Chapter Thirty-Six

Once they were on their way, Lisa thanked Dom again for picking her up. The roads were busier than she had anticipated for so early in the morning and she was grateful not to be the one weaving through the traffic, especially with commuters, general Christmas chaos and train cancellations causing ‘Carmageddon’ as Dom muttered more than once.

Taking advantage of his kindness, Lisa couldn’t help but feel awkward about the way she had behaved on their night out. To say she had been distracted by seeing Nathan was an understatement. She had barely touched her gourmet, chargrilled, no-bun chicken burger or super-boost quinoa salad. And, when Dom dropped her home, she had almost leapt out of the car for fear he might want to kiss her goodbye. Since then she had seen him only briefly when she dropped Winnie’s Christmas present off to him.

She wanted to apologise, or at least give him an explanation, for the way she had behaved. Lisa knew Dom deserved that, even before he had come to her aid. She just wasn’t sure what to say. She could hardly go into detail about the Nathan situation when she barely understood it herself. But if she didn’t say something, she felt it would be one of those things she would regret. Dom was kind and sweet; she didn’t want to take things further with him, but he was Winnie’s grandson and she hoped they could be friends.

Lisa realised she could just say she felt rough the night they went out; that she had a stomach ache. She didn’t need to add that seeing Nathan was the cause of the knots that twisted inside her, making her unable to concentrate or eat her meal. Dom’s eyes were on the road; the fact he couldn’t easily see her face would make it easier to seem breezy about it all.

As they hit the A23, Lisa decided to seize the moment. ‘About the other night.’

Dom laughed. ‘I don’t know who that guy was in Cin Cin, but it was pretty obvious you two had something going.’

Oh God! Lisa’s cheeks turned so red she realised it didn’t matter that Dom wasn’t looking directly at her; she was sure he could feel the heat from them. Was I that obvious? Did Nathan feel it too, and is that why he left so quickly? She swallowed in an attempt to encourage her mouth to work. ‘Dom, I’m sorry. I know … I mean … I … it wasn’t fair.’

‘Really, it’s fine.’

‘But you’re right … Not that there is something going on. I mean, not now. But I was distracted … by him, he’s … well, it’s complicated. I wasn’t trying to lead you on and—’

‘Lisa, really, it’s OK. Look, I didn’t want to tell you before because I didn’t want you to think I’d only asked you out because of Gran—’

‘Winnie?’

‘Yeah. It wasn’t a conspiracy or anything.’

‘What wasn’t?’ Lisa wasn’t sure how the conversation had moved so quickly from Nathan to Winnie, her mind was trying to catch up.

‘I used to take Jack out when I could, and then Gran said she wouldn’t need me to walk him any more.’

Lisa remembered the day she had met Winnie; she recalled her saying her dog had the energy of a ‘whippersnapper’, but was never walked. Why lie?

‘She said she met you putting up your advert, and that you needed to walk Jack.’

Lisa remembered how grateful she had felt when Winnie asked her to walk her dog. Standing in the post office she had attempted to look professional while holding back tears, as Winnie suggested she visit her for a cup of tea so she could meet Jack.

Dom continued, ‘I didn’t understand it, but I learnt a long time ago arguing with Gran is futile. I did tell her you could be a headcase or something; a candidate for Crimewatch.’ Dom laughed shyly at his confession.

Lisa bit her lip, deciding not to say anything.

‘She said you were just a bit …’

‘Go on.’

‘Lost … that you needed someone to have faith in you. That you seemed lonely.’

Tears welled in Lisa’s eyes. ‘Oh!’

‘Look, I didn’t want to tell you before … in case you thought I had only asked you out because of that.’

A pity date. That was exactly what it sounded like.

‘I didn’t even tell her I’d met you. She thinks you’re great. She would definitely have tried to matchmake us.’

Despite her thoughts of pity dates, Lisa laughed and felt flattered that Dom felt Winnie would even consider her good enough for her grandson, especially as she knew how scathing she’d been about his previous girlfriend.

‘And, after I saw you for the first time, I wanted to get to know you for myself.’

Lisa conceded that was actually quite sweet. ‘Hmm, I’m not sure I’ve given you a very good impression.’

‘Don’t put yourself down. You’re funny and caring, and you’ve got a mean left hook.’

Lisa cringed. ‘Oh God, I’d forgotten about that.’

Dom flicked his head towards her. ‘Look, the thing is, I’m not a fool. Even without Gran telling me, I can see you’ve got things you’re working through and so have I.’

Things?

‘And I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d like to get to know you better.’

‘Dom, that’s—’

‘But I mean as a friend. Look, to be honest,’ Dom swallowed, ‘even if you didn’t have something going with the hot Chris Hemsworth type from Cin Cin, you’re just not my type.’ His cheeks flushed.

‘Seriously it’s fine, I hadn’t presumed—’

‘No. What I mean is … you’re lovely, it’s just … well, my interest in the film Titanic is more Leonardo DiCaprio than Kate Winslet.’

‘Oh.’ Lisa took a moment to absorb what he was saying. ‘But Winnie said—’

‘I have terrible taste in girlfriends?’

‘Well, not exactly that, but yes.’

Dom laughed. ‘On purpose. Can you imagine how excited she’d be if I brought a keeper like you back to meet her. She’d bypass the formality of a cup of tea to march us to the church before we’d even got in the door.’

Lisa laughed. ‘But why not just be honest?’

‘Because Gran’s from a different generation and I don’t want to hurt her – to let her down. There’s been enough heartache in our family.’

‘But Dom that’s … do your parents know?’

‘They’ve known for a while and they’re sworn to secrecy during Gran’s visit.’

Lisa thought for a moment. ‘Look, Dom, I know Winnie’s from a different generation but I think you should give her more credit. No wonder she hasn’t liked your girlfriends if they don’t make you happy. Winnie wants you to be happy. And I think she’s more open minded than you might think.’ Lisa considered mentioning Winnie’s days of going alfresco with Stan and reminded herself it probably wasn’t something a grandson needed to hear about his grandparents, no matter how open minded it made them seem.

Dom fell quiet.

‘Really, she might surprise you.’

‘But—’

‘Wouldn’t you be happier if she just knew.’

Dom sighed. ‘Well, yes … but … I mean, I don’t know. Look, I’ll consider it—’

‘I really think you should—’

‘I’ll consider it only if you’ll agree to let me get to know you better. God knows, if I tell Gran, I might need a friend!’

‘I’d like that, but, Dom, please don’t feel—’

‘Hey, it’s got nothing to do with what Gran said about you. It’s just you spread a certain amount of chaos in your wake. I like that.’

‘Chaos?’ Lisa didn’t particularly consider herself the type of person who spread chaos.

‘OK, not chaos – mayhem, is that the word? Anyway you make me laugh, in a good way, and I could do with a friend who makes me laugh.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’

‘In that case, I’d like to get to know you better too. I haven’t amassed many friends over recent years.’

‘OK, so now I’m gonna sound like Gran, but hey, you know I watch Titanic and soppy Holly Willoughby stuff, so here goes: it’s not about the number of friends you can count, but the number you can count on!’

Lisa laughed. ‘You do sound like Winnie.’

‘I know, and now I am going to have to swear at some motorists and drive like a bit of an arse to recover some masculinity!’