by Clare Revell
It must be down to the emotional bond they just shared of talking about their respective losses. Nothing more. That he could live with.
Perhaps.
Jacqui looked at him. Had she felt it too? Her smile reached her eyes. “Guess we’re both softies, then.”
He nodded, offering Jacqui another piece of pizza. “So what do you plan to do with your life? Are you happy being a landscape architect?”
“Yes, I am.”
“What can you see yourself doing in ten years’ time?”
“I don’t know. Become CEO one day maybe, or go back to Africa and finish that orphanage. What about you? Would you ever go back and teach out there again?”
He shook his head. “No plans to go back out there at all. I’m settled here. Is it possible to get higher than head of department? Other than running my own school, that is.” He felt guilty for the lie about not planning to return to Africa, but his plans had to remain secret.
Jacqui winked at him. “I’ll design the grounds, and you can run it. We’d make a good team.”
Liam laughed and raised his glass. “I’ll drink to that.” As she chinked her glass against his, the light shone in her eyes, and her beauty struck him with the force of a sledge hammer. What would it be like to kiss her? He shook his head, mentally slapping himself. Enough, time to get out of here before his resolve shattered. He finished his pizza.
“Thank you for a lovely evening, but I should go. I have a lot of paperwork to do before tomorrow.” She pushed her plate aside.
He nodded. “You will let me know about the laptop?”
Jacqui nodded as she stood. “I will. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Liam watched her leave and sat for a moment. He didn’t like the way he felt.
The woman had moved him. He barely knew her, and he’d told her things he hadn’t told anyone—not even his twin. Sliding his hand into his jacket, he pulled out his wallet and went to pay the bill. Perhaps marking homework would get his mind off Jacqui.
4
Jacqui looked up as Eve came over to her desk. “Good morning.”
Eve sat on the corner of the desk and looked at her critically. “You look a little pale. Are you sick?”
“No, just tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“Heavy date?”
Jacqui dismissed that idea with a wave of her hand. “Nothing like that at all—just dinner with a friend. Holly and Kyle were at the next table. Have I.T. got back to you about the laptop yet?”
“Yes. Good news is they can fix it. Bad news is it’ll be cheaper to simply replace it.”
Jacqui groaned and buried her head in her hands. “Great. Better give Liam the bad news, I guess.”
Her friend nudged her. “Liam is it now? Remember that married man conversation.”
Jacqui fixed her eyes on Eve. “You and Holly both gave me the same lecture. He’s widowed, he told me last night.”
“Last night? No wonder you’re tired.”
“I was home by nine-thirty and in bed by ten.” She didn’t have to state the alone.
Eve knew very well where she stood on that score.
“It was just dinner, nothing more.” She took the paper Eve offered. “I’ll ring him and give him the bad news.” As Eve crossed the room, Jacqui sighed and pulled the folded piece of paper from her bag. She ran her fingers over it before picking up the phone and dialing.
The phone rang several times. “Hi, this is Liam. I can’t get to the phone right now, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”
She couldn’t leave a message like this on his voice mail. It’d be better if she spoke to him in person. “Hi, Liam, it’s Jacqui Dorne from the Jekyll Foundation.” She left her number. “If you could ring me back when you get a chance it’d be good. Thank you.”
Lunch came and went. Arriving back from a meeting, she found a note on her desk. She’d missed Liam’s call by ten minutes. Oh well, she’d try again in a bit. He should be out of class by then. She looked down at the design on her desk and picked up the pencil. That top corner wasn’t quite right.
“Jacqui, you have a visitor.” Lost in her work, the voice made her start.
Jacqui looked past Eve to the figure standing in her office doorway. What was he doing here? “Liam…aren’t you meant to be teaching?”
“It’s almost five PM. I thought I’d call in on my way home on the off chance you were still in the office. I take it this is about the laptop.”
Jacqui hadn’t realized it was so late. Where had the afternoon gone? She gestured to the chair the other side of her desk. “Have a seat.”
Liam raised an eyebrow as he sat down. “That bad, huh?”
She nodded. “It’ll cost more to fix than buy a new one. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, it’s my fault, not yours.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his check book. “If you just let me know how much a new one costs and who to make it out to, I’ll pay you now.”
She slid the paper over the desk and noticed his expression change as he read it. “If it’s too much then—”
“I said I’d pay for the damage.” He wrote the check and tore it from the book. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” Jacqui took it, feeling heat flood her fingers as his hand touched hers. She hadn’t imagined it last night, but it wasn’t going to happen. He was mourning his wife. Plus which he was angry at God and by his own admission wasn’t a Christian. Or at least not any more.
Liam held her gaze. “What are you thinking?”
She raised an eyebrow, his touch sending goose bumps running down her arm and straight to the pit of her stomach. “What makes you think that I’m thinking anything?”
“Either you’re thinking, or I’m more off base than I’ve been in a long time.”
“I was just thinking how much I enjoyed last night, Liam. Far more than I should have done.”
Confusion crossed his face. “Why? Aren’t you allowed to enjoy dinner with a friend? Does your church have rules against that?”
