call by and pick it up at lunchtime?’

  ‘I’ve got to go to the supermarket in an hour. I could drop it round to you.’ Tess was impressed that she’d instantly conjured up a plan to see where he lived.

  ‘That’d be great. I’ve got a busy morning framing some artwork.’

  ‘Where shall I drop the phone off?’

  ‘I’ll be at The Rookery most of the day.’

  Damn. He was working at The Rookery, so she still wouldn’t find out where he lived. She tried not to sound disappointed.

  ‘Okay, see you about ten.’

  ‘Great. Bye.’

  Placing the phones side by side on the bedside table, Tess swung her legs out of bed and sat dangling them over the edge. She sat there feeling slightly overwhelmed. How was she going to find the energy to begin to sort out her complicated life?

  By ten o’clock, Tess had washed her hair and had taken the time to blow-dry it, instead of her usual quick and easy ponytail. She pulled on some clean jeans and tucked them into some black boots. She slipped on a charcoal-grey blouse and an olive cardigan. A quick spray of perfume and she was ready.

  The sun-tinged edges of the clouds
looked like they’d been dipped in honey. A cool breeze ruffled her hair, causing flyaway strands to stick to her lip-gloss. As Tess walked alongside the cricket pitch, butterflies took flight in the pit of her stomach. Would Daniel or the owner answer the door?

  She pushed open huge iron gates that squeaked on their hinges. Dew-laced cobwebs quivered in corners of the ornate ironwork and crows cawed their annoyance at her presence. She noticed Daniel’s black Land Rover Defender parked by the side of The Rookery, making her squeeze his phone between her fingers in nervous anticipation.

  Tess passed huge mature trees and high rhododendron bushes. Then The Rookery came into view. Her eyes opened wide in wonder. A huge turret that had been hidden from the road by abundant foliage, rose up three storeys high like Rapunzel’s tower. A gleaming glass orangery clung to the side of the building, revealing itself as she walked the curve of the gravel drive. The leaded windows glinted in the autumn sun and seemed to watch her approach. Finally the hidden treasure of architecture was now in full view. Tess thought it was wondrous.

  The sand stone facing was veined like marble, and layers of bricks added texture and pattern. Stone mullions framed the pointed arch windows, which diminished in size with each floor. Ornate chimneystacks stretched into the sky, with rows of terracotta chimneys perched on top. A twisted and gnarled wisteria wound and grasped at the stonework growing over the top of the enormous arched oak front door. The front door itself was studded with black bolts and the growling face of a brass lion doorknocker looked back at her with sightless eyes.

  Tess lifted it and let it drop heavily. The noise disturbed the crows, drawing her eyes skywards. She turned back quickly at the sound of the door opening. She was about to explain her presence to an imagined old wizened owner, but Daniel stood holding the door open. He was wearing faded canvas trousers and a T-shirt with a tear on the front, both splattered with paint. She also noticed that he looked tired and pale.

  ‘Hi. Sorry for disturbing your day off. Come in,’ said Daniel.

  ‘Don’t be silly. You didn’t. Wow, this place is amazing.’

  She’d stepped into a huge double height hall that was overlooked by a glistening planet of a chandelier. The lower half of the hall’s walls were covered with warm oak panelling. Above the panelling the paintwork was warm claret red. Paintings and ornate gilt mirrors hung at intervals and at the far end of the hall an impressive staircase divided into two, curving left and right before disappearing from view. Behind the staircase was a huge window that spilled citrus sunshine onto the stairs and hall.

  ‘Is the owner out for the day? What a wonderful place to hold your exhibition.’

  Before Daniel could answer, eight paws pitter-pattered across the stone flagged flooring. Goya and Gogh wagged their tails in delight at seeing Tess. She bent to stroke them.

  ‘So, you lucky girls are allowed to come for the day too.’ Tess looked up at Daniel from her crouched position. ‘It’s a devil wondering what to do with a dog when you need to go away for more than a few hours. When I lived at home, if Padders couldn’t come with us overnight somewhere, we wouldn’t go.’

  ‘Come through and I’ll put the kettle on. Who’s Padders? I thought you only had Bob the fish.’

  ‘He’s my dog, but he stayed with Mum and Dad when I left Cornwall.’

  ‘When did you leave?’ Daniel walked through the hall followed by Tess and the dogs.

  ‘I suppose you could say I followed Holly, eight years ago. She wanted to move to a busy city with plenty of nightlife and invited me for the summer. We had a wonderful time. We were only eighteen and squashed into her tiny flat, but it was great to go out five nights a week without our parents worrying and pointing at the clock. It was the first time we’d really let our hair down. The Blue Olive was new and hiring staff, we both got a job and rented a couple of rooms above it. We’ve both moved twice since then.’

  Daniel filled the kettle. ‘Do you miss Cornwall?’

  ‘I miss all of it. Mum, Dad, Padders, the beaches, the raw elements and the peace. That’s why I moved out to the countryside here in Nottingham and commute into the city. I’m a simple country girl at heart. In fact, I took your advice. Remember the day I rescued you in my ark?’ Tess smiled. ‘You said I should follow my dream because life is too short. Well, I’ve seen a little teashop for sale in a lovely small harbour town, close to Mum and Dad. There’s an opportunity to buy it, with their help, of course.’

