The Secret to Falling in Love

by Victoria Cooke

  After about twenty-five minutes we arrived at a little pub just past the small village of Strontian. Its white-rendered front contrasted charmingly with the black-painted wooden window frames. Small trees in pots stood at either side of the front door. ‘This looks lovely,’ I said.

  ‘The choices were somewhat limited, but it looks okay,’ he replied, holding the door open for me. I walked inside. The interior was very traditional, a far cry from the sleek bars of Manchester, but it was welcome; the trip was meant to be a break, after all. Joseph’s face remained blank. I could tell he didn’t share my sentiment. ‘Goodness, it’s a bit dated.’

  I was a little surprised at his reaction, but I tried to put him at ease.

  ‘It’s a lovely quintessential British pub.’

  We took a seat and looked at the menus. A young waitress came over to take our orders – fish and chips for me, salmon for Joseph.

  ‘Anything to drink?’ she asked in her strong Highland accent.

  ‘A large Chardonnay for me, please,’ I replied, too quickly. I didn’t need psychic powers to know I might need it.

  Joseph straightened his back to peer over to the bar. There was a slightly awkward pause before he spoke. ‘I’ll have the same, better have a small though’ he said, clearly defeated by a more limited choice than he was used to in the uber-trendy champagne bars of Manchester. His discomfort was becoming clearer by the second.

  I wasn’t sure if he’d wanted to do something fancy again and there wasn’t an opportunity, or if he regretted coming to see me. Perhaps he hated being here, away from all the options of the city, which was sad since it was beginning to grow on me. He was tense, like he couldn’t wait to leave.

  Scott, on the other hand, was at ease here, like a duck in water. I closed my eyes and shook my head to rid myself of thoughts of Scott. ‘Are you all right?’ Joseph asked. I hadn’t even realised he was watching me.

  ‘I’m fine. Just ridding myself of work thoughts, so I can relax,’ I fibbed. ‘So tell me about you. I feel like our first date may not have been particularly enlightening.’

  ‘Well, the limo we’ve covered. The apartment is mine too, and Martha really is my housekeeper. She’s more than that, really; she was my childhood nanny. She’s like a mother to me. She’s a star, and I couldn’t live without her. You already know I run an acquisitions business, and I do have a house in Cheshire where I tend to stay at the weekends. It has a lovely countryside feel yet I have all the amenities I need.’

  He waved his hand as if to say that this part of the world did not. ‘I’ve never been married, nor have I got any children.’ He stopped as his phone started to ring. ‘Excuse me,’ he said standing up to take the call. I overheard a brief conversation that sounded work-related, followed by: ‘Hello, hello? Andrew, are you there?’ He sat back down with a sigh. ‘The signal out here is dreadful,’ he huffed, placing his phone down on the table.

  ‘That’s why Dee sent me here.’ I smiled softly, trying to lighten the mood.

  ‘I know. Remind me to have a word with her when I get back – she told me you’d flown into Glasgow, but I had no idea how far you’d driven after that! I suppose I should have checked before setting off. I think it’s cruel to have sent you out here with no communication. It’s like going back to the Dark Ages! It isn’t even safe in this day and age.’ His face had started to redden.

  ‘I’ve quite enjoyed my time here, actually. The scenery is amazing, the air is so clean and it’s nice to have tranquillity every now and then. I love Manchester and what it has to offer, but a break from the chaos is welcome.’

  ‘Well—’ His phone rang again before he could continue. ‘Sorry, I’ll be just a sec.’ He stood again and walked over to the opposite corner of the room. I watched him shifting his weight from one foot to the other, rubbing his temples in frustration at whatever the caller had to say. I felt glad that I had this opportunity to get away from all of the pressures of work.

  Not wanting him to catch me staring, I turned my eyes to the window. The loch glistened under the white glow of the moon. If I didn’t know better, I could have just walked off into the water and allowed myself to float, letting the water lap away, eroding my troubles. Of course, I did know better. Those waters could kill in an instant. It was so deceptive, but a lot of beautiful things are.

