A Parting of the Ways by Rachel Crowther

Author:Rachel Crowther [Crowther, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Chapter Twenty-Six

Faith felt rather sorry for herself on the journey back from Aldeburgh. It had been a lovely weekend, she thought, but – what? Was this just the usual down-in-the-dumps feeling you got at the end of a holiday, or had there been something missing; something she’d been expecting from the trip – apart from the sunshine, of course? Something about James, perhaps. Not feeling as sure of him as she’d hoped after two days together. But that was stupid: how could she doubt anything after that last half hour?

‘Thank you for taking me there,’ she said.

He glanced sideways at her. ‘I thought you’d like it. Everyone loves Aldeburgh. Shame we didn’t get into the sea, though. Have to do that next time.’

James had found a place near Chelmsford that served food all day, according to its website, and they were both surprisingly hungry by the time they arrived. It looked promising from the outside, a pretty village pub with hanging baskets planted up for winter colour, but when they got inside there were no other customers and a sour atmosphere you couldn’t mistake. The barman glowered at them as though they’d walked in on a private argument, which perhaps they had. They could hear dogs barking furiously out the back somewhere.

‘Yes?’ he demanded.

James and Faith exchanged glances. They ordered a drink each, downed it in a hurry and walked out again, leaving a tenner on the bar. For damages, James said, though Faith wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that.

‘What the hell was going on there?’ he asked, as they pulled out of the car park. ‘All those dogs howling?’

Faith laughed, fighting off disappointment. ‘God knows.’

James raised his eyebrows. ‘Perhaps they’re on the menu? When he’s finished cooking up his wife, that is.’

‘Don’t.’

As they drove through the outskirts of the village, between rows of identical grey houses strung along the main road that led to the dual carriageway, he put his hand on her knee. ‘What shall we do? Try somewhere else?’

Faith wasn’t exactly hungry, but she’d been looking forward to the lunch. They didn’t pass anywhere else that looked open, though, and it was almost three o’clock by now, too late for even a late lunch. When they stopped for petrol on the M25, James bought some sandwiches and a couple of packets of crisps. He grinned when he saw Faith’s expression.

‘Oh dear,’ he said. ‘I’ve let you down. What can I do to make it up to you? Shall I take you out to dinner when we get back to Oxford?’

‘Don’t worry,’ Faith said, although she hoped he’d insist.

‘Another night, then? When are you free?’

Faith shook her head. ‘I’ve got functions all week,’ she said. ‘My first free evening is next Wednesday.’

‘Is that the 20th?’

Faith nodded.

‘Perfect!’ James grinned. ‘That’s my birthday. Where shall we go? Back to that Greek place?’

‘Oh, no! If it’s your birthday I should cook for you.’

‘No need. You cook every day. Let me treat you.’

‘I’d like to,’ Faith insisted. ‘Please. I cook for a living because I like it.

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