Held To Ransome

Blossoming

"Callie? You home lovie?" the voice drifted in through the open door along with the afternoon sunshine.

Callie was sitting at the kitchen table, writing a shopping list when Emily popped her head round the kitchen door and smiled. Being a basket case was hungry work! She pulled out the chair beside her.

"Hi Em, you ok? Thanks for keeping an eye on the house. Hope I didn't put you to any bother? Fancy a brew before I head out? Need to get something other than cheese sandwiches to eat."

"Yes, that be lovely but I actually I have a question." she was still hanging around the door and Callie began to get a little suspicious. "Do you have a vase?"

"Do I have a what?" now she was suspicious and puzzled. She stood up and Emily walked in, presenting her with the huge bouquet she'd been guarding with her life. "Oh MY! Are they for ME?" she took them, sniffing the perfume of a dozen roses. "Why? Who?"

Emily smiled "Who do you THINK you silly girl?" she winked "Put them in water and I'll make the cuppa. I have loads to tell you!"

Half an hour later, the flowers were resting nicely in their vase and the two women were resting on the sofa, drinking coffee and eating gingernuts. "So" Emily picked the crumbs off her top as Callie gazed at the blooms again, "He came round last night"

"He did NOT!" Callie snapped her head round "He came HERE? Why?"

"Well, not here exactly, more a near miss!" Emily proceeded to tell Callie all about the previous night's hilarities and the chat that had subsequently taken place. "So I hope you're not annoyed at us, we just wanted him to be careful of you. You're very special to us, you do know that don't you?"

"People keep telling me that" she shook her head a little incredulous, "don't see it myself."

"Well you are, and that's all there is to it. No arguments. " Emily smiled, "the main thing is Tom came round to see you. And he was no more bothered by your revelation than we were. He's a good, kind man - just exactly like you thought in the first place."

Callie looked at her and smiled "I do like him." she blushed "Quite a lot."

"I know you do, Terry knows you do, but does Tom know you do?"

"Oh God no!" She shook her head and sat back down, "I can't tell him! He just wants to be friends for goodness sake" she looked aghast "You didn't say anything? Please tell me you didn't say anything?"

Emily laughed and hugged her, "Calm down, quite the opposite. We just said you were a delicate flower that needed to be treated gently. We told him that if he hurt you in any way we'd turn him into the next Wicker Man."

"You did NOT!"

"No you silly moo, we didn't, but you are Callie, delicate. Even if you won't admit it. Please be careful ok? And we're here for you, any time." Emily stood up and put her cup in the sink then went to the door. "I wouldn't moon about too much lovely, he's bound to come back round today once he hears you're back. He's staying at the pub. Just in case you happen to pass it. You know, by chance." with a smile and a wink, she was gone.

Tom was sat outside the pub, enjoying the sunshine. A pint of beer warming gently in the sun, a packet of crisps, what more could he ask for? He was virtually ignored by the few people that were actually about. Not in a "oh look it's a stranger" kind of way, more a "oh look it's Loki and he's on a day off from mischief, lets leave him to it" kind of way. They nodded and smiled and walked on without stopping. As the afternoon wore on, he began to relax and doze off in the warmth. He began to dream a little. Of giant snakes, of running over the marshes and of women in long skirts waving to him." he came to with a snuffly snore and a furtive look around. No-one had seen or heard thankfully. Damn, that book was taking over his dreams.

He was just sinking the last of his pint, ready to leave and go for a walk when a voice to his left caught his attention.

"The flowers are beautiful - thank you." it was a light, soft voice. A voice he'd know anywhere. He turned and Callie was standing , bag of groceries in one hand, smiling at him. She looked tired, but he noted, happier than the last time he'd seen her.

"My pleasure - I hoped you'd like them. I wasn't sure what your favourite kind were so I just got them all." he shrugged. He walked over and gently laid a hand on her arm. "It's good to see you. Really good." He looked into her face and she blushed, feeling a warmth grip her from the inside.

"It's nice to see you too. I thought you wouldn't be back for a few days?" she became aware that they were standing very close and she could feel his breath on her face.

"We've been delayed. I - I wanted to spend the extra time with my friend. My good friend." he didn't let go, his hand caressing her arm, almost unconsciously.

"Your... good... friend" she felt her breath ragged, her pulse racing. She looked up at him. For a moment they stood and there was an impossibly small movement towards each other.

"Very... good" he swallowed thickly, eyes locked on hers.

Suddenly she jumped back, dropping her shopping..

"Owwwww!" she yelled and sucked the back of her hand. A large red weal started to appear where a wasp had stung her. Tears formed in her eyes, not entirely to do with the sting. Tom grasped her hand gently as he retrieved the contents of the bag.

"There, that saved the oranges from the dust and I don't think the eggs are broken. Come on, I know just how to soothe that sting. Have you got any vinegar at home?" he walked off, taking her with him.

She nodded, half listening, half crying with the pain. It might have just been a little wasp but it was a big moment. And it had been interrupted in the most unfortunate of ways. Would she ever get that back? Who knew. All she knew now was that she was beginning to feel her hand swell and she needed some antihistamine.

Tom escorted her home and, getting the correct house this time, he sat her down in the kitchen. Directing him to where the vinegar was, he retrieved it and poured some onto a kitchen towel. Dabbing the back of her hand, she could feel it relieving some of the sting. An antihistamine and a cup of medicinal tea later, she was beginning to feel more human.

"Thanks - I seem to be saying that rather a lot to you today." she smiled as he sat opposite her in the small living room, munching on some of the chocolate biscuits that she'd bought with her shopping. "Would - would you like to stay for dinner?" she hardly dared ask.

For a moment Tom seemed to be thinking. Coming up with an excuse? She almost jumped in to stop him having to. "if..."

"I'd like that. Very much. " he smiled and nodded. "On one condition."

"Ok?"

"You let me go and fetch a bottle of wine. It's the least I can do, contribute to our first meal together." he winked and she melted. Despite her best intentions, she couldn't stop thinking about them sitting in front of her fire sharing the wine, sharing... she was brought back into the room and reality when he stood up and said "after all, it's a sad day when a couple of friends can't share a bottle of wine of an evening eh? Won't be long love." He left and she watched as he walked down the path, waving as he went. She would never have believed how disappointed she would be to be called a friend of Tom Hiddleston.

Tom strode along the road, trying not to think about what he'd just said. And why? Because he was sure, somewhere deep down, he'd made a sweeping statement that had crushed both their intentions. Friends? He called them friends? Good God Hiddleston, are you really that naïve? Are you STILL kidding yourself you just want to be her friend?

Until she showed him otherwise, he would just have to, wouldn't he?