So, now all of a sudden, I'm single again. I'm free to keep on looking for that special connection. I'm free to search for that girl, for Helen. Now, that's a big challenge - how to find a girl with no contact details. I don't even know where she lives. It suddenly struck him, she could be anywhere.
Maybe Jim was right. Maybe I'll have to let that fantasy go and get out there and meet someone new. Maybe I'll have better luck now that I'm single, I won't have any guilt about talking to other girls. I've always been good with women but I could never pursue anyone because I was stuck in that relationship limbo for so long.
Time for a change. Tom watched the Moon light flickering on the river and watched a couple walking hand in hand across the bridge. They were smiling and whispering something to each other. They looked happy, very happy.
That could have been me, if only, if only I'd asked Helen for her number. Stop it, stop it! I need to get her out of my head. This is driving me crazy. What was it Jim said? Oh yeah, I need to get out there but do it in my world, at the festivals and workshops, in my world, yes, that's where I can meet someone special. And seminar season is starting soon, who knows, maybe I'll meet Miss Right For Me. By the next full Moon that could be me walking across the bridge with my lover.
* * *
The airport cafe was noisy and jammed with people craving their caffeine fix. Jim did his best to ignore it and scanned the conference agenda.
"Is that seat free?" someone asked.
Jim looked up at the stunning woman with the long brown hair standing before him with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other. "Ah, yes, please, sit down, take it."
Jim couldn't help staring, "Excuse me, have we met before?"
"I don't believe we have but nice to meet you, I'm Helen."
Jim couldn't believe his ears, "I'm Jim. I know this might sound strange but did you fly from Heathrow a couple of weeks ago?"
"Yes, I did, I hope it's not a crime to be a frequent flier," Helen joked as she pointed at the police logo at the top of Jim's papers. "I even stopped for a coffee at this very cafe, if you must know."
Jim laughed, "No, not at all, it's just that a friend of mine, my best friend actually, meet a girl here a few weeks ago and he never got her phone number."
"His name's not Tom by any chance is it?" Helen asked nervously.
"Yes it is actually. Now, I know why I recognize you. Here look at this." Jim handed her his phone.
Helen stared at the photo, the one Tom took of her holding the book cover next to her face. Her jaw dropped and she looked back to Jim. "This might sound crazy so please don't arrest me but I've been trying to find Tom, I spent ages online looking for him but I came up with nothing. I really like him, I'd love to see him again. How bizarre is this, bumping into his best friend like this. It must be destiny."
"He's been looking for you too. I can assure you, you are all he's talked about for the past two weeks, it's starting to get tiring to be honest with you. I think he's head over heels over you. He's lost his appetite and he's not sleeping much. He's on the love struck diet. You two had better meet up asap for the sake of my sanity if nothing else." Jim took out his wallet and handed a card to Helen. "That's his card."
"Thank you. I'll phone him as soon as I get back in two weeks. I'm boarding in 10 minutes so I'll have to dash. Great meeting you Jim, and I mean that, really, really great meeting you."
"And you Helen, talk soon, bye." Jim grabbed his phone and dialed Tom.
Tom took the call as he sped over the bridge, rushing to beat the traffic lights, he was running late for a workshop.
"Hey Jim, what's up? Shouldn't you be in Berlin by now for that techie conference with the boys in blue?"
"I'm on the way, I'm waiting for my flight to show up on the departure board. Enough about that though. Guess who I found? You'll never believe this but I just spoke to Helen."
Tom squealed. "You did? That's fantastic. Where does she live? So, that computer search eventually did the trick, wicked."
"No, Tom, I bumped into her at the T4 cafe."
"Get outta here, really?"
"For real, Tom. I'm not joking. I showed her the photo and everything, she can't wait to meet you. I gave her one of your cards, the cards I keep in case I meet a nice new age chick you'd like."
"Okay, Jim, this is a wind up right? Don't mess me about on this. I'll murder you if this is a joke."
Jim raised his voice. "Come on, you know me better than that. Honest to God this is the truth."
"Alright then, Jim. Give me her number, I'll call her right now."
"Tom, she was in a hurry to catch her flight so I gave her your card like I said and she said she'd call you when she gets back home in two weeks. Then she left. I didn't get a chance to get her number. Sorry, I should have grabbed it."
"Ok, no worries, I suppose I can wait another two agonizing weeks until she's back. So, what do you think of her?"
"She's absolutely stunning and she's warm and friendly. She's perfect for you. Don't mess this one up Tom. She's a keeper, and very bright, I think you two are very well suited."
Tom smiled from ear to ear as he drove. "Yeah, that's what I thought. There's something about her. I don't know if it's her voice or the way she looked at me that day but I just can't stop thinking about her."
"Yes, I know that. Look, Tom, I gotta go. I just wanted to tell you the good news. Catch you later."
"Thanks Jim, I owe you big time for this. You're not such a useless cop after all." Tom laughed and cruised to the workshop, he could be a few minutes late, it was no big deal. Anyway, he'd need a few minutes to wipe the silly big grin off his face.
* * *
Helen stood at the departure gate as the passengers filed onto the plane. The number was busy, she dialed again still no luck. One more go, no, still engaged. She switched off her phone and joined the back of the queue. Ah well, I'll talk to Tom when I get back, it'll be a long two weeks but I can wait if I have to.
Sarah will be blown away when I tell her the news. She won't believe it. Maybe now she'll start to believe in synchronicity and fate. She's been so supportive through all of this. I have driven her up the wall talking about this missing man. Well, soon enough, she'll get to meet him.
