‘Well, from what my uncle tells me, they sounded good for each other. Not everyone finds the right person. It’s just a shame they found each other but never got to be together,’ says Tomas.
I smile up at Tomas who is looking at me with those big brown eyes. I turn away before I find myself blushing.
‘Yes, indeed.’
Tomas is making me nervous. I am not used to such candid conversations about love, even if it is involving other people.
‘So, where’s this lucky dog?’ I ask, to get him off the subject.
‘Just over here.’
Tomas is excited as we rush towards a bronze plaque on Charles Bridge. The plaque is of a dog that is fixed to a baroque statue of St John Nepomuk. For some reason, the dog is shinier than the rest of the statue.
‘Rub it,’ he says.
‘Rub what?’ I ask.
‘The dog. It’s supposed to bring you luck.’
‘Oh, the dog. Okay.’
I rub the dog and ask for luck. To be fair, this trip hasn’t been particularly lacking in the luck department. I was lucky to bump into Tomas near the stairwell that day, I was lucky to find a gorgeous restaurant last night, and I suppose that I am lucky to be standing here on Charles Bridge, the day before Christmas Eve, in the cold with a warm coat and a hat keeping my head toasty. In fact, I would say Prague is practically oozing luck for me right now. I am also lucky that I will be going home in a few days, and I have practically completed my mission.
Tomas touches the dog after me and then gives me a high-five.
‘There, maybe luck will change for both of us now.’ He smiles, and those beautiful brown eyes light up his face again. Then his phone rings and he looks at the number before answering it.
‘Or maybe not. Sorry, I just have to take this.’
‘Yes, of course.’
He speaks in Czech, and even though I don’t understand anything they are saying, I overhear an angry-sounding female voice down the line.
I hope I haven’t got him into trouble. What if one of my hairs fell out in his car and he has a wife who thinks he is having a torrid affair? As I watch Tomas frown and sound as though he is trying to reason with the woman, I begin to wonder if that dog is so lucky after all.
Chapter Twelve
I look at my watch and realise that Tomas has been on the phone arguing with this woman for ten minutes. I gesture to him that I am leaving. I can’t stand around waiting any longer. He waves at me and indicates that he will catch me up.
The cold air bites at my nose and cheeks as I make my way alone to Wenceslas Square. I pull my scarf tighter around me to keep me cosy. Looking up towards the sky, it appears as if it may snow, but Aunt Grace always used to tell me as a child that in this sort of temperature, it is too cold to snow.
When I arrive at the Christmas market in Wenceslas Square, the smell of food hits me right away, just like the one at the Old Town. I am beginning to think that I could become an expert at sniffing out Christmas markets at this rate and decide on yet another creamy hot chocolate to warm me up. I feel like I could do with some comfort as I worry about Tomas. He is obviously in trouble with someone. Perhaps he is cut from the same cloth as Craig. After all, Tomas is pretty gorgeous. I am sure he could have any woman he wants and who knows if he takes full advantage of that. I clutch onto my hot chocolate for solace. But I soon put it down when I hear a funny tone come from my new mobile phone. When I take it out of my bag, I see that it is my factory-setting message tone. My first text message has come through, and it is from Tomas.
Sorry about that. Where are you?
I decide to ignore the message and put my phone back in my bag. I don’t want the woman I heard during his call stumbling upon a message from me if I respond, no matter how innocently.
So, instead of replying, I look around the little wooden cabins full of foodie treats and then come across some charity stalls that sell local crafts. One of the stalls sells cute puppets on a string and it reminds me of when Aunt Grace gave me a ballet dancer puppet when I was small. Just like her, it was so glamorous. I loved that little toy. She also gave me my first hobby horse. I thought I was a jockey on that thing and took it everywhere. Aunt Grace always had the knack of knowing what to buy me. Seeing the puppets cheers me up, and I remind myself I have done the right thing for her by coming here. As Dewi said, she would do anything for anyone. It makes me realise that I should be more like her. Perhaps I will consider helping the community when I get back home, just like Dewi does, instead of only helping animals and staying away from people.
I am about to make my way to Letná Park when my phone bleeps again. I can see the message without having to open it.
Wait. I can see you.
I look around and see that Tomas is looking directly at me. He waves and then weaves his way through the stalls and the crowds of people, quickly getting closer towards me. I can’t escape.
‘Hi, you disappeared.’
‘I thought I should leave you on the phone. You seemed to be having an issue with something… Or, well, someone.’
