Eleanora almost tipped the round bar table over as she reached over to hug Clara.
‘I knew you’d do it. I knew it.’
‘Obviously, I am honoured and delighted but I have a feeling that once I sleep on it, I might panic. I mean, I am leaving the life I love for it.’ Clara grimaced.
‘Oh, it’ll be fine. You’ll soon settle in, I’m sure.’
‘I hope so. At least the silver lining is that I won’t have to leave Tom now.’
‘I’m guessing you haven’t heard anything further from him.’
‘Nope. He’s not been in touch again. I’m glad he had the decency not to force anything further. In fairness to him, he reached out to me and I didn’t respond and that was it. He totally respected my decision.’
‘That’s good. I think he’s a good man, just has his issues. Are you okay about it all now?’
‘Yes, I’ve accepted it. I do wonder how things might have worked out had he been different, but I have to accept that he’s a complicated man.’
‘People can change though.’
‘Yeah, they can but I don’t want to be hurt by him again. I couldn’t bear it. It’s hard when you haven’t had much love in your life. I don’t exactly have a benchmark.’
‘You have the love of God and all your friends. Everyone loves you.’
‘I know. I’m so grateful for that but I mean romantic love. I’ve even wondered if I was unlovable in a romantic sense at times. Men always see me as a mate and never in a romantic way. Look at Charlie. It’s always been the same, even though I never saw him like that. They don’t realise that I’ve often wanted to curl up in a guy’s arms instead of being the one they banter with. It feels as though Tom was the first person to see me as a woman and not as one of the lads. Mad, isn’t it?’
‘No matter what happened, I’m still glad you both met. I really think it’s awoken something in you. He brought such a smile to your face.’
‘He did and, yes, he made me realise how much I enjoy male companionship. All my life, I’ve been pretty much single and it was nice to finally have someone to share things with, even if it was short-lived.’
‘You never know. You might see each other again.’
‘I very much doubt it. Unless he can get himself together then that’s never going to happen.’
‘Well, that’s a great shame. You two seemed as though you’d go the distance.’
‘I thought we might too, but it’s history now. It was wonderful while it lasted, but it wasn’t meant to be and I suppose I was meant to take up a great job offer instead. Sometimes people come into your life for a reason, or to teach you a lesson. I might have saved his life, but I’m still not sure what my lesson from Tom was.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find out one day.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Clara.
However, as she sipped on her drink, she knew it was more important to think about the new start that lay ahead. She had never been someone who dwelled on situations that were out of her control.
‘It’s time for a new beginning, I suppose. I’ll have to start thinking about informing Lawrence. I wouldn’t want a request for a reference to land in his inbox before I’ve told him.’
‘There is only one thing to do then. Time to give in your notice,’ said Eleanora, clinking her glass with Clara’s.
‘To new beginnings...’
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Clara tried to steady her nerves as she mentally prepared what she was going to say to Lawrence. She had worked herself into a right tizz by the time she knocked on his office door to let him know that she was handing in her notice after all these years. She bravely rehearsed the words she was about to say.
Unfortunately, though, she was greeted with Lawrence telling her to return later as he was having a meeting with Professor Binton. She wondered if it was a sign. What if she wasn’t meant to give in her notice? Was it too late to back out?
No, she had accepted the position last night and, besides, her fate was sealed further when Lawrence caught up with her mid-morning.
‘Sorry about that earlier. What was it you wanted to talk about? You looked concerned. Is everything okay?’
