One Small Act of Kindness

by Lucy Dillon

  She looked at him and saw a new Jason. Not the man on the train, but a weathered man, with a few laughter lines and a different set to his jaw. Libby could imagine growing old with him, like Margaret and Donald had, curving round each other’s strengths and weaknesses like the apple trees in the garden, growing towards the sun, resisting the rain, and her chest ached with how much she loved him.

  ‘Jason?’

  ‘What?’

  She put her hand gently on his chin and turned his face up towards her. ‘You know why I’ve put up with you? Because you’re that man on the train who spilled his coffee and ruined my scarf. A decent man. Who can also cook pasta and deal with blockages,’ she added, for clarity. ‘The rest . . . the rest just comes from that.’

  Jason touched her face with a reverential fingertip, running it over the slope of her nose, the curve of her cheek. It came to rest on her lower lip.

  ‘I have a confession to make,’ he said solemnly.

  Libby’s heart, which had been beating faster on account of his familiar smell, and the soft hollow of his throat, so close to her now, gave a low thud.

  ‘Another confession?’

  Jason nodded and sighed. ‘I spilled my coffee on purpose.’ He stroked her soft lip with his thumb. ‘I had to get your attention somehow. My chat-up lines were appalling. But the rest . . . fair enough.’

  Libby leaned forward, keeping her eyes fixed on his as their mouths came closer, closer, close enough to feel his warm breath on her skin. And then she closed her eyes, and her head filled up with jasmine and honeysuckle and shaded sunlight, the taste of Jason’s mouth and the scent of his skin, and a single thought: I’ve come home, and I never knew I’d been away.

  To Libby,

  Thank you for rescuing a stranger on your doorstep

  and for making her your friend.

  Love,

  Alice x

  To Alice,

  Thank you for bringing your heart into our home.

  Sometimes it takes a stranger to tell us who we really are.

  Love,

  Libby x

  Acknowledgements

  I’m lucky to be surrounded by some truly kind people, and this seems a good time to thank some of them for their big and small acts of kindness to me during the writing of this book – all of which made my world a better place!

  Here’s what my own Tree of Kindness would have on its branches . . .

  Francesca Best, my amazing editor, for being patient and encouraging, arranging all our meetings at my favourite café, Honey & Co, then sharing puddings.

  The team at Hodder, particularly Naomi and Véro, for the creative support, inspired marketing, beautiful covers, and infectious enthusiasm.

  Lizzy Kremer, for letting me believe I thought of her genius suggestions by myself, and for being the kindest, wisest advisor on everything, ever.

  Harriet Moore, for her inspiring, eloquent and thoughtful first read, and an editorial letter I re-read frequently to cheer myself up.

  Chris Manby, soignée queen of the wine list, for making me laugh daily, in various ways.

  Hulya Mustafa, for the cards-at-the-right-moment, and generally just being fantastic.

  Dillon Bryden, for sorting out my computer crisis, fixing my car, and finding the kindest light for author photos.

  Didrikson, for making a dog-walking coat with a hood that never falls down, and plenty of pockets.

  James and Jan Wood, for being the sort of friendly, caring neighbours you only expect to find in Longhampton.

  Sandra Allen, for the last-minute basset sitting and the best free-range eggs ever.

  Christopher Columbus, for introducing chocolate to Europe.

  My writer friends, for their sound advice and support, and for their generous honesty.

  And as always, my mum and dad, for being at the end of a phone, and dealing with mousetraps, respectively.

  Most of all, thank you to all the readers who are kind enough to take the time to write reviews, tweet me, or leave messages – it only takes a few words to brighten a writer’s whole day, and it really does mean the world. Thank you very, very much!

  Tell us about the acts of kindness

  you’ve observed or been involved in,

  and you could win a spa day

  for you and a friend.*

  Submit your story at

  onesmallactofkindness.co.uk

  *Competition closes 31st May 2015,

  but feel free to share your acts of kindness after that date too!

  Terms and conditions at onesmallactofkindness.co.uk

  Here are some real-life acts of kindness you’ve already shared:

  Mum and I noticed an old lady looking at the flowers outside a florist’s – nothing fancy, just daffs and tulips. The lady would get her purse out, look inside, then at the flowers again as though she couldn’t make up her mind or was trying to work out what she could afford.

  Mum said she’d just be a second, went inside the shop and as I watched she came out with a bunch of spring flowers, said something to the lady and poked them out the top of her shopping bag.

  The lady looked like she’d been given a million pounds. I remember her holding my mum’s hand and beaming.

  I’ll never forget that. Never forget that lady’s face or my mum’s generosity, as we didn’t have a lot ourselves.

  Lesley

  Once when my daughter was a newborn, and I still lived in London, I thought I’d take her out in her buggy on the bus. Except I didn’t know how to fold the buggy and hold a baby, and the longer the angry busload of people waited for me to struggle with it, the more flustered and confused I got. I will never forget the kind older gentleman who got off the bus, folded the buggy, help me get on, gave me his seat and a clean hanky to blow my nose on.