“No, no, nothing like that. It’s just you’re married—widowed—and obviously still very much in love with your wife and I can’t be, I don’t want to be the other—”
Liam cut her off. “You’re not the other woman. Yes, I do still love Sally. Part of me always will. And like I said, she wouldn’t mind me taking a friend to dinner.”
Jacqui warmed under his gaze. That was the second time he’d said that now. “Is that what we are then? Friends?”
“I’d like to be.”
She could hear the sincerity in his voice.
“I mean, you have every right not to want to be, but—”
“No.” It was her turn to cut him off. “I’d like that.”
“Me, too.”
The phone rang.
“Jacqui Dorne…Hello, Mr. Forbes.” She listened as he spoke. Joy bubbled up inside her, spilling into a grin. “Thank you very much. That sounds great. Sure, I’ll see you on Monday.” She hung up and looked at Liam. “I got the contract. I start Monday.”
“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing.” Actually she did nothing most nights, but wasn’t about to admit it.
“I see. In that case, can I tempt you to join me for dinner? There’s an Indian place on the High Street I’ve been meaning to try for ages. We could go celebrate. Unless you’d prefer Chinese?”
Jacqui hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. “Thank you. I’d like that. And I adore Indian food. Can’t beat a nice chicken madras and naan bread with pilau rice.”
****
Candlelight glittered off the glasses. Liam picked his up and smiled at Jacqui.
Her hair was piled atop her head and fixed with a pearl clasp, with soft strands falling from the sides, framing her face. He was no expert, but her perfume smelled French and expensive.
He raised his
glass. “To your new tender. May your work be as good as the plans look.”
Jacqui chinked her glass against his. “I’ll do my best.”
Liam took a large drink of his wine. Even though it was the house special, it wasn’t bad. He looked at the apple juice Jacqui had chosen and wondered if she ever drank. Sally hadn’t. Guilt twisted within him. The wine in his mouth tasted sour and he grimaced as he swallowed it. With Sally it was easy. Maybe…maybe it had all been her and not him. She was a wonderful, wholesome Christian woman and he was a drunken slob. He deserved to die out there. She didn’t.
“Are you all right?”
He nodded. “I’m fine. Sally didn’t like me drinking. I stopped while we were married.”
“Why start again?”
“I don’t know. To forget, I guess.”
Jacqui held his gaze, no matter how hard he tried to look elsewhere. “Wouldn’t it be a more fitting tribute to her to stay sober? She shouldn’t be forgotten.”
“It’s not Sally I want to forget.” His tone was sharper than he intended. “It’s her dying in my arms.”
Jacqui put her fork down and looked at her plate. “You’re not the only one who lost someone,” she told him. “But we don’t all dive into a bottle.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Forgive me?”
She looked up and nodded slowly. “God saved you for a reason, Liam. And it wasn’t to drink to forget.”
“You’re right. I’ll stop. It’s what she wanted.” He put the glass down. He started eating again. He wasn’t going to add the only reason he survived was so he could kill the people responsible, she didn’t need to know that. “What time Monday do you start?”
“First thing. I get to meet the caretaker and check out the grounds. I take measurements, that kind of thing. Then it’s back to the office to work on finalizing the plans and drawings for a day or two and then go back to Mr. Forbes. After that, the fun part begins—the actual planting, landscaping and so on.”
“Sounds like a lot of work. Don’t you delegate the planting and stuff to other people? I can’t imagine you getting your hands dirty.”
A smile lit her face. “I do have a team of people that help, but I love planting. That’s why I got into this. There’s something about being close to nature. It’s peaceful. You should try it.”
Liam shook his head. “Marking homework and mud isn’t a good combination.”
Jacqui laughed. “You’d have to give yourself detention and that wouldn’t be any good.”
His laughter joined hers. “No, but the kids would love it.”
She nodded as she put down her knife and fork. “They would. That was lovely, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Would you like dessert?”
“Desserts are overrated.”
“Desserts are also ‘stressed’ backwards.”
“So they are.” She patted her stomach. “But I’m full. Anything else would spoil it.”
“Then how about a walk along the river to the bridge?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
****
They strolled along the river and Jacqui wondered if he’d take her hand. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed when he didn’t. Moonlight reflected off the water and as they reached the bridge, Liam began searching on the ground by the bushes. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for pooh sticks.”
“I’m sorry?” She looked at him as if he’d grown a second head. “Is that like looking for those little green pixie things that guard pots of gold?”
“I said pooh sticks, not leprechauns. Though I can look for those as well if you like, Miss Jacqui, only they only tend to come out when there’s a rainbow.”
His Irish accent made her giggle and sent ripples of joy running through her. She’d never found regional accents particularly attractive, but his was such an integral part of him, that she barely noticed it now. Except when he used a turn of phrase or a word that was more Irish than others. She had a sudden vision of him on hand and knees, searching under the hedges for little green men, and it was tempting to ask him to do so just for the fun of it.
He tilted his head in a particularly charming way and winked. “You do know what pooh sticks are?”
