Chapter 25

Josie didn’t even bother messaging Amber on Monday morning, just set off for the Reading Room after she’d walked the dogs. It had become a regular meet-up.

“Sam called me again on Friday night,” she said as she plonked herself down on a beanbag. She ruffled Kieron’s hair when he toddled past her.

“That’s sweet,” Amber said.

“Right after I left the pub,” Josie added, carefully monitoring Amber’s reaction. “Literally as I stepped outside.”

“That’s good timing.” Amber reached to wipe Kieron’s nose, and Josie wasn’t sure if it was just a ploy to avoid eye contact.

“That’s exactly what he said!”

Tara gasped dramatically and glared at Amber. “Did you message him?”

“I was wondering the same,” Josie said. “How did he know exactly when I was leaving?”

“Anyone could’ve messaged him,” Amber insisted. “Why do you assume it was me?”

Josie shrugged. “Seems like something you would do.”

“I was sitting right next to Tara. She’d have seen if I messaged Sam …”

“I don’t watch you that closely,” Tara said. “It was definitely you, wasn’t it?”

“No.” Amber laughed, and Josie couldn’t tell if she was lying or not. “It’s so cute that he calls you, though. Does he know when he’ll be back yet?”

“He said it should be next weekend.”

“Has he asked you on a date?” Tara asked.

“We haven’t arranged anything yet. He’s not sure when he’ll be back.” Josie assumed they’d have a proper date as soon as he got back, like he’d promised before he left.

“Only another week,” Amber said. “It’ll fly by.”

It didn’t, though. The week seemed to drag on and on. The closer it got to the weekend, the slower time seemed to go.

In the Bluebell on Friday night, she was subject to more teasing about the darts incident. It was actually quite comforting to be teased by the locals. She felt like part of the community.

“I’m going home,” she said after a fun evening chatting with the girls and the other locals, who were becoming more familiar to her. “Keep an eye on Amber,” she said to Tara. “Let me know if she’s Sam’s spy!”

“I’m not messaging him,” Amber said adamantly. She laid her phone on the table and held up her hands. “I did speak to him earlier, though. He’ll definitely be back this weekend. I invited him over for a drink tomorrow night, but he said he already has plans.”

“What plans?” Tara said eagerly.

“I don’t know,” Amber said. “He was being a bit coy but I presume he’s planning on taking Josie on a date!”

“That’s a bit presumptuous,” Josie said. “I might be busy.”

Tara smirked. “Busy sitting in front of the TV with Annette?” 

Josie couldn’t help but laugh as she reached for her bag. Her evenings were pretty quiet these days, not that she minded. She said her goodbyes and headed for the door.

When she was outside, she peered in the window at Amber. The phone was still on the table, and she held her hands up again when she saw Josie checking up on her.

When Josie set off towards Oakbrook, she had her phone in her hand, waiting for it to ring. It didn’t, though, and eventually she scrolled to Sam’s number and pressed call.

“Your timing’s not so good today,” she said when he answered. It sounded like he was moving around, and he didn’t say anything for a moment.

“Sorry,” he said, finally. “Are you walking home already?”

“Yeah. I thought you’d know that!”

“I told you it was just good timing.” She could imagine him smiling as he spoke, and she remembered what the girls had said about him taking her out the next day. She hoped that was his plan.

“How’s work?” she asked.

“Job’s all finished.”

She grinned. “So you’ll be home soon?”

“Mmhmm.”

She was annoyed by his vague grunting. Couldn’t he tell her exactly when he’d be back? She wanted to know to the nearest second. She’d just moved away from the streetlights when she saw movement ahead.

“You okay?” Sam said.

“Yeah.” She slowed her pace and peered into the moonlit street. “There’s someone on the road.”

He laughed. “How rude. Someone else is walking on your stretch of road?”

“I never see anyone at this time of night. It’s making me nervous.”

“Don’t worry. You live in a village now. You probably know him.”

“How do you know it’s a him?” she asked suspiciously. The figure was getting nearer and she smiled as she recognised his profile.

“Just a guess. Is he on the phone by any chance?”

She laughed and moved her phone aside as Sam neared her. She quickened her pace until she was in his arms, kissing him.

“When did you get home?” she asked when she finally pulled back.

He narrowed his eyes as though contemplating the question. “About three minutes ago. Maybe four. When did you call me?”

She grinned and squeezed him tightly. It was so good to have him back.

“I thought I’d come and walk you home. I hear there are some creepy characters roaming the streets this evening.”

She gave him a quick nudge as they fell into step together. Their hands entwined automatically. “You scared me. It’s creepy enough round here without you skulking around in the dark.”

“I wasn’t skulking around,” he said, laughing. “I was coming to walk you home.”

“I suppose I’ll forgive you then.”

He glanced at her and smiled warmly. “I don’t really like working away.”

“Try not to do it again anytime soon then.”

“I won’t,” he said as they reached the gate at Oakbrook.

At the front door she couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodnight to him so soon. “Do you want to come in for a beer or a cuppa?” she asked hesitantly. “Annette will be in bed.”

He followed her confidently into the kitchen. “I was actually wondering if I could raid the fridge. I’ve got no food at home and I’ve barely eaten since breakfast.”

“Be my guest,” she said, bending to ruffle Macy’s fur.

Sam scanned the contents of the fridge.

“There are frozen pizzas,” she suggested.

“Perfect.” He turned the oven on and then grabbed two beers from the fridge. “I like the changes you’ve made around here. Annette would never have had pizzas in the freezer before you came along. And there were only beers in the fridge on special occasions!”

She sat beside him at the table and they clinked their bottles together before falling into easy conversation. They stayed like that for an hour, chatting and laughing and fighting over pizza slices.

“You look exhausted,” she said eventually. He’d stretched his legs out and leaned back in the chair, looking as though he might fall asleep like that.

“It’s been a long day,” he said through a yawn. “I should probably go and get some sleep.”

Josie wondered when she’d see him again. He hadn’t mentioned doing anything the next evening. Maybe the plans he’d mentioned to Amber were something else entirely. He kissed her when he stood up and then made a fuss of the dogs before moving to the door. “I’ll see you soon,” he said vaguely.

“Yeah.” But when? “I thought maybe we could do something tomorrow, but Amber said you already had plans …”

He shook his head in amusement. “I told you this place was full of gossips. You can’t have any secrets.”

She forced a smile. He was doing quite a good job of keeping his plans secret. “So I’ll just see you another time, if you already have plans for tomorrow?”

He hovered in the doorway. “I made the plans ages ago. I don’t really want to change them …”

“No, of course not,” she said quickly. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I can give you a call over the weekend, see what you’re up to?”

“Yeah, whatever.” Somehow the casual tone she was going for came out slightly manic. After spending three weeks desperate to see him, she was left feeling somewhat deflated.