Midnight (20 page)

After her mother died, his wife grew cold and distant. Not long after that, the wife he so adored was gone for ever. The cruel, empty years that followed had been crippling.

Then one Saturday, Libby had asked if he could keep an eye on her mother, while she popped to the corner shop. Eileen had gradually gone downhill over the years – everyone had noticed and pitied her decline. So Thomas had gone next door and stayed with Eileen. She made him laugh, and when she smiled at him in that adorable, childish way, his heart came alive again.

Libby came home to find them chuckling and having a good old chin-wag. When Thomas retired, he told Libby he would sit with her mother any time. Libby began to lean on him more and more, until one day, with his blessing and mainly to bring some much-needed extra cash into the household, she acquired a part-time job at the local supermarket.

The day Libby began to entrust her darling mother to his care was the day that life began again for Thomas. It was also the day when he began to fall in love again – and it was a wonderful thing. Almost like being born again.

Closing the front door behind him now, Thomas left the house to go next door to Number 20.

Libby let him in. ‘Hello, Thomas,’ she said. ‘How are you today? I was just telling Mum that you’re taking her out for a few hours, and that she must listen to what you tell her, and stay with you at all times.’ In a lower voice she confided, ‘Knowing how she wanders off at the drop of a hat, I do worry, especially when she so loves to be near the lake.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep a sharp eye out for her. I’ll never be more than an arm’s reach away at any given moment.’

‘I know that. But you didn’t mind me saying something, did you?’

Thomas shook his head, ‘Not at all! Now, look, my dear – you’d best get off to work. And stop worrying. Your mother will be fine. We both will.’ He smiled down at Eileen. ‘Won’t we, sweetheart?’

‘I am, yes, thank you, Thomas.’ Eileen had gone into a little world of her own.

As always, believing it to be the right thing to do, Thomas corrected her: ‘Eileen?’

‘Yes, Thomas?’

‘I just asked you a question, and you weren’t listening.’

‘Oh, and what did you say, then?’

‘I asked if you and me would be fine on our day out, just the two of us.’

‘Yes, Thomas. We’ll be fine.’ She looked up at him. ‘We will, won’t we?’

‘We certainly will, m’dear.’ He held her hand fast. ‘There won’t be anyone finer.’

‘So, where are we going?’

‘To the park, of course. You must remember that we talked about it yesterday.’ He prompted her to think back.

Eileen gave a frown, then she was smiling, ‘Oh, we’re going to see the ducks . . . and we’ve got a lovely picnic . . .’ She frowned. ‘. . . I think?’ She glanced at Libby.

‘Hey! What’s all this?’ Pointing to the bag on Libby’s arm, Thomas chided, ‘Don’t tell me you’ve packed us a meal?’

‘I have, yes. Sandwiches and fruit, and orange juice and some plastic cups.’

‘You’re too thoughtful,’ he tutted. ‘I know we’re two old ’uns, but we’re capable of finding the tearooms. I’m not short of a bob or two, neither. I’m sure I can afford a sandwich and a pot of tea.’

‘No, Thomas. Thank you all the same, but it’s enough you taking Mum to the park, without you having to spend your money as well.’

A few minutes later, Thomas had secured Eileen into the front passenger seat of the car and they were ready to leave. ‘Right then, Libby, let’s have that picnic bag.’

When she passed it over, he groaned and made a big fuss over it, as though in agony. ‘Oooh, it’s too heavy for an old fella like me!’ He gave her a wink as he said to Eileen, ‘I reckon your daughter’s trying her best to finish me off!’

Eileen laughed heartily, ‘You’re a comedian, that’s what you are, Thomas.’

Satisfied that everything was in order, Libby gave Thomas a little peck on the cheek, then hugged her mother. ‘I’m away to work now, Mum. You have a really lovely day, and I’ll see you both later.’

‘And you be a good girl, while we’re gone!’ Eileen told her. ‘Else you’ll have your father after you.’

Her comment did not surprise Libby, but she felt obliged to remind her gently, ‘Daddy was a long time ago, Mum,’ she said softly. ‘It’s just you and me now.’

Though Libby’s own memories of her father were very limited, she knew that he was always strong in her mother’s mind. Whenever Eileen talked of him, Libby felt her pain. It was such a sad thing.

