Chapter Eight

Thick, grey clouds gathered overhead threatening a drenching Lisa hadn’t come equipped for. Hurrying Jack along, her eyes frequently turned to the sky. If they were lucky, they could be back in the van before the first drop fell.

‘Come on, Jack, nearly there!’ Lisa encouraged the black Labrador along as he looked at her excitedly. ‘There’s biscuits, water and a cosy rug with your name on it in the van; well, technically, it’s my name on it, but I’m happy to share with you.’

Jack trotted along, wonky eyes wide, oblivious to what Lisa was waffling on about but well aware that whatever it was must be something good.

Reaching the van, Lisa gave him a stroke, a large bowl of water and a well-earned biscuit before removing his new harness – ha ha, you couldn’t escape from that, could you? – and securing him in his crate with the promised blanket. He snuggled down, content from his walk. As she shut the van door, Lisa looked up at the sky. It was that time of year where the weather couldn’t quite make up its mind from one moment to the next and it seemed getting sodden was another of those occupational hazards she had underestimated when she had embarked on her new career.

‘Looks like we beat the rain today!’ she announced cheerily, her smile fading as her stomach flipped on a huge rumble. Oh God! She thought she had got rid of the sherry-and-cooking-chocolate cocktail from the night before, but her stomach had other ideas.

Glancing across the green to the toilets she held her tummy as it began to feel warm. Too warm. Oh, not now, please! She hated public toilets, especially when they were cold, metal, had no seat and homed too many spiders for her liking. She hopped from foot to foot, not quite believing she felt rough again. She had been OK for most of the day – admittedly she had wrapped a tea towel round her nose and mouth while she fed the cats and emptied their litter trays – and she had avoided eating anything, but now she was wondering if perhaps she should have had something. Some nice toast or crackers, as her Granny Blake would have prescribed for an upset stomach. Bugger it! It was too late now. As her stomach began to bubble, she realised she would never make it back to Winnie’s. ‘Oh blimey! Won’t be more than a few minutes, Jack,’ she promised.

Unperturbed Jack rolled his wonky eyes, not even lifting his head from his blanket.

Locking the van, Lisa made a dash for the toilets. They were every bit as grim as she remembered from the one and only time she had ever ventured into them before. Only now, the light wasn’t working. Great! With no window, the only way to let light into the cubicle was to leave the outside door open. Not knowing what noises the eruption of her stomach might make, she didn’t particularly want to do that. So darkness and expedience it was. When she was finally done and opened the toilet door she sighed.

In the time it had taken her to use the rather-lacking facilities the clouds had decided to burst. She could hear the raindrops coming thick and fast, hitting the outside door. Washing her hands she rolled her eyes, she was stranded in the horrid and now less-than-fragrant toilet unless she wanted to get soaked. She didn’t relish the thought, but she didn’t particularly want to stay put either. Taking a peek outside, she could see the sloping path had become a mini-river in a matter of minutes. An inch of water continuously rushed passed. How could so much rain fall in so little time? Even a dash round to the kiosk would see her drenched.

Sticking her head out of the door, she had an idea. Running straight for the kiosk wouldn’t work, but making a dash for the next toilets along might – she could seek shelter en route. Was it the men’s or the disabled? She wasn’t too sure. But if she could shimmy her way along to the kiosk via the other toilets she wouldn’t get so wet. Standing under the shelter and getting a takeaway tea while waiting for the rain to pass was certainly more appealing than staying in the ladies. The clouds were heavy, but the sky off to the right was blue. The rain couldn’t stay for too long. It seemed like a plan.

Swinging from the sides of the doorframe as if she was about to launch herself into a sprint, Lisa leapt from the door. Splosh, splosh, dive. She burst through the next door smacking herself into the firm chest of the man who was attempting to exit at the same time.

‘Oh, sorry!’ Lisa flushed crimson. Even before she looked up at his face, she knew it was him. Staring at the leather-clad chest she had just bounded into, she wished she had taken her chances and stayed in the dark with the spiders.

The man stepped back and rubbed his chest, exhaling. ‘Rose?’

She had winded him, she had actually smacked into him so hard she had knocked the breath right out of him. Their last encounter had been humiliating, but this … this was excruciating. Lisa felt like a complete klutz.

‘It’s you … Rose … isn’t it?’

‘Yes, I mean, no.’

He let out a giggle regaining his composure.

Blathering on Lisa tried to correct herself, wondering why she had bothered as soon as she had started. ‘Well, I am me … but I’m not … not who you … not Rose, it’s Lisa.’ Feeling a fool she held out her hand.

‘Nice to meet you, Lisa, I’m Dom.’ He took Lisa’s hand and shook it, smiling cheekily. ‘And where’s Jack today, not drowning in this, I hope?’

Removing her hand from his, Lisa answered earnestly, ‘No, no, quite safe. In my van.’ Realising it was a joke as Dom raised an eyebrow at her, she felt like an idiot. Great.

‘So do you always use the men’s?’

To add to her mortification Lisa remembered where they were. ‘Umm, no. I was actually en route to the kiosk.’

‘Via the men’s?’

‘Sheltering before I was brave enough to make the final dash.’

‘OK, I’ll join you then. Come on, let’s be brave together and go get a coffee.’

Lisa felt Dom’s hand on her arm and her cheeks redden, deciding she had embarrassed herself enough for one day she made her excuses. ‘Oh no, I can’t. I have to get back. Jack’s waiting and all that.’

‘OK, another time then. Give me a date and I’ll be here. Well, you know, not here,’ he motioned drawing attention once more to the fact they were standing in the doorway of the men’s toilets.

Lisa rolled her eyes at the sign on the door.

‘Give me a date, and I’ll see you at the kiosk,’ Dom repeated with a grin.

A date? Lisa wasn’t sure about the word date. Was that as in a ‘date’ date? She wasn’t ready for that. What if Ben …? Ben what? Apologised? Actually regretted being an utter bastard?

‘Next week, same time,’ she said, before she had engaged her brain to think it through. What have you done? Suddenly flustered, she looked out the door across the green. The rain had slowed. ‘I have to go. Sorry about …’ And now she was patting his chest, his rather firm and lovely leather-clad chest. Oh God! Not wanting to embarrass herself further, she removed her hand and ran.

Bemused Dom called after her. ‘Next week then, Rose. I’ll be here.’

Pete looked wearily at Felicity. ‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’

‘No, but it’s got to be better than nothing. I can’t just ignore the fact she’s back.’

Pete sighed. ‘But you don’t even know where she’s staying.’

‘I’ll start at her parents’ house, see what I can find out. Go from there.’

Pete conceded. ‘Look, if this is something you need to do, then do it. Just … you know … be careful.’

‘Careful? Pete I’m only going to talk to her.’ Felicity knew she sounded more confident than she actually felt; if only it were that easy.

‘I know, but—’

‘I know you’re looking out for me, you always do,’ she smiled, ‘but this is just something I have to do. She’s back, Pete. I have to speak to her.’

Pete walked away shaking his head.

Felicity watched him leaving the kitchen. She loved the sight of his broad shoulders in his green work T-shirt. It was funny how something like that could just make her feel how attracted she was to him, to really want him. ‘Pete!’ she called after him, hoping for a hug at least; she wanted to feel his firm body next to hers.

‘It’s fine, honestly. Talk to Lisa if it’s what you need to do.’

Felicity threw her head back and groaned.