  Rowan

  During a recent hospital stay, a nurse noticed my Kindle on my bedside tray and asked me what I was reading. At the time I was very poorly and wasn’t reading anything but once the medication had started to work, I was moved to another ward where the same nurse was working the night shift. I told her I’d been able to read a little that day, and she asked me about it and even recommended me a book. Personal touches such as these can make an unexpected hospital stay much more bearable. I would love to see her again and thank her a) for the recommendation and b) for her kindness.

  Vicky

  When I was applying for a place at university, the teachers at my state grammar school – The High School For Girls in Gloucester – gave up their lunchtimes to give me extra tuition to get me through the Oxford entrance exam. It’s only as an adult that I realise what a generous gesture that was. I wish I’d thanked them much more profusely for that big act of kindness which made such a huge impact on my life.

  Chris

  Backpacking by myself after uni, I got lost in the middle of Singapore one morning, hunting for the bus station. A man in his late twenties pulled up in a big 4x4 beside me, asking if I was ok. Nervously, I ignored him and carried on walking, but he was persistent and friendly, kept driving beside me saying he would take me to the bus station – and eventually I was won over and (I know, I know) got into his car. As we were driving he said he would take me all the way over the border into Malaysia (a couple of hours’ drive) to the next leg of my journey. I refused – both out of politeness and wariness – but he was insistent that he was going that way anyway.

  We chatted all the way into Malaysia. I found out his name was Zack, he told me about himself and his family and – despite my protests – bought me lunch, my bus ticket and saw me safely onto the right bus, standing there waving me off like an old friend.

  It sounds ludicrous to other people that I would do something so silly, alone, in the middle of an unknown city but I now look back on the risk I took and am so grateful for Zack’s pure kindnes
s and goodness. It reminds me not to ignore my gut instinct, and also not to judge people. I later heard from other travellers what a nightmare their convoluted bus journeys from Singapore into Malaysia had been, and felt even luckier.

  What breaks my heart slightly is that Zack gave me his number, asking me to call to let him know I got to Kuala Lumpur safely, but I lost the bit of paper and was never able to call to say thank you and let him know how much his kindness and help had meant to me.

  Katy

  My dad died, five years ago. It was very sudden and I was in Italy for work; I returned to the UK hours before it happened. I was due to be in work for a day and then off for two weeks’ holiday. The holiday turned into arrangements for the funeral and looking after my mum. I had to just get on a train and head north to Lancashire to sort everything out for her.

  Two very lovely things happened. My boyfriend (now my husband), drove the length of the country at five in the morning, so instead of arriving ‘at some point’ during the days following, he was there as soon as I got up. He supported me and my mum for two weeks when we were falling apart.

  The second lovely thing was on my return to work. People fended off ‘did you have a lovely time’ questions about holidays and protected me from having to explain over and over again. But someone I worked with said nothing, just gave me some yellow roses which I took for remembrance, and which I kept on my desk and dried when they were finished. I still have the petals. It was a small, cheering, thoughtful gesture, which I think of every time I look at them.

  Mandi

  I was a bridesmaid to an old friend many years ago. I had no family of my own and didn’t drive so went on to the reception in one of the wedding cars. The reception was about an hour from home and I assumed I would get a bus or train back later.

  At the end of the night I realised I didn’t have enough money on me and it was very late. The groom’s mother, whom I had only met that very day, kindly paid for a taxi to take me all the way home. I thought that was amazingly kind of someone I barely knew. She wouldn’t even let me pay her back later.

  Gill

  Jane, a local ceramicist, has given her time and smiles to me as

  I have asked all sorts of questions over the last few years, and I have just returned from another session with her. I’d like to thank her for her encouragement and advice as I embark on a new life / direction.

  Fiona

  Last week I took my coat to be dry-cleaned. It was chucking it down outside and obviously my main coat was taken! (I was wearing a rubbish non-waterproof one.) The guy serving me in the shop – a young man of around twenty-five – lent me his umbrella and said to hold on to it till it stopped raining. I thought that was so sweet.

  Katy

  When my parents bought their house, they inherited the lodger, a wonderful retired lady who became a sort of godmother to me and my sister. She hadn’t had children but she loved us like her own. Over the years, my parents have returned that love by taking care of her, visiting her in her residential home and generally making sure she knows how much she means to us all – their quiet kindnesses have been a real example to me.

  Victoria

  Pets As Therapy: a note from Lucy Dillon

  Could your dog (or cat! Or donkey!) bring some Lord Bob-style sunshine into new people’s lives? There are currently 4,500 registered Pets As Therapy dogs, and 108 PAT cats, delivering their own kind of waggy-tailed medicine via half a million visits a year. If your dog is calm and sociable, fully grown, and can rock a fluorescent vest, why not consider volunteering with him/her?

  Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983.

