‘They look old,’ he says.
‘Aye, from the seventeenth century, some of these are,’ says Emrys, as he puts down a menu on our table.
‘You see, we have history here, just like Prague,’ I say.
‘And good food too, by the looks of this menu,’ says Tomas, as he scans through it.
‘Exactly. The same as Prague.’
We both decide to order the pie and when the huge meal arrives, Tomas looks pleased with his choice.
‘This looks amazing.’
‘Just wait until you taste it.’
Emrys has always had a knack for making the most flavoursome gravy in his pies. In fact, he is famous for them.
Over lunch, we talk about Prague and the fact that Tomas has to get back to his fledgling business. I have got used to his company and will miss him. We agree that we’ll keep in touch, though, and make the most of this long-distance relationship as much as we can. Still, I make the most of having someone to enjoy a pub lunch with, and by the time we have finished chatting, it is almost time for the kitchen to close for the lunchtime orders.
‘Now, you two love birds, will you be having a dessert?’
‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly,’ I say.
‘Are you sure? Special today is sticky toffee pudding or jam roly poly and custard.’
‘Jam roly poly? What’s that?’ asks Tomas. I suppose it does sound strange if you are not familiar with it, and he was probably too busy in the pubs of Cardiff to be thinking of traditional British dishes when he was at uni.
‘Oh, I guess he’s going to have to try the roly poly after all. Two spoons, though, please,’ I tell Emrys.
‘You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten jam roly poly,’ I tease Tomas.
Even though I am fit to burst, I can’t stop myself from devouring the sticky strawberry jam that is lavishly spread out between the layers of roly poly. Tomas enjoys it so much that when Emrys comes to collect our empty bowls, he asks him for the recipe.
Whatever I do with Tomas is always enjoyable, but a long and lazy pub lunch is another of the perfect ways to spend the day with him. By the time we eventually leave, the sun is going down over the trees.
‘We’d better walk fast, we don’t want to get stuck out in the woods in the dark,’ I warn Tomas.
‘Maybe if we get lost in the woods, I’ll miss my flight tomorrow and have to stay a while,’ he says.
‘As much as I’d love that, you’d probably have hypothermia by the time we were found out here,’ I say.
The temperature is dropping fast, and we need to keep walking to maintain our body heat.
‘I know. I do wish I didn’t have to leave though.’
‘Yeah, me too. But you have a new business to launch, and it’s an exciting time for you.’
‘I don’t know if it will be so exciting without you there.’
‘Well, I’ll come over as soon as I can. I promise.’
‘I hope so.’
Tomas puts his arm around my waist and holds me tight as we walk back to the mill. As I think about how close we have become, I realise that I don’t care where we are; being together is what matters. It amazes me that I have been guarded for so long, yet now I have fallen for someone so fast.
‘When you leave, you’d better write to me. Just like Aunt Grace and Marek did,’ I tell Tomas.
He smiles. ‘I promise. I will phone you, write to you and video call you.’