Pooh sticks were a simple game involving a race between two sticks both dropped in to a river at the same time. “I do. But it’s a kids’ game.”
“Then here you go.” He handed her a stick. “I love pooh sticks. I will not have it mocked,” he added sternly. “Or I may have to give you a detention.”
Jacqui winked and fired off an imitation salute. “Then I will not mock it, sir. You’ll need to remind me how to play. I haven’t done it for years.”
Liam moved to the side of the bridge, his footsteps clattering on the wooden slats. “We both drop the sticks at the same time. First one under the bridge and out the other side wins.”
“You played it a lot by the sounds of it.”
“Niamh loves playing this. Though she cheats somewhat.”
“How on earth do you cheat at pooh sticks?”
“She chucks her stick in at an angle. I don’t stand a chance of beating her.”
“Well, I promise not to cheat.” Jacqui smiled and leaned over the side. “On three. One, two, three.”
She dropped the stick at the same time as Liam and then ran to the other side of the bridge. They both leaned over waiting. She caught her breath and then cheered as her stick came through first.
“Beginners luck.” Liam said, and then laughed. “I’ll win next time.”
She looked at him. “Next time?”
He caught her gaze. “I’d like to see you again. It’s what friends do, isn’t it?”
Other than Eve, Holly and Kyle she didn’t have any friends. And Holly and Kyle were more wrapped up in each other these days. Which was fair enough. The thought of having another friend was appealing. Even if he did drink and he didn’t share her faith, but there would be no harm in being his friend. Perhaps God was trying to tell her she could help him somehow. “Yes. I’d like that too. Fine, you can win the next time…maybe.”
“Or not as the case may be.” Liam smiled. “What are you doing this weekend?”
“Tomorrow is the anniversary of the train crash. There’s a memorial service and unveiling of the plaque with the thirty-seven victims’ names on it, which I’m going to attend. And then Sunday is church. There’s a lunch this week as well.” She paused briefly. “I don’t suppose you’d like to come with me?”
“No. I can’t, but thanks for the invitation. I’ve got tickets to the rugby on Sunday. It’s a twelve-thirty kick off.”
“Who’s playing?”
“The Headley Tigers are playing Northampton Rovers in the challenge cup semi-final.”
“Big game, then.”
“Oh yeah. The winner goes through to Twickenham next month. Tickets for that will be like gold dust and probably cost just as much, but it’ll be on the telly.” He smiled. “So, shall I walk you to your car?”
“I’d like that. Thank you.” She couldn’t form any kind of attachment to this man.
He’s not a Christian. He’s off limits, like Vince. You know how that ended. Oh, Lord, I know what You said, and You were right. Draw me closer to You, and fill me with Your Spirit that I may live for You. Let me help Liam. His grief is still consuming him and there’s something else, something dark. I wouldn’t say evil, but there is darkness at work with in him. Work in him, Lord. Bring him back to You and use him for Your glory.
5
The phone rang.
Jacqui glanced up from where she lay curled on the bed and sighed as she pulled another tissue from the box, tempted not to answer it. It kept ringing. She reached out and grabbed it. “Holly, it’s very kind of you, but I won’t change my mind, no matter how many times you ring.”
There was a pause before the very male, Irish lilt resounded in her ear.
“Then it’s a very
good job I’m not Holly, isn’t it?”
Jacqui felt heat rise in her cheeks. “Oh, Liam, I’m sorry. Holly’s rung five times trying to get me to go over there tonight.”
“Ah. Well, I’m not after wanting you to go to Holly’s. I actually rang to see how you were doing after the memorial service today.”
Fresh tears stung her eyes and she closed them tightly. That was sweet of him. “It was…” Her voice wobbled and she struggled to keep the emotion from flooding out again. “It was really hard. So many ruined lives and people gone. But some good stuff. One couple met in the wreckage, and they’re getting married next week.”
“Hey, that’s neat.” His smile and concern came through. “Would you like some company?”
“Like I told Holly, I don’t want—”
“And like I told you, I’m not Holly.”
She blotted her eyes with the soggy tissue, sniffling again. “I know that. You look nothing like her. She doesn’t have a beard for one thing.”
“I don’t even want you to talk if I come over. We’ll walk around the lake. Watch the sun set behind the trees and just sit in silence. I just don’t think that you should sit in that bungalow of yours moping.” His voice deepened, indicating how concerned he was. So was Holly, but coming from Liam, someone she hardly knew, despite the couple of dinners they’d shared, it meant more.
“I’m not moping.” The protest sounded weak even to her.
“So, you’re not moping, you’re sad, languishing, dejected.”
“I am not—”
“Don’t argue with me, Jacqui. You are, and it’s not going to make you feel any better.” His tone changed from concerned to firm.
Jacqui paused. He’d only known her three days, and yet he was spot on. “All right, yes, maybe I’m moping, a little.”
“Let me pick you up. Where do you live?”
“You promise you’re not an axe murderer?”
“I promise I’m not an axe murderer. And before you ask how I got your number, it was on the card I lifted from your desk yesterday.”