  We enhance health and wellbeing in the community through the visits of trusted volunteers with their behaviourally assessed animals. We provide a visiting service in hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, special needs schools and a variety of other venues all across the UK.

  Our therapeutic visits:

  •Enhance lives in our communities by providing companionship and friendship and helps to tackle loneliness.

  •Improve the lives of people suffering from debilitating mental and physical health conditions and illnesses such as strokes by including animal assisted interventions as part of a holistic approach to treatment.

  •Improve literacy in children by developing their confidence, interest and enjoyment in reading.

  You can find further details about registering as a PAT volunteer, and having your dog assessed at their website, www.petsastherapy.org, or by calling 01844 345 445. You can follow the PAT team on Twitter at @PetsAsTherapyUK. Be prepared to have a happy cry at some of the beautiful stories, and photographs!

  Has Lord Bob stolen your heart?

  For more from

  One Small Act of Kindness’s canine hero,

  follow him on Twitter at

  @LordBobOfficial

  And if you have a special pooch

  that deserves recognition, head over to

  lucydillon.co.uk.

  You can enter your dog into Lucy’s Dog of the Month,

  and you could even get his or her name

  in the next Lucy Dillon book*!

  *For a limited time only.

  Lucy Dillon

  A Hundred Pieces of Me

  Winner of the RNA Contemporary

  Romantic Novel Award

  Letters from the only man she’s ever truly loved.

  A keepsake of the father she never really knew.

  A blue glass vase that catches the light on a grey day.

  Gina Bellamy is starting again, after a few years she’d rather forget. But the belongings she’s treasured for so long don’t seem to fit who she is now.

  So Gina makes a resolution. She’ll keep just a hundred special items – the rest can go.

  But that means coming to terms with her past and learning

  to embrace the future, whatever it might bring.

  ‘Bittersweet, lovely and ultimately redemptive; the kind of book that makes you want to live your own life better.’

  Jojo Moyes

  Lucy Dillon

  The Secret of Happy Ever After

  When Anna takes over Longhampton’s bookshop, it’s her dream come true. And not just because it gets her away from her rowdy stepchildren and their hyperactive Dalmatian.

  As she unpacks boxes of childhood classics, Anna can’t shake the feeling that maybe her own fairytale ending isn’t all that she’d hoped for. But as the stories of love, adventure, secret gardens and giant peaches breathe new life into the neglected shop, Anna and her customers get swept up in the magic too.

  Even Anna’s best friend Michelle – who categorically doesn’t believe in true love and handsome princes – isn’t immune.

  But when secrets from Michelle’s own childhood come back to haunt her, and disaster threatens Anna’s home, will the wisdom and charm of the stories in the bookshop help the two friends – and those they love – find their own happy ever after?

  ‘Lucy Dillon’s voice is gentle and kind throughout . . . perceptive and well handled. A heart-warming piece of escapism for long winter nights.’ Red

  Lucy Dillon

  Walking Back to Happiness

  Juliet’s been in hiding. From her family, from her life, but most of all from the fact that Ben’s not around anymore.

  Her mother Diane has run out of advice. But then she insists Juliet look after her elderly Labrador and it becomes apparent that Coco the dog might actually be the one who can rescue her daughter.

  Especially when it leads to her walking dogs for a few other locals too, including a spaniel, Damson, who belongs to a very attractive man . . .

  Before she knows it, Juliet realises she has somehow become the town’s unofficial pet-sitter. A job which makes her privy to the lives and secrets of everyone whose animals she’s caring for. />
  But as her first winter alone approaches, she finally begins to wonder if it’s time to face up to her own secrets? To start rebuilding her own life? And maybe – just maybe – to fall in love again?

  ‘Witty, heart-warming and a very real tale

  of loss and redemption’ Stylist

  Lucy Dillon

  Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts

  Winner of the

  Romantic Novel of the Year Award

  Rachel has inherited a house in the country, along with a rescue kennels. She claims she’s not a ‘dog’ person. But then she tries to match the abandoned pets with new owners, with some unexpected results . . .

  Natalie and Johnny’s marriage hasn’t been easy since they started trying for a baby. But will adopting Bertie, a fridge-

  raiding, sofa-stealing Basset Hound make up for it?

  Meanwhile Zoe’s husband has given their kids a Labrador puppy, and left her to pick up the mess, literally. She’s at the end of her tether, until her pup leads her to handsome doctor Bill, whose own perfect match isn’t what he was expecting at all.

  As the new owners’ paths cross, and their lives become interwoven, they – along with their dogs – all find themselves learning important lessons about loyalty, second chances and truly unconditional love.

  ‘Heart-warming, fun and romantic.

  Marley and Me fans will love it.’ Closer

  Lucy Dillon

  The Ballroom Class

  When three couples join a new ballroom class, they’re all looking for some magic in their lives.

  Lauren and Chris are getting married, and Lauren’s dreaming of a fairytale wedding with a first dance to make Cinderella proud.