Every now and then he seemed to drift off as if on another planet, and she wondered if it was her own insecurities that were making her doubt his intentions, or if he genuinely wasn’t keen. Maybe, as Eleanora said, he truly did like her but, still, she couldn’t be sure. He might be desperate to end the date for all she knew.
‘Would you like another coffee?’ asked Tom.
‘If you have time, then I’d love one.’
‘Oh, yes, I’m not going anywhere. I’m enjoying myself far too much here.’
It was as though he had read Clara’s thoughts and she blushed, hoping Tom hadn’t noticed. If he hadn’t been looking at her, she would have wanted to punch the air in delight!
Little did Clara realise but Tom hadn’t enjoyed such genial company in ages.
After ordering two more lattes and deciding on one slice of carrot cake to share, Tom leaned back in his chair. He was beginning to relax a little, as he slowly became an expert at diverting from conversations that he didn’t want to indulge in. He knew the key was to keep the conversation light.
‘So, Clara, if you could sum this date up in a song, which song do you think it would be?’
‘Oh, goodness. I don’t know. What would you say?’
‘That’s easy. Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day”. I mean, look around, isn’t this the most perfect day?’
As the sun beat down on Clara’s skin, with the Cherwell flowing gently beside them, she had to admit that everything had been rather perfect. Not to mention the terrific Tom sat in front of her.
‘You know, I have to agree with you. That is ideal. Maybe that should beoursong.’
The moment the words left Clara’s mouth she was mortified. Did she seriously just suggest that they should have their own song on their first date? Clara took one of the two forks on the plate in front of her and plopped a huge mouthful of carrot cake in her mouth to stop her from saying anything else she shouldn’t.
‘Well, it was perfect until you ate all the carrot cake,’ said Tom with a smirk.
‘Oh, goodness. I’m sorry.’
‘I’m just teasing you. I love a woman who enjoys eating. Food is good for the soul.’
‘You’re certainly right there.’
‘Don’t you just love cake though? Nothing like it,’ said Tom, finally digging his fork into his half of the carrot cake. Clara liked a man who understood a sweet tooth. There was nothing worse than a man who looked on scornfully at a woman with a big slab of cake in front of her.
‘There’s nothing better, that’s for sure. So, Tom, now that we’ve established that we both have a love of food in common. what else do we have in common? What about music? Who would you say your favourite band is?’
‘I love Dire Straits and Fleetwood Mac but if I had to say a favourite then it would be Def Leppard. I’ve seen them in concert three times.’
‘Really? I’m so jealous. Is it okay to admit that I’ve always had the biggest crush on Joe Elliott?’
It made Tom laugh that this gregarious clergywoman had a crush on the lead singer of a rock band. How she made him smile.
‘It’s okay. Everyone in the Eighties did, even me! I mean, how did he get his hair that good? I tried and ended up with the most hideous mullet.’
‘A mullet? Seriously? No, I can’t imagine.’
Clara and Tom laughed so hard that the table behind them turned to look. The strangers smiled at the couple who appeared as though they had known each other for years.
‘I need photo evidence or it didn’t happen. Come on. Please tell me you have a Facebook account with old pics,’ said Clara.
‘I’m not on social media, actually.’
Clara instantly detected a change in the tone of Tom’s voice. She thought everyone was on social media nowadays, although she could certainly understand the appeal of not being answerable to perpetual messages and likes.
‘Oh, that must be nice. It can become a full-time job. I once didn’t put a thumbs up on a christening event and was unfriended by the mum. It can be very fractious on there.’
‘Indeed.’
