‘It’ll probably be closed by the time I get there. I’ll find a supermarket or something.’
‘What’s the time then?’
‘It’s almost five-thirty.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. But if you’re worried that your grandson hasn’t arrived yet, I’m sure you needn’t be. It took me much longer to get here than I expected and I didn’t have anywhere near as far to come.’
‘I wasn’t worried. He’s a good driver, and he’s a sensible lad. He’ll be fine. Now go and feed your cat.’
Tom might not have been worried before she spoke but he looked worried now. And so was she. But she couldn’t let Tom know that.
‘Will you ask him to send me a text when he does arrive, please? Only because the doctor hasn’t been to have a word with you and I just want to be sure that you’re okay.’
‘I told you I’m fine. But yes. If it’ll make you happy, I’ll get him to text you. Now go.’
Lara hesitated.
‘I’m in a hospital,’ Tom said, as if reading her mind. ‘Nothing is going to happen to me, but if it does, I’m in the best place for it, so stop worrying, and go.’ He closed one eye and grinned at her.
‘I’m going. Get some sleep.’
Tom closed his other eye and let out a fake snore, making Lara laugh as she left his cubicle.
Spotting the male nurse, Lara went to have a word with him.
‘Sorry to trouble you, but I’ve got to go. Tom’s grandson should be arriving any minute. Tom is okay, isn’t he?’
The man nodded. ‘He’s fine. Don’t you worry, I’ll keep an eye on him until his grandson arrives. What’s his name?’
‘Oh.’ Lara laughed. ‘I don’t know. I’ve only spoken to him on the phone, and I never thought to ask his name. I’ve asked Tom to ask him, whatever his name is, to send me a text to confirm Tom is fine. I know you’re busy, and I hate to ask, but if you see him, the grandson that is, could you ask him to send Lara a text, please?’
‘No problem. I’ll get a message to your mystery man.’ He winked at her.
‘Thanks. Have a good evening. And thanks again for the tea. It was just what the doctor ordered.’
He laughed. ‘Best medicine ever. You have a good evening too.’
Lara hurried towards the exit and was dismayed to see that the rain was torrential yet again. She didn’t want to get in a panic about Tom’s grandson, but she couldn’t help but worry that the man still hadn’t arrived.
She paid for her parking, via the ticket machine, and with her head bent to try to stop the rain hitting her in the face, she ran towards her car.
‘Oh! I’m so sorry,’ she said, knowing it was her fault that she had just run into someone because she couldn’t really see where she was going. Someone tall. Someone solid. Someone withstrong hands. Hands that had grabbed her arms to stop her from toppling backwards.
‘My fault. I didn’t get out of your way. I’m in a hurry. Are you okay?’ The man’s voice was deep and strong but Lara wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or not.
‘I’m fine, thanks.’
‘Great.’ He let go of her and was gone before she had time to say another word, or to get a look at him.
She spun around but a large white van pulled up right in front of her, blocking her view. And then the window opened and an irate man yelled, ‘Gonna move, darlin’? I wanna park in that space and I ain’t got all day.’
‘Nor any manners, apparently,’ she snapped back, and was pleased to see a flicker of surprise on his face.
She turned around with a dramatic twirl and marched off to her car. She wanted to run so that she wouldn’t get drenched, but that oaf might think she was frightened of him, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
She was soaked by the time she shut her car door, and she still had to go and get Nicodemus some cat food. The bed, and toys, and other items she had intended buying could wait, but she needed something for his dinner tonight and for his breakfast in the morning.
This was why she preferred to keep herself to herself. People – and animals – brought problems, responsibilities, worries and headaches. She was tired, cold, and felt like a drowned rat. All she wanted to do was go home, jump in a hot bath, with a large – very large – glass of wine, and go to bed.
But no. She had a cat to shop for and then to feed, and a text to sit and wait for, from a man whose name she didn’t know, about a man she had only met one day ago.
How had her life become so complicated?
