Holly leaned forwards. ‘What?’
‘I think he tried to kiss me while we were in his garden.’
‘What do you mean, you think?’
‘He sort of leaned towards me, slowly.’
‘What did you do?’
Tess grimaced. ‘I moved away.’
Holly’s mouth was agape in disbelief. ‘Daniel gorgeous Cavanagh was leaning in to kiss you and you pulled away?’
Tess stared straight at Holly. ‘Hello! I still have some principles. I’m not single yet. Besides, Daniel’s been disclosing some personal stuff to me, stuff I can’t go in to. I’ve been listening, a bit like a therapist. It’s quite an intimate process and it’s not uncommon for people to develop feelings for their therapist. I’m also helping him out with cooking, so although we’re now comfortable in each other’s company, I’m wondering if any feelings he has for me are because he feels supported and accepted when he’s confiding in me, especially if he’s not getting that from other people in his life. I want his feelings to be real. To be about me as a person and not as someone that just offers understanding and compassion.’
‘I’d have opted for just the passion, myself.’
Tess slapped Holly’s hand, amicably. ‘But what if he thinks I led him on by giving him so much of my time?’
‘Led him on!’ shouted Holly.
Tess tucked her chin against her chest. ‘Shhh!’
The conversation in the room hushed and Holly buried her head deeper in her coat.
‘Sorry, but that’s ridiculous. You’ve pushed the poor man away for weeks. Honestly, you and your masochistic Florence Nightingale loyalty. I told you months ago that you could dump Blake but still support him as a friend. But no! Tess has to climb the mountain barefoot instead of catching the cable car.’
‘It’s not like that. If you could read my thoughts you’d know I’m not a saint. Look, we could go round in circles forever. Time will sort things out. It always does. Let’s change the subject. How’s Doug?’
Holly grinned. ‘He’s lovely. We went to the cinema last Friday, although we spent most of the time kissing so I couldn’t tell you what the film was about.’
‘I’m glad it worked out for you both.’
A mobile phone beeped.
‘Is that yours, or mine?’ asked Holly.
‘It’s mine. I don’t believe it. It’s from Daniel.’
‘Talk of the devil.’ Holly grinned, rubbing her palms together with anticipation. ‘Read it, then.’
A smile curled Tess’s lips.
Hi, hope you’re okay. Goya and Gogh miss you and are wondering when you’re coming back. Daniel. X
‘There’s your proof,’ said Holly. ‘He says he misses you and put a kiss after his name.’
‘He says the dogs miss me.’
‘Argh!’ Holly pretended to pull her hair out. ‘I thought I was the ditzy one. He obviously means that he misses you, but he’s too shy to say so. It’s the oldest trick in the book to talk through a pet.’
‘Is it?’
‘You don’t get out much, do you?’
‘What shall I write back?’
‘I love you and want to have your babies.’
Tess playfully slapped her again. ‘Seriously, what shall I put?’
‘Play him at his own game. Speak to him through his dogs.’
‘Okay.’ Tess grinned and shuffled her bottom to make herself comfortable before texting. ‘Right, here goes.’
Hi. Tell Goya and Gogh that I’ll be home soon and that I miss them too. Tess. X
Tess pressed the button and sent her message.
An hour and several Christmas present purchases later, Tess and Holly walked back to the car, laden with bags.
‘I’ve had an idea. I’m calling in at the cathedral? Are you coming?’ Tess asked.
‘I’m exhausted. Give me those bags and I’ll wait in the car.’
‘Thanks. I won’t be long.’
In front of the cathedral was a small paved area, dotted with trees and benches. Tess weaved her way through the crowds and climbed the few steps up to the front entrance. The huge arched wooden door was open, welcoming everyone into its cavernous interior.
Tess tiptoed down a side aisle, trying not to disturb the shoppers who’d called in to pray. She joined a group of people who had stopped to view the nativity scene. Tess loved Christmas and its smells of pine and cinnamon. Even at the age of twenty-six, she’d never grown out of the excitement that comes with Christmas.