Eileen and Thomas waved her off. ‘That’s it, my beauty.’ He made sure Eileen’s seatbelt was secure.

Eileen was still waving. ‘Where’s she gone?’

‘She has to be at work,’ he reminded her. ‘And now, we’d best be on our way.’

‘Where are
we
going, Thomas?’

‘Where do you
want
to go?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Yes, you do.’

‘Do I?’

‘Think hard, my lovely. We’ve been there before, lots of times. It’s a place you love to be. It’s where you always ask me to take you.’

Eileen went quiet, almost sulky. Then, with a little shout and a clap of the hands, she cried out. ‘
The park!
We’re going to the park!’

Thomas gave a whoop. ‘That’s right, my darling. We’re going to the park. What a clever girl you are.’

‘I know.’ She gave a proud little giggle. ‘I’m a clever girl.’

Her simple joy made Thomas smile. In her declining health, he had never known Eileen be angry or spiteful. Instead she was always thoughtful and caring. Yet, she was often afraid, and occasionally she would jump at either himself or Libby for the simplest things, like forgetting to put the sugar in her tea, or plumping the cushion too much in her favourite chair.

Somehow, over the years, almost without him real-ising, this wonderful lady had become the light of his life. He never told her, because in the circumstances, it was not the thing to do. But it was a joy to be with her. Considering how very much he had loved his wife, his deep feelings for Eileen in these later years had come as a great surprise to him.

Corporation Park was not far away – through the back streets then along King Street and up Montague Street, and there, high above the town itself, was the proud, impressive entrance, hiding a secret that would amaze and delight the unsuspecting visitor.

Built many years ago, amidst great pomp and celebration, this magnificent park was not only a haven of beauty and delight, it was also a treasured refuge from the busy lives and relentless duties of the townsfolk.

With an impressive stone lion at either side of the tall iron gates, and the first sighting of that wide lane meandering its way up through the heart of the park, the mere act of leaving the mayhem behind, to stroll through that man-made paradise, was a joy in itself. If the heart was heavy when the visitor walked inside, it became lighter after spending precious time within the tranquil beauty of that most exquisite place.

‘Here we are!’ Because vehicles were not allowed within the park, Thomas turned immediately left before its gates. It took him but a minute to find a suitable spot for parking. ‘Right then, m’darling, let’s get you out.’

Just a few moments later they were ready to go, with the picnic bag hanging on Thomas’s arm.

Eileen was like a child let loose in a sweet-shop. ‘Ooh, can we go to the lake? I want to feed the ducks. I know we have bread, because Libby told me.’

‘We can go anywhere your heart desires,’ Thomas promised; and Eileen was content in the knowledge that he would keep his word.

‘We’re fortunate to have such a lovely day,’ he said as they made their way down the lane and into the park. ‘June can be a funny month sometimes. Even so, I’d have still brought us here, even if it was raining cats and dogs.’

‘I never said it was raining!’

‘No, sweetheart, I know you didn’t say it was raining.’

‘So, what did I say, then? Tell me what I said!’ She grew agitated.

Thomas stopped by a rosebed.

‘No need for you to get upset,’ he said gently. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong.’

Unsure, Eileen looked him in the eye. ‘Who said I was upset?’

‘No one.’

Eileen tutted. ‘Oh, so that’s all right then, isn’t it?’

Thomas was very careful in his approach. ‘Well, yes, everything seems all right to me.’

‘So why have we stopped, especially when it’s about to rain?’

He gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘It’s not going to rain, love. I think we got a bit lost in our conversation just then – about the rain and such.’

‘
You
said it was raining, not me! You’re all mixed up, Thomas.’ She wagged a finger. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you.’

Thomas felt the laughter bubbling inside, and try as he might, he could not hold it back. ‘Do you have any idea how much I love you?’

‘I love you too,’ she said sternly. ‘Now stop being silly.’ Then, in a quieter voice, she said, ‘Thomas?’

‘Yes?’

‘You do love me, don’t you, Thomas?’

‘I certainly do, yes.’

‘Do you want to know something?’

‘If you like, yes.’

‘I love you too.’

And because she had uttered those sincere words when her mind appeared to be fully alert, Thomas found he was too choked up to make an immediate reply. Then he cleared his throat and told her, ‘That is such a wonderful thing for you to say.’

