Friday couldn't come quickly enough. Tom sat and looked out of the car window as he drove to yet another interview. Luke was speaking to him, but he wasn't listening to a word.
His mind was rehearsing what he was going to say to Beth. How was he going to tell her that he loved her? They'd barely kissed, let alone had any kind of intimate contact. So how?
"Love. You can't explain it. You can't describe it. It just happens." He recalled that fateful interview. He never for a single second thought it would apply to him.
"So is the 26th ok then?" Luke's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Hmmm?" He turned, not even bothering to pretend he'd been listening.
Luke smirked. "Beth again?"
Tom flushed. "That obvious?" He nodded. "Yeah, been a long week without her." He fiddled with his tie and squirmed in his seat.
"Well, it's almost done, Prince Charming. You'll get to see Cinderella soon enough. But first, I need your attention." He pulled up a couple of entries on his tablet. He turned to speak, and Tom was staring out the window again. Luke smiled and shook his head. This could wait. It was a long time since he'd seen Tom fall this hard. In fact, he'd NEVER seen Tom fall this hard. It was about time.
Beth looked round her flat. Every surface had been cleaned, every cushion plumped, every carpet vacuumed to within an inch of its life. When she was stressed, she cleaned. When she'd been going out with Rob, her house had never looked so immaculate!
Glancing at her watch, she saw it was 4.30. It was time for a cuppa and a sit down before she went to shower. She'd done the food shop that morning, and everything was prepped, so all she had to do was cook. Steak, Hassleback potatoes, broccoli, and a peppercorn sauce. Not very adventurous, but something she knew she was half decent at. She was going to be nervous enough without making an attempt at a new dish. Oh, and cake. Naturally. Chocolate cake and cream.
Smiling to herself, she made herself a coffee. As she waited for the kettle to boil, she nipped through to the bedroom and undressed, slipping on her robe. Padding back through barefoot, she poured the water into the mug.
The sound of the doorbell shattered the quiet. Beth jumped in fright and almost spilt her coffee. "SHIT!" she cursed and walked through, Tom was early, she wasnt ready. Oh well, there was nothing she could do now.
She carried her mug with her, a smile splitting her face. She reached up and opened the door. As she swung it open, she looked up and dropped the mug onto the floor, shattering it and spilling the contents all over the tiles.
"Oh my God!" Was all she could say as the tall figure walked in, a smile on his face to make the blood run cold. She tried to shut the door in his face, but he was too strong.
"Well, hello again, Beth, told you I'd see you again." Rob Brewster smiled coldly and pushed her onto the hall floor, shutting the door behind him. "Glad to see you dressed down for me. Saves time, eh?"
"Fuck you!" She hissed as she tried to get up. Slipping on the coffee puddle on the floor, she crashed back down, cutting her hand on a shard of mug.
"Oh my dear, you took the words out of my mouth." He grabbed her wrist and yanked her to her feet. "Now, where's the bedroom?"
Tom looked along the street as he got home. The bedroom light was on in Beth's house. She must be getting ready. He smiled. Opening his door, he carefully put the bottle of wine on the hall table.
Bobby came running through, tail wagging. He bent down and fussed him. "Quick walk then I have to go out Bobs. Seeing Beth tonight." He coukd have sworn the little dog winked at him.
Ten minutes later, he had walked and fed his best doggy friend. He quickly showered and changed. Jeans, green sweater, and suede Jacket. The sweater was soft cashmere. It was an indulgence he took as often as possible. It had become his off duty uniform of choice these days, and he relished the feeling of it as he put it on.
The wickedly hopeful part of him hoped Beth would like it enough to remove it for him.
Grabbing the wine, he ruffled Bobby's head. "Be good ok, Bobs? Tomorrow, you and me and Beth will take you for a long walk. Maybe we can go to the beach, eh?" The little dog looked up, his bright eyes shining. "See you later, little man!" He trotted down the steps and away, the door closing behind him.
Well, almost. These damn doors. He cursed and walked back. They were old, and a bit temperamental. Giving it a good slam, it closed this time. He would have to remember to warn Beth about hers.
He tried not to run along the road, he was supposed to be an adult after all. Not a little boy on Christmas morning running downstairs. That's exactly how he felt. Excited, nervous, slightly sick. All the symptoms. Definitely a bad case of love. One he hoped he never recovered from.
As he climbed the steps to her front door, he paused. The door was open. Just a little. Pushing it gently, he wished he had run. In the hall, a broken mug and spilled coffee. Blood stains on the floor made his own run cold. Christ above what had happened?
"BETH? BETH ARE YOU OK?" He shouted dashing into the living room. It was empty, the only sign of life was the tv was on. Putting the wine on the table, he turned, pulling his phone out as he did so.
"BETH! BETH DARLING?" now he was beginning to panic. Just as he began to dial 999 she appeared. She wasnt alone. She was dragging a man by the hair. A man with a black eye and an apparently broken nose.
"Sorry love, was busy dealing with this... this trash. Put it out for me would you?" She flung him on the floor where he whimpered. "Shut up you or I'll do it again." She raised her hand and he winced.
"No. Please. I'll go." He crawled to the door, Tom picking him up and as he opened the door, he threw him into the street. Rob tumbled down the steps and landed in a heap at the bottom. Scrambling to his feet, he limped away without so much as a whimper.
Tom closed the door, instinctively locking it. His face was a study in shock and confusion. Beth stood, her robe covered in coffee and blood stains at his back. "I... I think dinner might be a bit late." She said quietly and proceeded to stagger into his arms.
"Oh darling, whatever happened? And who the hell did you just have me throw out?" He was shocked, this was beyond anything he could have imagined.
"I promise to tell you everything but just hold me Tom, hold me and tell me it's ok? Hold me and don't let go.?" She burst into tears, all the fear and emotion released at last.
"Oh Kitten its all going to be ok, I promise." He held her tightly then scooped her into his arms, carrying her into the living room. Setting her on the sofa, he sat with her, rocking her gently. "My poor darling. I'm here and I'm not letting go."
As he waited for her to calm, he had the feeling she was the bravest woman he had ever known. He would wait a lifetime for her.
YOU ARE READING
In His Eyes
أدب الهواةBeth Williams was independent and feisty, according to her mother. To her brother? Pig headed and stubborn. She'd never really cared that much about either opinion. She was her own woman, loving and living, beholden to nobody. Until she wasn't. Sudd...