Helen took her seat and reached into her bag for Tom's card. It was gone. How could she have it lost it already. Oh no, this was really tempting fate. That's enough drama for one year. Come on, that card must be here somewhere. Nope, not there, not in any of these compartments. Helen sat back and sighed, how could I be so careless? What am I going to do now? Sarah isn't going to be too impressed when I tell her this. Oh God!
* * *
Tom ran a towel over his hair and grabbed his phone: one missed call. He didn't recognize the number, he grabbed his keys and headed out the door to meet Jim in the pub.
Jim was in his usual spot by the fire. "Hey Tom, I got you a drink already, cheers." Glasses of whisky clinked.
"Thanks, Jim. I could do with this."
"So, Tom, you heard from Helen yet?"
"Nope, it's been two weeks now, I haven't heard a thing. I'm kind of disappointed to be honest. Perhaps she changed her mind. What do you think, Jim?"
Jim smacked Tom on the shoulder. "I'd say give her a chance, she's been out of the country for a bit. I'm sure she will call. Be patient."
"I suppose you're right but I don't have much patience left as this point. I've used it all up. She better not have lost that card. Maybe she did or maybe she's just not interested." Tom stared into the fire and bit his lip.
"Don't worry, Tom. It'll be ok. Oh, just before you got here my new girlfriend rang, she asked if it was ok to pop by for a drink, she'd really like to meet you. I said yes, I hope that's ok, she's on her way."
Tom sipped his whisky. "Sure, it's about time I met her. She must be special to have brightened up your life. You're not half as miserable as you used to be. I sort of miss the grumpy bad tempered you, you're much more relaxed since you met her."
"She's amazing, wait 'until you meet her. You'll see what I mean." Jim smiled.
Tom's phone rang, it was that number again, "Be back in a minute, I'll just step outside to take this call."
"Hello is this Tom?" A female voice wrapped in static asked.
"Yes it is, who is this?" Tom replied.
"It's Helen, remember me?"
Tom's heart leapt and a big smile broke out on his face. "Of course I do, so good to hear your voice again. I've been thinking about you a lot. How are you?"
"I'm great, I've been thinking about you too, I'd love to see you again, sooner rather than later, if possible." Helen purred down the phone.
"What are you doing tonight, Helen?"
"I'm going to a local bar with my sister, the Kings Arms in Kew Gardens."
Tom gasped. "You're joking me. I'm standing outside that pub right now. I noticed you had a local number but this is ridiculous."
Helen's jaw dropped. "Are you really? This is amazing, these coincidences are really stacking up. I think I need to sit down. I feel kind of funny. And, oh by the way, I don't live in Kew, my sister does, I stay with her when I go to and from Heathrow. I live just outside London, in the countryside. Look, I better stop talking and get off her phone, we'll head out the door and see you in a bit. I'm so excited, bye."
"Great. I'll see you when you get here in that case. I can't wait."
* * *
Tom and Jim were both speechless when Helen and Sarah walked in the door and over to their fireside table, but for different reasons.
Helen looked stunning, her long brown hair resting on her shoulders, her slim figure accentuated by the lines of her navy blue dress. She looked like an angel.
Tom stood up and walked to her. He looked into her smiling blue eyes and hugged her before kissing her gently on both cheeks. She felt herself sink into his broad chest, she felt his strong arms around her and as she looked up into those deep brown eyes, it was there again, that special feeling, that connection.
She took a seat right next to him and stared into his eyes.
"It's still there," Tom whispered in her ear.
"That special feeling!" Helen knew what he meant before he even said it.
"Yes. That special connection," Tom grinned and squeezed her hand. "Thank God, you phoned. I've missed you so much."
"I almost didn't phone you." Helen confessed.
"Really? Why?" Tom looked surprised.
"Well, I phoned you right after I met Jim at the airport but your number was engaged. Then, I skillfully lost that business card he gave me. I couldn't believe it. I thought I'd never see you again. It wasn't until I saw Sarah when I got back today that she showed me how to retrieve previously dialed numbers. I'm clueless with technology. She saved the day."
Sarah laughed, "She's not joking, you'll soon learn the hard way to keep her away from computers and phones, she can crash anything without even trying to. Quite amazing really."
Jim kissed Sarah on the cheek, "This has been a mind blowing evening for all of us. Time to get some more drinks in if you ask me."
* * *
"Has it really been six months already?" Helen looked up into Tom's beautiful brown eyes.
Tom put his arm around Helen's waist. "Yes darling, even though it seems like only a week. Tonight is the sixth full Moon since our first kiss. Look at it, it's beautiful, just like you."
They walked over the bridge bathed in the brilliant glow of the Moon, hand in hand, whispering to each other. Like lovers do, like a man and a woman do when they find the one, when fate moves to bring them together and keep them together forever.
The heart knows what the head never can, love draws people together in sometimes mysterious ways and even great distances cannot keep two people apart, for two people who are meant to be together will find each other no matter what, no matter how great the obstacles, no matter how unlikely it may seem. Love always, always finds a way.
Helen held up her left hand to the light from the street lamp, "Look how the diamond is glowing in the light."
Tom looked into her sparkling blue eyes and kissed Helen firmly on the lips. "It's radiant just like you. I love you so much Helen, thank you for saying yes."
"My pleasure, I'm sure my heart has picked me a fine husband." Helen whispered.
About the Author
Norah C. Peters has always loved telling stories that make people smile and she especially enjoys writing stories that lift the human spirit and get us in touch again with what really matters in life: love and friendship. When she's not writing she can usually be found losing track of time in the garden with a hot cup of tea close to hand.
Find Me, Keep Me Page 2
