‘What? You know the phrase “It’s like riding a bike.” It’ll come back.’
‘I never learned.’ Keen not to get into it, I continue. ‘We can rock up early tomorrow and ask. It’s very difficult to say no face to face, if we put them on the spot. And we can exaggerate about my leg and needing to get home as needed.’
Tom considers my suggestion for a moment and then nods. ‘Okay. We have a plan,’ he says, before adding, ‘Now I have a plan for the rest of the afternoon.’
We have a Star Wars marathon, watching the end of the first one and the whole of the second one and starting the third one. I’m so attuned to him now, I can tell that he’s up to something. He keeps smiling to himself.
‘Now I’m going to cook dinner.’
‘Dinner?’ That sounds grand. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I bought ingredients at the shop, I’m going to put them together.’
‘Does that mean I can have a break from death by Star Wars?’
‘Lydia Smith. You philistine.’
‘It’s quite a lot to take in,’ I whine and pout, which is so not like me but with Tom right now I feel I can get away with it. No one has ever looked after me like this and I’m rather enjoying it, even though I know it’s a luxury I can’t allow myself to get used to.
‘Because it’s your birthday I’ll allow that insult to the greatest film series ever. What would you like to watch?’ He crosses to the DVD shelf. ‘Pretty Woman? Legally Blonde? Love Actually? Sleepless in Seattle?’
‘I love that you assume I’m going to want to watch a girly film.’
‘You could have more The Empire Strikes Back.’
‘Thank you –’ I shoot him an impish grin, because he got it right first time ‘– but I’ll stick with Pretty Woman. Have you seen it?’
He shrugs non-committally.
I’m not going to tell him it’s my all-time favourite. The perfect Cinderella story. When I was younger, before I realised that I was the only person that was going to rescue me, it was my favourite feel-good fantasy, being rescued and taken away from my life.
For the next hour and half, I lie on the sofa, wrapped in the throw, happily absorbed in the story of Vivienne and Edward and a snotty shop assistant realising she’s made a big mistake. No, huge mistake. It’s my favourite line in the movie and reminds me of how far I’ve come from the anxious to please, always scared I’d be caught out, scruffy kid that everyone teased or ignored at school.
Tom joins me for ten minutes during the last half hour.
‘Something smells good. What are we having?’
‘It’s a surprise.’
‘Can you cook?’
‘Of course I can cook,’ he says, sitting next to me.
‘No funny stuff,’ I say. ‘This is one of my favourites.’
‘But it was all right to disturb one of my favourites yesterday,’ says Tom, kissing my neck.
I bat him away. ‘You started it.’
‘You shouldn’t have been sitting there, sexy as hell.’
‘I was watching the film,’ I protest but I’m secretly pleased by the ‘sexy as hell’.
‘Yeah, but you were all serious and it was cute.’
I shake my head and laugh. He’s talking nonsense but it’s fun and I’m enjoying this relaxed interlude after this morning’s stress. Tomorrow we can worry about our next move.
‘Right. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. But don’t come through until I call you.’
‘Okay,’ I say absently with a vague wave as he returns to the kitchen, pretending that I’m not all stirred up by his presence. My hormones seem hell bent on tying themselves in knots when he so much as touches me.
‘Would you like to come through?’ There’s a secretive smile on Tom’s face as he beckons me into the kitchen. What is he up to? I’m not used to surprises … I stop dead in the doorway. I don’t believe it.
‘Happy Birthday, Lydia.’ Tom grins at me.
A row of tealights line the centre of the table, like runway lights beckoning me in, and there’s a bunch of flowers arranged in a vase, which have obviously been picked from the garden. He’s also gone to the trouble of covering the table with a tablecloth and each setting is beautifully arranged, complete with place mat, cutlery, wine glass, napkin and napkin holder. There’s even a little pile of presents wrapped in newspaper.
Tears prick my eyes and I gape at him.
‘Tom, this is…’ I sniff, which isn’t terribly elegant, especially when he’s made such an effort.
He looks completely nonplussed. ‘Sorry, I—’
‘No, no. It’s lovely. Really lovely. It’s just no one has ever…’ I have to bite back a sob but it’s no good, I can’t stop the tears spilling out of my eyes.