‘Would you do something for me, Thomas?’

‘Of course – if I can.’

The confident little glance she gave him was that of a woman at peace with herself. ‘May I please have a proper kiss?’

Thomas was pleasantly surprised. He had already kissed her, but he thought maybe she’d forgotten.

Growing impatient, she raised her small hands to place them either side of his face, and when she smiled at him in a special way, with her brown eyes sparkling, he felt his heart turn over. ‘I’m waiting for my kiss, Thomas,’ she said. ‘A proper one, mind.’

Gingerly placing his hands over hers, then easing them into his large fists, he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the cheek.

When he moved away, she caught hold of his arm and kept him there. ‘Naughty Thomas!’ She suddenly closed her eyes, lifted her face up to him, and in a small, trembling voice she whispered, ‘Please, I need a
proper
kiss.’

In the whole of his life, Thomas Farraday had never experienced emotions such as now, when his heart turned inside out, and he was lost as to what he should do. There was nothing he would like more, than to give her a ‘proper’ kiss, providing he could remember what a proper kiss was! He had been without a woman for so long, he could hardly remember.

He must not take advantage of Eileen, in her fragile state of mind – that would be a shocking betrayal of trust. So he smiled and brushed away her request for a ‘proper kiss’. ‘We’d best get a move on, m’dear,’ he said casually. ‘We don’t want to miss the ducks, now do we, eh?’

When he tried to make a move, she held him there. ‘Thomas!’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m waiting.’

Emotionally torn, he leaned forward, like a shy boy on his first date. Tenderly placing his lips over hers, he was shocked by the warm softness of her skin against his mouth, and the way her lips opened to his.

When she raised her arms to wrap them about his neck and draw him ever closer, the long, sorry years fled away. He was a vibrant young man again, with a young man’s heart and soul.

For what seemed the longest and most wonderful moment of his life, Eileen held him close. She was his sweetheart, and he was her man. And the stirring of emotion, so deep and amazing, took his breath away.

It was a long kiss. The kiss of true lovers. And when it was over, he knew he would never forget that very special moment. He would cherish the memory. It would go with him to the grave.

When she released him and looked up into his astonished face, her tender expression revealed the true strength of the love she felt for him. It was there, too, in the light of her shining eyes. She was a woman in love. A woman who trusted him enough to allow him into her heart. In that lingering moment, her eyes told him more than a thousand words ever could.

Then, without warning, her smile was gone; the light in her eyes grew dim, and the cruel cloak of twilight passed over her mind. The magic had flown, and now she was fiddling with her hair, twirling it round and round in her fingers, until it seemed she might pull it out by the roots. ‘Don’t do that, sweetheart.’ He softly laid his hand over hers.

‘Thomas?’

‘Yes, what is it?’

Her face lit up. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

Thomas nodded. ‘I’m glad as well.’ Today was turning out to be a very emotional journey.

‘I’m
really
glad you’re here.’ She was so pleased, she repeated it: ‘I’m glad you’re here.’ Her voice faltered. ‘Did I say that right, Thomas?’

‘Yes, you said it right – twice, in fact.’ The whisper of a smile crossed his face. ‘Well done.’

When he now clapped his hands, she clapped hers too. ‘See!’ She wagged a finger at him. ‘I know what I said, and it’s not raining yet. So get a move on, Thomas, before the skies open!’

Because it had confused her, Thomas was beginning to wish he’d never even mentioned the damned rain!

It was as well she couldn’t see him quietly smiling as he walked with her down the path beside the pretty flower-beds. With every passing second he loved her that little bit more, until his heart was fit to burst. ‘I do love you, Eileen,’ he muttered softly under his breath.

‘That’s ’cause you belong to me,’ she said matter-of-factly.

The tears quickening in his eyes, Thomas pretended not to have heard her. Instead, he said in a firm voice, ‘Watch out, you ducks, here we come!’

As they made their way up the hill, he warned himself that just now, when she claimed that he ‘belonged’ to her, Eileen was probably thinking about her late husband, Ian. She did that often, talking to him as though he was the husband she had loved and lost. Many times she addressed Libby, poor girl, as though her father was still with them.

Both he and Libby had come to accept the situation, but whenever Eileen addressed him as though speaking to her husband, the pain of it all was like a clenched fist inside Thomas.