Page 23 of The Midnight Bakery
Tam shook his head. ‘I didn’t always work in a care home…But no, I don’t come from a long line of farming stock, I’m just interested in our countryside. It’s always been a passion of mine.’
She nodded, but her expression was closed. It was clear she didn’t want to pursue the conversation. ‘I hope Jack has told you how grateful we are,’ she said, sitting down opposite. ‘I had visions of arriving home to find him in the throes of some hideous bug.’
‘He has, but it’s fine, honestly. I was glad to help. Will you be able to sort something with your car?’
‘Oh yes, I’ll give our local mechanic a ring in a bit. Clive’s very good, but there’s no point contacting him before ten at least.’ She smiled. ‘He doesn’t like early mornings.’
‘The man’s in his seventies, though,’ added Jack. ‘You can hardly blame him.’
Tam took a sip of his coffee. Beth was right, it was very fine coffee indeed. It was the kind he would love to drink every morning too. At a table just like this one. In a house surrounded by rolling fields, just like he used to have. He cleared his throat. ‘I’ll finish this and get out of your way.’
‘No rush.’
Beth smiled, but the conversation had faltered, and he was beginning to feel like a spare part. She probably had a million and one things to do, sleep being one of them.
‘I ought to get home anyway,’ he replied, pointedly checking his watch. ‘Got a bit of shopping to pick up before my shift starts.’ The coffee was still too hot, but he gulped down several mouthfuls.
Beth dipped her head, acknowledging his statement and ignoring his lie. ‘Have you worked there long?’ she asked.
‘Few months,’ Tam replied. ‘But I like it.’ He swallowed the rest of his drink. ‘Thanks again. This is the best coffee I’ve had in a long while. Anyway, I hope you get your car sorted out. It was nice to meet you, Jack.’
‘You too. Are you sure about the book? I’m sure we could come to some arrangement.’ He checked himself. ‘Actually, take it, please. A small recompense for your help. I can easily order another copy.’ He grinned. ‘Thank heaven for Amazon.’
Tam opened his mouth to argue, but then closed it again. ‘Then thank you. I know I’ll enjoy it.’ He picked up the copy ofWildingand got to his feet.
‘I’ll walk you to the door,’ said Beth.
‘It’s been lovely to meet you, Tam,’ she added softly as they reached the threshold. ‘And obviously, I’m very grateful but – don’t take this the wrong way – it isn’t necessarily a good idea for Jack to go dreaming about this place again. Ultimately he…’ She took a deep breath. ‘He gets frustrated, and then he gets angry, and then…he gets depressed.’ Her look was a little embarrassed. ‘I just try to head it off where I can. I’m sure you understand.’
Tam did, but he didn’t think she was right. He nodded though. It probably wasn’t a good idea for him to stay much longer either. ‘No problem. And it’s not as if there’s any reason for me to stay in touch, is there?’
‘No…’ She lowered her voice even further. ‘You’re usually asleep when I pass, but if you ever need anything, maybe I could return the favour some day? Just…I don’t know…Maybe leave a note on my windscreen, or something?’
He nodded. ‘Thank you. Although I have been wondering whether I ought to rethink where I’ve been stopping. It doesn’t do to stay in one place for too long so…’ He let his sentence trail off. He didn’t want to explain that in all likelihood drugs were being dealt only a few metres away from where she’d been parking. The grey van had always gone by the time Beth returned to her car, so whatever was going on would never affect her. She had enough on her plate without worrying about that too.
She looked surprised. ‘That’s not on account of me, I hope?’
‘No, no…it’s the way it goes, that’s all. I’ll be there for a bit though, I expect. Got to find somewhere suitable first.’
She wanted to know more; he could see the questions forming in her head, but she held them back. ‘Okay…bye then.’
He smiled. ‘Bye, Beth.’
15
Beth
‘He seemed like a nice chap,’ said Beth, returning to the kitchen. Jack was still sitting at the table, mug in hand. He had that look on his face, the one where he was lost in his dreams, far away from the day’s reality. ‘I was lucky he was around.’
‘And not an axe murderer.’
She slid him a look. ‘Don’t…I all but called him that.’
Jack winced. ‘Point taken. Hopefully there won’t be a next time, but if there is, call a taxi, just in case. I worry about you.’
‘You’re lucky if you can find one. Besides, we don’t have the money for the rates they charge. They fleece you when they find out you don’t live in town.’
‘But in an emergency, Beth. It’s not as if you jump into one every five minutes, and I’d rather have you safe.’
