Page 53 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
Jennifer stared at him. The voices had started up again, one telling her to just drag him into the bushes, another that she needed to remain celibate and alone as long as possible in order to consider herself healed, and another that it wouldn’t hurt to just eat dinner in his company, bearing in mind that eating was something she would need to do at some point, her stomach already grumbling.
However, there was always a stumbling block.
‘I need to walk my dog,’ she said.
Tom grinned. ‘In that case, I’ve got a great idea,’ he said. ‘How about this? I walk your dog down to the nearest pub, leave it tied up outside while I have a pint, and in the meantime you cook me dinner. When you’re ready, you can call a taxi to pick me up, and then walk down to get your dog while I sit on your sofa and watch TV?’
Jennifer tilted her head. ‘Um, are you serious?’
Tom laughed. ‘No, of course, not. I love dogs. Let’s walk him together then pick up some cheap takeaway befitting our twin statuses of teacher and gardener. I know a Chinese place which almost certainly uses yesterday’s grease, or a fish n’ chips shop which does two-for-one after seven p.m. on weeknights. And to prove I’m not trying to weasel my way into your house, we can sit on the pavement outside to eat, or even walk up here, find a sheltered bench, and eat under the streetlights.’
‘It sounds like the height of romance.’
‘Even better if it’s raining.’
Jennifer smiled. ‘All right, why not?’
They headed for hers to pick up Bonky. Jennifer felt a little tingle of excitement as she walked alongside Tom, talking easily about nothing. When they reached her flat, she turned to Tom and said, ‘You can come up, just while I get Bonky’s lead. Don’t mind the mess. It’s normal.’
‘You should see my place. Looks like one giant washing machine drum.’
Bonky started yapping at her feet as soon as she opened the door. Recognising Tom, the dog gave his ankles a rapid circuit, before continuing to badger Jennifer. Jumping down from the sofa, James came sauntering over, ignored Jennifer completely and began rubbing Tom’s legs.
‘Oh, I forgot you said you have a cat. I love cats.’
‘Don’t pick him up, he hates it—’
Too late, Tom had scooped James up into his arms, and the old cat flopped against his shoulder, head resting in the crux between Tom’s shoulder and ear, for all intents and purposes a furry baby. His purring was so loud it could be heard even over Bonky’s relentless whine.
‘What a sweetheart,’ Tom said, gently stroking James’s back. ‘I wish I still had cat. I haven’t had once since I was a kid, though. I’ve befriended most of the strays around Sycamore Park but I’m technically not allowed to feed them. I have to take them for neutering to keep the population down.’ He grinned. ‘Every time I spot a litter of kittens I bring them into the shack, domesticate them and pass them off to the local old ladies. Let me know if you need a couple more. There’s always a litter or two in the spring.’
Jennifer couldn’t help but shake her head. ‘I knew you liked animals, but I never took you for a cat lady.’
‘We had five while I was growing up. A couple of dogs too. And a chinchilla, which used to live freely around the house. All the cats and dogs were scared of it. You remember that Tom and Jerry cartoon where Jerry dresses the elephant up as a giant mouse?’
‘I think so, yeah.’
‘My parents loved pets, bless their hearts. They’ve both passed on now. And I’m too busy with the park to really take on a pet full time. I do have a few goldfish, though.’
‘Do they all have names?’
Tom smiled. ‘Of course. Now, if I can put this baby down for a while, we can walk Bonky down to the chip shop. It’ll be just past seven by the time we get there. Or would you prefer greasy Chinese food?’
‘Are they close?’
‘Across the street.’
‘Why don’t we get chips from one, and greasy noodles from the other, and double down?’
‘Sounds like a plan.’
James reluctantly allowed Tom to put him back on the sofa. They headed out with Bonky down to the two local takeaways, both at the far end of Willis Lane. Jennifer, who always headed through Sycamore Park, hadn’t explored this part of town much, but found there was a cluster of decent shops and pubs around the junction with the main road heading into town.
They picked up the food and headed back. When they got to Jennifer’s building, Tom sat down on the pavement.
‘I’ll wait here while you take Bonky inside,’ he said.
Jennifer smiled. ‘There’s no way I could let James miss out on another couple of hours of stroking,’ she said. ‘However, it’s a school night….’
