And she felt something release, as if her whole body had breathed out and relaxed.
‘What are you smiling at?’
‘The imperfect couple. It sounds perfect!’
He laughed.
‘Like the imperfect pot, which reminds me…’
He lifted her head and went through to the kitchen where his jacket was hanging over the back of a chair.
‘I brought this to give to you.’
She sat up and unwrapped the dark blue tissue paper.
‘Tasha’s jug!’
She turned it around, letting the gold tracery catch the light.
‘It’s beautiful. Thank you.’
‘You can take it back to Manchester when you go so you don’t forget us, any of us.’
‘As if I could ever do that. This place has been one of the best things that ever happened to me. I’ll have to go back for a while, though. I need to sort out my job and I need to report Gavin.’
‘I know.’
‘Manchester’s a long way from here.’
‘Nowhere would be too far for me.’
‘That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.’
‘And I know you’ll come back.’
‘You sound as if you’ve always known that.’
‘I’ve always hoped. Besides, you’ve got a bowl to glaze and Erin refuses to do it for you.’
‘She’s sneaky, your daughter,’ she said with a smile. ‘So many people have helped to bring us together, seen and unseen. I don’t want to let them down. I don’t want to let you down.’
‘You won’t.’
He sat next to her as she cradled Tasha’s jug and savoured her good fortune.
‘There’s something or someone good in this house – a strong spirit of love,’ she said. ‘Can you feel it?’
‘I can,’ he replied, the tip of his nose touching the tip of hers, ‘and at the risk of frightening you away, I love you, Jules.’
He backed away slightly and placed a finger to her lips.
‘You don’t have to say you love me back. I knew you were someone very special the first time I saw you and I’m prepared to wait for as long as it takes.’
She kissed the end of his finger. She could say it now. She was pretty sure she would mean it, but she had to be absolutely sure. He was too precious to mislead.
‘Thank you for that,’ she said. ‘I don’t think you’ll have to wait long.’
He traced his finger around her lips.