  When Joseph sat back down, his eyebrows were furrowed and his lips were set in a hard line. I contemplated asking him if everything was okay, but he looked as though he’d bite my head off. ‘Is a decent mobile signal too much to ask for in 2017? Really? Not only are my employees a bunch of useless, initiative-lacking imbeciles, I’m also unable to sort out their mess!’ he blustered before fixing his eyes on the window. I wondered if he saw what I’d seen just a few moments earlier, if he’d find the beauty therapeutic. ‘There is just no point in this,’ he said bitterly, waving his arm at the window.

  I guess not.

  ‘Maybe you need to relax a little,’ I dared to say.

  ‘Relax? You have no idea!’ He shook his head. I was seeing a completely different side to the calm, attentive gentleman I dated a few weeks ago. Still, we all had our bad days, so I reasoned that I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

  ‘I get that it’s not the place to be if you need to be in touch with work. I don’t mind if you need to head back down to Manchester to sort things out. We can pick this up another time.’ I started to feel guilty, like it was my fault his business was suffering. I knew it was silly, it wasn’t like I’d asked him to come.

  His face softened. ‘No, Melissa, I’m sorry. It’s nothing that can’t wait a day or two. I just feel a little helpless and get frustrated when I’m unable to wade in. When it comes to work I can be a bit of a control freak. Shall we change the subject?’ He mustered a smile.

  ‘That sounds like a plan.’ I raised my glass and he clinked his gently against mine. ‘Have you got any hobbies?’ I immediately realised I’d already asked this on our date, but I was struggling for topics. I wondered if he’d give a different answer than last time.

  ‘Hobbies? Not really. I work a lot, and most of my spare time is taken up with entertaining clients. I get to the gym when I can, and I like nice cars, but that’s about it. How about you?’

  ‘I’ve recently started taking skiing lessons,’ I blurted, probably a little too enthusiastically.

  ‘Skiing lessons?’ he said, with a subtle hint of surprise in his tone that I couldn’t quite interpret.

  ‘Er, yes. I’m very new though, so I’ve a long way to go. Do you ski?’ I asked, glad to have regained his interest.

  ‘My parents took me skiing in the French Alps every year when I was a child, but I haven’t been since. It’s not really my thing. I’m more of a beach lover, sun sea and sand, that sort of thing. When I switch off, I switch off completely.’ But you’ve not switched off tonight, I couldn’t help but think.

  The evening continued with more of the same polite chatter that revealed very few common interests. Joseph was handsome, but, strangely, the real Joseph seemed to lack the charisma that Dee’s version had. I was struggling to ignore his twitchiness brought on by leaving the city. After our meal, I suggested a walk outside in an attempt to get him to appreciate how spectacular it was. The night was soot black. I took Joseph’s arm and led him across the road to the water’s edge. ‘Listen,’ I whispered.

  ‘To what?’ he replied, lips set firm and horizontal.

  ‘The water, the breeze. Listen to how peaceful it is.’ I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth, allowing the cool air to gently caress my face. I’d expected Joseph to be as caught up in the moment as I was and take my hand or kiss me or something, but instead I was disturbed by the metallic sound of jangling keys. When I opened my eyes, I could just make out his figure in the darkness, standing with his arms folded.

  ‘It’s getting late. I think we should start to head back,’ he said. />
  The drive back to my cottage was possibly even quieter than the drive to the restaurant. ‘Shall I put on some music?’ I asked to break the silence.

  ‘Go ahead.’

  I turned on the stereo, and an intense piece of classical music blasted out, just as it was reaching the peak of its crescendo. Trumpets blared over frantic violins, and cymbals clashed over quick-pounding drums. My muscles tightened as the volume increased. ‘Wow, do you have anything else? Something a little easier to listen to, perhaps? This is making me feel a bit stressed.’

  ‘Sorry, I listen to it on the way to work. It’s Mussorgsky. It gets me in the right frame of mind for the day ahead.’ He fumbled with a few buttons on his steering wheel, and the Eagles’ ‘Peaceful, Easy Feeling’ came on. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was sarcasm on Joseph’s part.

  When we pulled up outside the house, I turned to say thanks and goodbye, but before I could, he started to speak. ‘Melissa, I’m sorry I’ve not been great company this evening. I’ve just got a lot on my mind with work and wasn’t in the best frame of mind. I really did come up here intending to apologise and hopefully spend some time getting to know you but I don’t think I’ve done terribly well.’