  ‘What about Blake?’

  Tess bit her lip. ‘I don’t want to sound disloyal behind his back, but things haven’t been good between us since last Christmas. I feel like we’ve both changed; both moved in different directions. Now he’s ill and in trouble with the police, so, he needs me at the moment.’

  ‘He seemed pretty robust yesterday evening. How is he this morning?’

  ‘I’m really sorry about last night. We had an argument and I asked him to leave. I hate it when he’s drunk. He changes character. Yeah, I think he’s improving. He keeps me at arms’ distance when it comes to his health.’

  Daniel frowned. ‘Maybe he thinks he’s protecting you.’

  ‘But don’t you think you need a huge amount of support when you have cancer? It must be a very scary and lonely experience.’

  ‘It must be.’

  Tess noticed Daniel’s eyes glistening. She watched him turn and sniff as he rinsed the coffee pot. He spooned fresh coffee into the pot and then poured in boiling water. Tess felt uneasy and didn’t know what to say next. She wandered around the room, grimacing to herself for talking too much. It was nervous excitement at being with him. She ran her fingers along the gigantic smooth fridge and along the front rail of the Aga, before noticing a watercolour. It was a framed picture depicting a jug full of pink tinged daisies. It was simple but painted beautifully.

  ‘What a beautiful painting. I love daisies. Do you think the owner would sell it?’

  ‘Never. It’s very precious to him.’

  ‘Do you know him well, then?’

  Daniel placed the coffee pot, cups and a plate of chocolate biscuits on the table. ‘Sit down, Tess. I have some explaining to do.’

  Tess sat down with a frown of worry. He sounded serious and looked subdued in a pensive Byronic way, as if remembering a painful memory. He poured out two coffees.

  ‘This is my house. I’m exhibiting in my own house. Remember on the day of the flood?’ He smiled softly. ‘I told you my parents had died in an accident? This is the house I grew up in. It was left to Den and me, but Den was living in London, married with a young child and they didn’t want to move back to Nottingham. Den got the equivalent monies transferred from our parents’ estate and bought a bigger house in the capital.’

  Tess sat in stunned silence trying to comprehend what she’d just heard. ‘I don’t know what to say. I feel silly. It never occurred to me.’

  ‘In fairness, why should it? I’m just surprised that some gossiping neighbour hadn’t mentioned it.’

  Tess remembered how close she’d come to hearing where he lived from Mrs Campbell. He stood up and walked to the painting that she’d just been admiring.

  ‘My mother painted this. I remember the very day, like it was yesterday.’

  Tess was mortified. ‘Daniel, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe how rude I was asking if it was for sale. I’m so embarrassed.’ She stood up and walked the few steps towards him. She laid her hand on his arm and said again quietly, ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be.’ He smiled and patted her hand. ‘You don’t know how pleased I am that you love it. It means a lot. You have great taste.’

  She looked into his eyes and watched his smile fade.

  ‘There’s something else,’ he said.

  ‘What is it? Is it the phone call last night?’

  He nodded. ‘Den has cancer too.’ A tear fell on to his cheek and without thinking Tess lifted her hand and wiped it away. She stepped forwards and wrapped her arms around Daniel’s shoulders, huggin
g him tightly. At that moment, her thoughts were only to offer comfort to a new friend who had received terrible news.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. She felt his arms fold around her waist and hold her tightly in an embrace. She could feel herself falling in love with this man. A man who could cry with love and concern for his family, without feeling embarrassed.

  Inevitably, they pulled apart.

  ‘We’ll support each other through this. After all, that’s what friends are for,’ said Tess.

  ‘That would be good.’ He squeezed her hand then let it go. ‘Coffee?’

  ‘Please.’

  After coffee and biscuits, Daniel offered to show Tess around his home. They walked towards the back of the hall and under the sweeping staircase, heading for several large oak doors. Daniel opened one and led them down a long dining room that smelt of beeswax. Tess had never seen such a long dining table. It stretched nearly the length of the entire room and seemed to have twenty or more seats arranged around it. Four candelabras stood proudly on the table, spaced several feet apart. More oil paintings and watercolours decorated the walls, along with family photographs. She’d have liked to stop and look at his parents and Den, but she followed him through another door at the far end of the dining room. It led to yet another spacious room, smelling of fresh paint. An enormous white marble fireplace stood in the centre of the far wall and a delicate cornice of gilt oak leaves edged the top of the walls.

  Daniel’s voice echoed around the empty room. ‘I’ve cleared this room of furniture and painted all the walls with a fresh coat. This is where I’m going to hang my work.’ He swept his arms expansively in a curve.

  ‘It’s huge. Are your paintings big?’

  ‘Some are. Some are quite small. I’ll show you later. Come and look at the garden.’

  Tess walked to the bay window and stood looking out of the French doors. She imagined the bay to be the size of her whole kitchen. The garden looked like a corner of Kew Gardens and petered out into the distance. A large paved area led to an immaculate velvet lawn that extended as far as she could see. To the left was a circular lily pond, backed by banks of shrubs. Mature trees dotted the lawn and boxed hedging punctuated the lawn in different areas.