Retracing her steps, she entered the small shop situated close to the front entrance. Tess chose three packets of Christmas cards with Raphael’s angels on them and some gift tags. The shelves were full of prayer books, illustrated children’s bible stories, rosaries and St Christopher medals. There were little statues and crucifixes hanging on the wall alongside tapestries and framed religious pictures. But Tess couldn’t see what she was looking for. Then she noticed a cabinet full of wooden carvings. She crouched to study them. Nativity figures, the Virgin Mary, animals and angels had been intricately carved into beautiful gifts. Standing to look at a higher shelf, Tess gasped with delight. She spotted just what she’d hoped to find. It was a Noah’s ark, the size of an egg. Out of one window stretched two long giraffes’ necks and two tiny birds sat on the roof. She lifted it gently from the shelf and asked an assistant to wrap it for her.
‘I was just dozing,’ said Holly, when Tess reached her car.
‘Sorry, I couldn’t pass up the chance of one more shop.’
‘I’m not sure the cathedral is the place for Christmas shopping.’
‘I’ve found the perfect gift for Daniel’s birthday. A wooden ark.’
Holly looked perplexed. ‘Why?’
‘You know. The day I saved him in the pouring rain and he called me Noah. Don’t look at me like that, you had to be there.’
‘Obviously.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Back in Halston the following week, Tess was jolted from her sleep. A screech of brakes and loud crash dragged her from her dreams in a split second. She threw back her duvet, dived out of bed and pulled aside the curtains. Through the raindrops that were obscuring her view of the road, she could see enough to realise that a car was imbedded into the front wing of her beloved ancient Mini. Steam was rising from the engine of the other car and several neighbours had come out of their front doors to see what had happened. Tess grabbed her dressing gown and hurried downstairs.
‘Please don’t let it be too bad,’ she mumbled aloud, knowing that she had to get into town for Blake’s court case that afternoon. Blake had slept at his house in order to be closer to the Magistrates’ Court.
Running to the understairs cupboard, she tugged on her boots, grappled with the key in the lock and ran down the garden and into the rain. A middle-aged man was climbing out of his car looking a little shaken.
‘Are you okay? Do you need an ambulance?’ asked Tess.
‘Yes. I’m fine. I don’t need an ambulance.’
‘What happened?’ There was a huge dent in her car’s front wing and bonnet.
‘I was on my way to work when a pheasant flew into my windscreen. I instinctively swerved. I’m so sorry.’
‘Are you okay, Tess dear?’ called Mrs Campbell from across the road.
Tess waved and nodded. ‘Can you drive your car back a little so you’re not blocking the road? Then we can swap insurance details.’
After much crunching and grinding, with broken lights clattering onto the wet ground, the driver parked his car further down the road. One glance at her car’s twisted wheel and crumpled wing told Tess that her little runaround wouldn’t be running around anywhere today. She groaned with frustration. By now Tess was drenched from the rain and catching sight of her reflection in her car window, she thought she resembled a seal in her soaked pale grey dressing gown. She shivered.
‘Come in and I’ll put the kettle on.’
Back in the house, she filled the ke
ttle. ‘Please try to relax. Feel free to use the phone but I must get changed. I’m soaked.’
‘I’ll ring the AA. I’ll be out of your hair in no time.’
‘Don’t worry. Accidents happen.’
Tess ran upstairs, her mind racing. How on earth would she get into town? How would she get to work tomorrow? Who could she ring?
Over a pot of tea, Tess and the driver exchanged car and insurance information and both put on a believable display of relaxing. The man thanked Tess for her kindness and told her that the AA was on its way to collect his car and pick him up. After fifteen minutes he left to wait in his car.
Tess wondered if Holly could spare her old car for the day. Hopefully it was still road worthy. She picked up her phone.
‘Hi, Holly, it’s Tess.’
‘It’d better be an emergency. What time do you call this?’
‘Sorry, but it is a bit of an emergency.’
‘Why, what’s happened?’
‘Some guy’s driven into my car because he was distracted by a bird.’
‘The perv. Honestly, Tess, why do men see a bit of leg and turn Neanderthal? You can almost see their foreheads growing, their eyebrows getting bushier and arms swinging around their knees.’