  I softened to him again, despite my head wanting to bang itself against a wall. We all have bad weeks, I reminded myself. ‘Look, why not come in for a coffee? We could try again, again.’ He smiled warmly, and for the first time during the whole evening, I felt like he meant it.

  ***

  I handed Joseph his coffee and sat down next to him on the sofa. I decided to be brave and scrap the small talk that I’d fallen back on earlier. Shuffling around to face him, I took a deep breath. ‘So what is this we’re doing? Forgive me for being so direct, but I’m not sure – are we dating? Are we friends? Are we seeing if we should be dating?’ He didn’t look too surprised at the questions; he must have been thinking the same.

  ‘Melissa, I’ve been single for most of my life, and I don’t want to be any more. I’ve built up the wealth to do unimaginable things, to go to amazing places, but I want to share it with someone. It’s lonely doing everything on your own. Don’t get me wrong, I can meet women, but most are shallow, vain and simply want a wealthy man on their arm. You, you’re different. You just see me for who I am.’

  I’d be flattered if I wasn’t so confused. ‘On our first date you picked me up in a limo, plied me with champagne and whisked me off to your penthouse for your housekeeper to serve me dinner. If you don’t want women to like you for your money, maybe you should take the theatrics down a notch.’ He saw I was teasing him and smiled.

  ‘I know. That was a one-off. I’m planning on a park bench and chip-shop supper next time.’

  ‘When are you heading back to Manchester?’

  ‘Tomorrow. I’m afraid I can’t be away from the office for too long at the moment.’

  ‘Oh, okay.’ I felt slightly disappointed that we wouldn’t get the chance to do something fun together tomorrow, just as I felt like we’d started to click again. It might have been nice to take a boat ride or drive out to a beach to see him more at ease. I’d just have to do that alone. Feeling more comfortable, I decided to try and get to the bottom of our ‘thing’. ‘Anyway, you didn’t tell me what you think the two of us are doing.’

  ‘I haven’t figured that out yet. I enjoy spending time with you, and I’m happy to see how things go. Is that okay for now?

  ‘That sounds good to me.’ I smiled, glad of the lack of pressure.

  ‘Oh, bugger,’ he blurted out suddenly.

  ‘What is it?’ I asked, concerned he was about to start another rant about isolation.

  ‘I hadn’t realised the time. The ferry stops running at nine o’clock, and it’s way past that. I hadn’t given it a second thought. I’m not used to needing to.’

  ‘Me neither. Is there no other way to drive around?’

  ‘Yes, but it will probably take me about two hours. I can’t believe my stupidity. I assumed I’d make the last ferry. Once again I’d underestimated the drive.’

  ‘Look, two hours is a long time to be driving at this time of night. Why don’t you stay here? You can call in at your hotel on your way back home tomorrow to collect your things.’

  ‘I couldn’t possibly . . .’

  ‘You can and you will. I’ll get some blankets and a pillow to make up the sofa.’

  ***

  The next morning I was awoken by the sound of a teaspoon clunking against a cup. It felt strange being woken up by the pottering around of another person after living alone for so long. I looked at my watch; it was only six-thirty. I stretched out and let out a groan, realising that I ought to go down and have a coffee with Joseph before he left. He’d come a long way to visit me, after all.

  I wrapped my dressing gown around me and headed downstairs. ‘Morning,’ said a smiling Joseph.

  ‘Good morning. You’re very cheery today.’

  ‘I’m a morning person. Here you go; I made coffee.’ He handed me the hot, steaming mug. ‘Actually, a car came by about ten minutes ago, and I thought I heard someone come up to the house and then leave. That’s what woke me up. Maybe you have a letter or something?’

  ‘I didn’t see anything when I came down. I’ll go and check.’ I looked at the mat and the letterbox, but there was nothing there. I opened the front door to investigate further. On the doorstep was a white cardboard box with ‘Mel’ scrawled on top. Confused, I carried it inside.

  ‘Did you find anything?’ Joseph asked.

