The Jorvik Prophecy by Dean Corbyn

Author:Dean Corbyn [Corbyn, Dean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pier House Press
Published: 2024-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 32

The Lambton Worm

Matthew sighed at his poor timing when he and Theia stepped into The Lambton Worm amid the melee of rush hour. Three deep, the punters stood shoulder to shoulder, wrangling for a front-row audience with the over-tasked bar staff, each jostling and shoving, casting dirty looks at each other. Shouting their orders above one another, their words were indistinguishable. Yelling in a New York bar would get you thrown out in a New York minute. Here, it seemed customary. Or at least necessary.

By now, Matthew was regretting having ignored the advice from the hotel’s hip concierge lady. Advice she apparently gave to all international guests:

Avoid ‘The Worm’ on Sunday evenings. Karaoke night draws a crazy crowd.

Admittedly, Matthew had felt cool informing her they were New Yorkers, that crazy crowds were their jam. Truth be known, it was the first time he’d used the word jam in any sentence not involving bread.

“I’ll get us a drink,” Matthew shouted, prompting Theia to wander off in search of a table. Impersonating the famous detective Columbo, he called after her, “Just one more thing, ma’am.” She turned her head, and he asked, “You wanna beer?”

Missing her usual smile, she gently nodded.

Matthew braced himself.

Okay, here we go. When in Rome. Then he stormed the bar, feeling more like an angry rugby player charging into a scrummage than a patron simply seeking a beer.

A few bruises later, frothy ales held high and spilling down his arms, he shoved his way back through the mob. To his relief, Theia had found a quiet table by a fireplace roaring a warm romantic glow.

“Wow, that was an experience. Sorry it took so long.” He slid her beer across to her.

Theia was pleasant but distant. Matthew knew something was troubling her. She hadn’t uttered a single word during their fifteen-minute hike to the pub. His best guess was he had embarrassed her by asking about his aura.

No regrets. Though, with her coolness now, he tried to regret it. But learning from her expression that she held a hidden kindling for him was hard to regret.

Showing his emotional card came easily, but he knew that was not so for Theia. She was a closed book. While winning her emotion and catching a glimpse inside this mysterious woman was nearly all he could think about, he now feared he may have moved too quickly.

Finally, Theia turned her solemn gaze towards Matthew. She opened her mouth to speak but paused as if grappling with the words. Whatever she would say, Matthew sensed it was difficult for her. Like that awkward breakup conversation, only he was the one being dumped.

“Tomorrow…” she said, then stalled as if Matthew’s eyes had stifled her courage.

Matthew interjected, trying to be positive, “Yes, tomorrow. I have a meeting setup with Aiden, but we have to arrive after morning ma—”

Theia cut him off, “We are going home tomorrow, Matthew.”

Her statement silenced him for a moment while he struggled to understand. “You mean, your home, right? You mean York?”

“No, I mean New York.

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