‘No, silly. This bird had feathers. It was real. Listen, my car won’t go. Blake has his hearing at two and I need to get there. It’s still early and I wondered if you could drive over and lend me your car? I could then drop you off at work for nine.’
‘I can’t, Tess. I’m sorry, but it didn’t pass its MOT so it’s not taxed.’
‘Damn. Okay. It was worth a try.’
‘What about Blake? Why isn’t he there?’
‘He stayed at his last night because he lives five minutes from where his case is being heard. Besides, he’s got enough on his mind today.’
‘Phone Daniel.’
‘No!’
‘Why not? You’re friends and friends help each other out.’
‘It doesn’t seem right. He’d be helping me to support Blake. I might just book a taxi even though it’ll cost a fortune into town.’
‘Tess, phone Daniel. You’re walking up that mountain bare foot again. Catch the bloody cable car. You’ll need some support too.’
‘Okay. Okay.’
‘Let me know how it goes?’
‘Of course. I’ll ring you later.’
Tess chewed a fingernail and thought of Daniel. Would it be too cheeky to ask him for a lift? She dialled his number anyway.
‘Hello, Daniel Cavanagh.’
‘Hi, it’s Tess.’
‘Hello. This is a nice surprise.’
Tess was horrified when her voice croaked and tears sprang to her eyes. Just the sound of his voice made her self-imposed emotional barriers fall. She inhaled several times and blinked her eyes rapidly to clear her blurred eyes.
‘Are you crying? What’s happened, sweetheart?’
He’d called her sweetheart. Instead of strengthening her resolve, his gentle enquiry made tears spill down her cheeks.
‘I’m being silly. I’m sorry. I feel so stupid.’
‘You’re not being silly. Are you going to tell me what’s the matter or do I have to come over there right now.’
Tess wiped her eyes and gave a chuckle at his pretence of impatience. ‘I didn’t know who to call. I tried Holly but her car’s failed its MOT, so I can’t borrow it. A man crashed into my car this morning and it’s a mess.’
‘Are you all right? Where were you?’
‘In bed.’
‘What?’
‘I was in bed when the man crashed into my car, outside the house. Blake is in court at two and my car’s un-roadworthy, Holly can’t help and I—’
‘Of course I’ll take you. I’ll pick you up at one, just in case the traffic’s bad.’
‘Really? Thank you so much.’
‘You’re welcome, Noah. It’s my turn to rescue you.’
At five to one, Tess was sitting on the edge of the settee looking out of the front lounge window, waiting for Daniel. The rain was now a depressing drizzle, dimpling puddles and mirroring how she felt. Her view through the window looked like an old black and white photograph. The street scene was washed in muted grey colours with just one brave fuchsia rose, lolling by the garden gate.
The sound of a diesel engine shook her out of her gloom. Daniel’s Land Rover pulled up behind her dented car. Tess stood up, grabbed her handbag and walked out of the front door, locking it behind her.
Daniel was already standing beside her car, bent double and inspecting the damage. He ran his hand over the compressed metal work and tutted.
‘Nasty.’ He looked up at Tess. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I feel better now, thanks.’
‘I’m glad you rang me. Jump in or pneumonia will be added to your list of problems.’
Soon they were driving into the city centre, joining the queues of traffic. Tess was leaning against the heated leather, trying to relax. Their casual conversation had become a comfortable silence.
Daniel spoke. ‘Are you going to your parents’ house for Christmas?’
Tess looked across at him. He’d thrown his jacket onto the back seat and had pushed his sleeves up to his elbows. She watched the muscles in his forearms flex as his hands gripped the steering wheel and changed gear.
‘I haven’t really given Christmas much thought. I’ve bought some presents, but I haven’t made any plans. What about you?’
‘I usually visit Den and the family. I love to watch my nephews leave a glass of milk and a mince pie for Santa on Christmas Eve. Den puts newspaper around the hearth and when the boys are in bed, I put muddy footprints on the paper and eat the mince pie.’
