‘After what?’ she asked, staring back at her.
‘After he dropped Noah at the train station.’
‘Why is he dropping Noah at the train station?’
‘He’s going home – back to London. He said there was no point hanging around after you didn’t show up or message.’
Elle’s heart plummeted. ‘But there were reasons. I need to try and catch him,’ she said urgently.
Jessica picked up the phone. ‘I’ll ring Dan.’
Elle was relieved when he answered straightaway. ‘Dan, how long until Noah’s train leaves?’
Elle watched as Jessica balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder, then glanced at her watch. ‘Thirty minutes.’ She hung up the call. ‘If you want to catch him you need to go now. The water taxi is just about to leave. I’ll order you a cab from The Little Blue Boathouse and you might just make it. But you’ll need to hurry.’
For a split second, Elle felt like time had stood still.
‘Go!’ Jessica ordered. ‘Go and get your man!’ She thrust Elle’s bag towards her. ‘I’ll pay the bill.’
A mixture of panic and excitement surged through Elle as she hurried towards the exit of the restaurant.
‘Let me know how you get on,’ Jessica called after her.
‘Will do,’ she shouted back, but as soon as she was safely on the water taxi, Elle realised she didn’t have her number.
* * *
Twenty-five minutes later the taxi pulled into the train station car park. Panicked, Elle paid the driver, hoping she was in time. Glancing up at the huge clock hanging from the red-brick wall she saw that there were five minutes until the train left. Elle quickly followed the signs to platform two, running as fast as her legs could carry her, weaving in and out of the other commuters, until she hit something solid and suddenly found herself stumbling to the ground, the contents of her bag spilling everywhere.
‘I’m so sorry.’ An apologetic man extended his hand and helped her up. ‘That was my fault, I wasn’t looking where I was going.’
‘That’s okay,’ she said hurriedly, bending down to scoop up the contents of her handbag.
‘Sorry again!’ he called after her as she rushed onwards.
Out of breath but incredibly relieved, Elle spotted Noah at the other end of the platform.
She waved frantically and shouted his name but Noah didn’t hear her as he stepped onto the waiting train.
‘Noah!’ Elle yelled again and began to sprint up the platform but it was too late.
The doors of the train shut and the whistle blew. The train began to move.
Quickly she rummaged inside her bag and grabbed her phone. She called Pippa, who, to her relief, picked up after a couple of rings. ‘Pippa, are you at home?’
‘Yes, why? Are you okay? You sound a little—’
‘Never mind that,’ Elle interrupted. ‘I need you to go into the kitchen and text me Noah’s number. His card is on the pinboard. Quickly.’
‘Is everything okay?’
‘Yes, but hurry.’ She hung up and willed her phone to beep.
As soon as the number came through, Elle rang him immediately.
‘You have reached the voicemail of Noah Jones.’
Damn.
