Dirty Minds (25 page)
Authors: T A Williams
He sat down to a wave of applause.
They drove home via the hospital. Alfonso was still very tired but Mr Khan’s prognosis was looking good. Janet was sat at his bedside, so they didn’t stay long. Just long enough for Ros to give him a kiss, and for him to thank Tom for all he had done.
As they were about to leave, a wave from Alfonso stopped them. The Italian glanced at Janet, then across to Ros and Tom.
‘I thought you should be the first to know. Janet and I are getting married. You can expect an invitation.’
‘Fonsie, what wonderful, wonderful news. I thought it would never happen for you.’ Ros rushed back to his bedside and hugged them both. ‘Janet, I’m so very happy for both of you.’
Janet looked so happy she would burst. She took Tom’s hand and pulled him towards her. ‘And it’s all because of you, Tom. You and your book.’
‘Our book, Janet, remember, it’s our book.’ He turned to Ros. ‘What was it we were saying about the power of the written word?’
They left the happy couple and returned to the car.
The drive home only took two hours. In spite of her good intentions, Ros fell asleep somewhere around Bridport and only awoke when they had passed Exeter.
She yawned and stretched. ‘I was dreaming about a handsome army officer. I hope I can remember it. It was quite naughty enough to make it into the book.’
‘It’s going to be a very different book from the one I first envisaged.’
‘And a better book as a result.’
‘Let’s hope the publishers agree.’
He dropped her off at home as the sun was setting. She was going straight off to pick up Sophie the spaniel. He was on his way to collect Noah.
‘Let me cook you dinner. Bring Noah round when you are ready.’
Noah was boisterously pleased to see his master and to get home to his dinner bowl. Tom had been told that Noah had already eaten, but he fed him some food anyway.
He went upstairs and showered and changed. As he was in the shower, his mind went back over the events of the last two days, the last two months and the last two years. He had serious doubts as to their chances of success with the book. Getting published these days was no mean feat. But, even if that project came to naught, he knew that it had had its effect already. It was no exaggeration to say that it had changed lives, his own included. He could be well pleased.
As he dressed, he reflected upon his own circumstances and how radically they had changed in such a short time. He had not been to a counselling session for a couple of weeks now and he felt fine. In fact, he thought to himself, he felt more than fine. His life, which had seemed so bleak, had brightened once more. As he came back into the kitchen he dug out a piece of scrap paper. On it he scribbled:
Cancel Cynthia. Contact Head of Department
. He laid it on top of the computer. It was time to pick up his life again.
He dug out a bottle of wine, and put on his coat. Noah ran off to collect his lead. It was dark outside now but there were stars in the sky. Once he had released the dog in the field, he stopped and looked up. It was a stunning sight. As ever, the sense of insignificance, compared to the vastness of the cosmos, moved him deeply. Tonight, more than ever. Tonight he was turning a page, changing to a different chapter. Diane had left. Ros had arrived. Life went on, as it always had. His eyes ranged across the night sky, as he did his best to bring his emotions under control. It took him some time.
Noah was already sitting at Ros’s door by the time he got there. She opened the door as soon as he rang the bell. As he stepped into the light of the porch, she saw that he had been crying.
‘Is everything all right?’
He looked into her eyes and smiled. ‘Everything’s fine now, Ros, just fine.’ And it was.
He walked though into the kitchen. He hung his coat on the back of the door and put the bottle on the table. The two dogs flopped down onto the floor in front of the stove.
He turned to Ros. She was standing just inside the door, a nervous smile on her face. He thought she looked gorgeous. ‘You’re gorgeous.’
She held out her arms towards him. He took two steps forward and caught her face in his hands. She hugged him to her and they kissed.
Some time later, he managed to find his voice. ‘Have you got a bedroom up there? With a bed?’
She nodded.
‘Would you like to come to bed with me? Please?’
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
CARINA™
ISBN: 978 1 472 01818 2
Dirty Minds
Copyright © T. A. Williams 2013
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