Daniel turned his eyes from the road for a second and grinned at her. ‘On Christmas morning the boys first thought is to look for Santa’s footprints. Then I watch them unwrap presents and build Lego houses or stickle bricks monsters. I can’t wait until they’re old enough to make model cars and aeroplanes. And, of course, I raid their chocolate selection boxes.’
Blake usually moaned about Christmas being too expensive and said that it wasn’t worth the weeks of build up. He said that lounging on the sofa having eaten a huge roast dinner felt just like every other Sunday. Tess sighed. She was pleased that Daniel seemed excited about Christmas. ‘I’m sure they love having their uncle there.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Sorry?’
‘You just gave a huge sigh.’
‘Did I? I was miles away.’
‘Where were you?’
‘Nowhere in particular. Just getting maudlin. Ignore me.’
The Land Rover slowed to a standstill at a set of red traffic lights. Daniel looked across at her and laid his hand on top of hers.
‘That’s one thing I’d find very difficult to do. I’m your friend and I’m here for you. If I can help with anything, you only have to ask me. What’s your biggest worry?’
‘Honestly, it’s nothing really. I just feel a bit like I’m in limbo. It’s difficult to make any plans at the moment.’
The lights changed and Daniel replaced his hand on the steering wheel. The warmth left by his hand gradually faded, but the electricity of his touch still tingled on Tess’s skin. She looked down at her hands and absent-mindedly wound scarf tassels around her fingers.
Daniel shifted the gear stick into fourth. ‘Please tell me if I’m speaking out of turn, but there comes a time when you have to stop making excuses for Blake and put yourself first. He’s an adult. He has to take responsibility for his own mistakes and his own health. He chose to drink and drive. He chooses to continue to smoke. Your life shouldn’t consist of living with the reverberations of someone else’s choices.’ After a pause he added, ‘Do you love him?’
‘Like a brother. I’m not in love with him.’
‘You’re not?’
‘I’ve told you that I tried to finish with him a few months back. It was just bad timin
g. I found out that he was sick. It would have been heartless to leave him then. What if it had made him worse? They say that a positive outlook helps to heal the body, don’t they?’
‘They do, but you have to think of yourself as well. Life is too short to spend it with someone you’re not in love with. What if he’s ill for years?’
‘I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that. I just imagined that he’d recover over the autumn and I’d re-evaluate how our relationship had changed during that time.’
‘Has it changed?’
Tess pulled at a tassel so hard that it snapped. She rolled it into a ball. ‘Not really. We’re friends and I care about him, but let’s see how today goes and then I’ll have a proper chat with him about things. I need to know how he’s doing. I just need to know that he’s going to be all right.’
‘Of course you do.’
Daniel reversed into a parking space, adeptly negotiating the distances between the vehicles. He switched the engine off and waited until it shuddered into silence. He turned sideways to face her. ‘It’ll be okay, Tess. He has a good solicitor working for him and it’s his first offence. You said you wrote a letter for him, didn’t you? They’ll all know he’s suffering from stress while he’s recovering from cancer.’
‘You’re right. Thank you for the lift.’
‘Come on then. Let’s go in.’
‘Are you coming in?’ she asked, wide-eyed.
‘Only if you want me to. I’m happy to support you but if you’d rather go alone?’
‘No, I’d like you to come in with me.’
The rain had stopped but the air was damp and cold. Blustery gusts made them run across the road, heads down and hands gripping their coats tightly across their chests. Daniel thrust his hands in the pockets of his chocolate-brown wool coat, inviting Tess to slip her arm into the gap he made. She did so, seeking warmth and reassurance in this welcome habit he’d developed with her. They walked arm in arm along the pavement, passing offices and a few small stores.
They turned a corner and saw the austere building of the Magistrates’ Court. The building looked grimy and insipid, the colour of burnt out embers long after the fire had been extinguished. After climbing the steps to the front entrance, Daniel followed Tess through the swing doors. The lobby smelt of old books and polish and the tiled floor made their footsteps echo around the huge internal space. It was decorated with ornate wooden carvings and two sets of stairs led off at the far end. They stood reading the signs on the wall.
You've Got My Number: Warm your heart this winter with this uplifting and deliciously romantic story! Page 21