  ‘It was just a parcel.’

  ‘Strange they would just leave it on the doorstep like that. It wouldn’t last too long in Manchester.’ He scoffed. ‘I suppose there aren’t too many opportunist thieves out here.’

  ‘No, I suppose not.’ I was intrigued to find out what the parcel contained. There was no postage label on it, so whoever left it there must have hand-delivered it. I wondered if it was from Joseph – he was the only one who had supposedly heard the car. I didn’t want to open it in front of him; I was always cautious about opening gifts in front of people in case I didn’t give the reaction they hoped for. He didn’t press me to, so I set it down in the kitchen to examine later.

  ‘I’m afraid I have to go,’ he announced, placing his empty coffee cup down on the counter.

  ‘I know. That’s okay.’ To be honest, I was relieved that he was leaving. The awkwardness that we’d worked at last night was creeping back. And besides that, I wanted to open my parcel.

  ‘I won’t call you, because I can’t, obviously, but I will be in touch soon.’ He walked into the lounge to put on his shoes. As he did, I noticed his phone flash on the counter. I didn’t intend to look, but the bright display was too hard to ignore, and without thinking, my eyes had drawn themselves towards it.

  Anything?

  D x

  Heat flushed through my body, and my heart rate picked up. Could they really have pulled this stunt twice? Did I really fall for their game again? I clasped my hands together to stop the trembling just as he came back in. He walked over, oblivious to what I’d seen, and picked up his phone, the screen was black by then, concealing Dee’s message. He approached me. I couldn’t even speak. I stood rooted to the spot as he placed a kiss on my forehead. ‘Take care, Melissa.’ He left without even waiting for a response.

  When the door slammed my whole body sagged. I was an idiot. An idiot for being played for a fool twice and an idiot for watching him walk out and not even attempting to confront him. I cast my eyes around the kitchen for something to throw in frustration and my eyes fell on my mystery parcel.

  This would be interesting. What kind of bullshit fairy-tale gift would make great article fodder? Maybe a diamond necklace I could bash him with. I stomped over and tore off the lid, but I was instantly taken aback. For a split second, all emotion drained from my body. Inside sat a perfect millefeuille. After a moment of confusion, a smile spread across my fa
ce. It wasn’t from Joseph at all; it was from someone who knew me much better. There was a folded piece of paper beside the dessert. I opened it and read the short note:

  The trick is to turn it on its side.

  Scott

  X

  PS: Sorry for just dumping this on your doorstep. I saw you had company.

  My heart melted. Scott remembered! I clutched the note to my chest. I couldn’t believe he’d gone to the trouble of delivering my favourite dessert to me, and so early in the morning – he must have wanted to catch me before skiing. He really was a lovely guy.

  My warm, fuzzy elation was short-lived. I saw you had company. My heart plummeted to the bottom of my stomach. He saw Joseph, this morning, in my house. He would have known it was him by the car outside – when I first saw the Mercedes and thought it was Dee’s, I had somehow failed to notice that his number plate practically said ‘Joseph’. I still stood by yesterday’s reasoning that Scott was out of bounds, but for some reason, I didn’t want him to think that Joseph and I were together. I hoped I’d get a chance to explain.

  I couldn’t relax, thinking about how Scott had seen Joseph, and I was still impossibly angry with Joseph. I couldn’t spend the rest of the week feeling like this. The only slight reprieve I could offer myself was to go and catch Joseph before the ferry came and have it out with him. At least then I’d be able to cross ‘regret not sticking up for myself’ off my to-do list for the rest of the week.

  I quickly threw on some clothes and headed outside. I briskly walked to the water’s edge and followed the pavement around towards the ferry dock. The wind was blowing a gale, and my hair whipped up in a frenzy, a perfect representation of my inner emotions. I pulled the zip of my coat up as high as it would go and tucked my chin inside.

  The sky was white, no break in the thick layer of cloud. Waves, pushed by the wind, raged across the murky loch, the ferry battling against them. Everything was sprinkled with a light, misty rain. As I got nearer I spotted Joseph’s brassy car, but more outlandish than that was the fact that, on a day like this, he wasn’t in it. He was standing outside talking to someone. Another man.