Page 23 of Sunny Sundays at Primrose Hall

‘Hey, how are things?’ she asked.

‘Yep, okay. I’ve just dropped Pia back at the hall. We’ve been over at the hospital most of the afternoon. Jackson was pretty much out of it following his operation so we’ve left him to sleep it off. Fingers crossed, it’s looking as though they might have put him back together again. We shall have to see, but I know Pia was hugely relieved tonight. I’ve told her she needs to catch up on her sleep too. She’s been running on adrenaline these last twenty-four hours.’

‘I bet. I still can’t really believe that it’s happened. He was so lucky that it wasn’t any worse. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’ Sophie heard the sharp intake of breath at the other end of the line. ‘You must be pretty shattered too,’ she added.

‘Yes.’ There was a moment’s hesitation. ‘It was good to get your message.’

She nodded, not that he’d be able to see, of course, but she understood the emotion and fatigue she heard in his voice.

‘I’m going to head home now, pick up some food on the way and then unwind for a couple of hours. Then I’ll give some thought to what needs to be done in preparation for the weekend. Pia has enough on her plate, I don’t want her stressing about the car show as well.’

‘Yes, well, if there’s anything I can do to help, then let me know.’ She knew it was a futile offer. What could she possibly do to help, other than provide some emotional support, of course?

‘Thanks, Sophie, that’s kind of you. I know I’ll appreciate seeing a friendly face, that’s for sure.’

‘Look,’ she said on impulse, ‘I was just about to pop some fishcakes in the oven. I haven’t eaten yet either. You’re morethan welcome to join me if you’d like to. I’m sure the last thing you want to think about right now is food.’

There was a noticeable pause at the other end of the line. Tom was probably thinking how to let her down gently.

‘I’d hate to put you to any trouble.’

‘No trouble whatsoever. It’s not fine dining, but it will fill a hole if you’re hungry. Only if you want to, of course. If I was you, I’d probably want to get home and collapse into bed.’ She said it lightly so that he had an easy get-out clause if he wanted one.

‘Well, to be honest with you, there was a part of me dreading going back to the flat and fishcakes round at yours sounds like a much more exciting proposition.’

She laughed.

‘Well, I can’t promise excitement, but I’ll look forward to seeing you round here whenever you’re ready.’

‘Give me twenty minutes,’ he said.

Perfect, she thought. Just the right amount of time to put some new potatoes on to boil, to put the fishcakes in the oven and to prepare some green beans which she would cook once Tom had arrived. A beat of anticipation fluttered in her chest, as she quickly ran around the cottage tidying things away, lighting a candle and plumping up cushions. She dashed upstairs and cleaned her teeth, applied some mascara and some bronzer over her cheeks, before brushing out her hair and giving herself one last glance in the mirror. She even gave a quick squirt of her expensive perfume on her wrists and behind her ears, all the time wondering why she was going to so much trouble. If it had been Pia coming round then she knew she wouldn’t be going to the same effort, so why had welcoming Tom into her home brought about such a sense of anticipation? Probably something to do with the way her heart in her chest was acting out of sorts too. Thankfully she didn’t have long to consider that predicament because soon Tom was standing on her doorstep.

‘Come in,’ she said, greeting him with a hug. If she’d hoped that seeing Tom in person might put paid to the unexpected emotions she’d been experiencing then she was mistaken. He looked incredibly handsome tonight in black jeans and a half-zipped cream jumper, and again the wispy scent of oranges taunted her nostrils. He clearly hadn’t tried hard in the same way as she had, but he might as well have done for the effect it had on her. His dark brown hair curled at his collar and weariness was etched around his eyes, which only served to accentuate his vulnerability.

If anything, seeing him again heightened the realisation that she’d grown attached to Tom in a way that she could never have expected.

‘Let me get you a drink,’ she offered.

While Sophie pottered in the kitchen, Tom rested against the worktop and she listened attentively as he told her about Jackson and everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours.

‘It couldn’t have come at a worse time, what with the show coming up this weekend, but then I suppose that’s a valuable life lesson. What is it they say about best-laid plans? It’s a reminder that we can’t take any of this for granted.’ He opened up his palms to the sky. ‘None of us know what’s waiting for us around the corner.’

‘It’s true.’ Sophie sighed and poured out two glasses of white wine, handing one to Tom. ‘It makes you realise how quickly everything can change in an instant.’

‘It’s shaken Pia up obviously but with Jackson it’s hard to tell what’s going on beneath the surface. I think to him it’s more of an inconvenience than anything else, but that might be because he’s not faced up to the emotional consequences of it yet. He likes to take charge of everything in his life, but this is something entirely out of his control. This will cramp his style for a while,that’s for sure, but you know, I’m sure he’ll come out the other side, as determined as ever, raring to forge on with all his big ideas and plans.’ Tom gave a wry smile and Sophie couldn’t help but notice the admiration in his voice.

‘He must be so relieved that he’s got you to rely on while he’s out of action.’

‘Well, I certainly didn’t need to think twice when he asked me. He’s my brother and I’ll do anything I can to help. I just hope I don’t let him down, that’s all.’

‘Why would you say that?’ Sophie looked up from where she was scrabbling about in a drawer, finding her best cutlery. Her gaze snagged on his. ‘You’re two of a kind and Jackson appreciates that. I guess it must be strange for both of you, finding your way as brothers when you’ve only known each other for… what is it, less than a year?’

Tom nodded.

‘Mind you, you would never know that to look at you both. To me, it’s as though you’ve known each other for ever.’

‘Well, I like to think we’re making up for lost time. You know, it’s kind of strange. I had this overriding desire to find out where I’d come from, who my real father was and in doing so I discovered I had a brother as well. That was a real bonus to me, the icing on the cake, although I’m not sure Jackson saw it in the same way.’ Tom chuckled to himself. ‘To him, I was just some interloper whose intentions he couldn’t quite work out. It was only thanks to Pia and Ronnie, who welcomed me up at the hall and made sure I was included in the family get-togethers, that we managed to find a connection. You know, I think Jackson might actually be getting to like me now, despite his best intentions.’

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