Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

T om drove the car in silence until they reached Stonesend, where he stopped at The Bell pub. ‘Share a plate of nachos?' he asked.

Beth looked pleasantly surprised. ‘Since when did you share anything?' she asked.

‘When weren't you hungry?' he retorted, opening the door.

‘This is true.' She grinned.

The pub was pretty quiet – it was way past lunchtime. Jack, the landlord, took one look at Tom and sighed. ‘Well, well, look who's back. Like a bad penny, you are. Last time you were here, we had a murder.'

‘Well, as you know, I didn't commit it.' Tom smiled.

‘What's happened now?' asked Jack, looking at Beth.

‘DI Stephens has left, so we have a new DI.'

Jack scoffed. ‘Sacked him, did they? It took long enough before someone realised. That bloke would have given one to a tree if it had a hole in it. I'll bring menus over, and don't worry,' he said, looking at Tom, ‘nothing is on the house. I wouldn't want to be accused of bribing a police officer like last time.'

Beth held back her smile. ‘Jack's got a memory like an elephant,' she said, adding, ‘We're sharing a plate of nachos, and I'll have a Diet Coke.'

‘Mineral water for me,' said Tom.

‘Don't overdo it,' said Jack.

‘Nice to get a warm welcome.' Tom smiled.

Looking at Beth closely, Tom could see the change in her. She'd lost weight, her eyes didn't have the brightness he remembered, and her hair was longer. Today, she wore it tied back in a bun. Strands had stuck to her neck due to the heat. But, for all that, he was still deeply attracted to her.

‘Not as hot as last year,' he said without thinking.

‘No,' Beth said, remembering.

Jack brought over their drinks and said, ‘What's this vigilante stuff about then? Someone said he smashed up that kid's trail bike. Good for him, I say. The bloody thing was a pain in the arse.'

‘What else have you heard?' asked Tom.

‘That's it, and it doesn't look like I will hear any more from you. So I'll get those nachos.'

‘Never been so popular.' Tom smiled.

‘This is true.' Beth laughed.

Tom leant his arms on the table and looked into her eyes, and Beth had to fight the desire not to lower hers. ‘So, how are things between you and Ben?'

Beth's heart flipped at Ben's name. Bloody Lewis. How dare he share her business.

‘How's the drinking?' she asked.

‘How's yours?' he shot back.

‘I don't go to AA meetings,' she said cruelly.

‘Sharp as ever,' Tom noted.

Jack returned with the cutlery and nachos. Beth sipped at her Coke.

‘Sorry,' she said, finally. ‘That was unnecessary.'

Tom shrugged. ‘You've said worse things to me.'

Beth slid some nachos onto her fork and tried not to look at him. Tom was being kind, that's all. Beth realised she'd been stupid to think they had had a mutual attraction. That was a year ago. Tom had been grieving, and her marriage had just broken up. For all she knew, he may already have met someone else.

‘Ben and Mark are having a child. They've got a surrogate mother. Ben thought I ought to know. He didn't want me to be shocked if I saw them,' she said, laying down her fork. The cola eased the dryness in her throat but didn't ease the pain in her heart in the way that a large glass of wine would have done.

‘I'm sorry, Beth.'

She nodded and quickly changed the subject by pointing at the nachos. ‘Let's get some more. I'm starving.'

‘What's new?' He smiled.

‘So, why would you want to return here?' she asked curiously. ‘The worst we get here is dopeheads and trail bikes.'

‘And vigilantes,' he reminded her.

‘Oh yes, that's this year's big excitement.'

He looked around the pub. ‘I missed the abuse.'

‘I'll remember that.' She sipped her Coke and asked quietly, ‘What was it like, rehab?'

‘Let's say I needed it.' He pointed to the nachos. ‘Tuck in.'

Beth ate hungrily. ‘But why come back here? Why not a different part of London?'

‘Why not here? It's peaceful, and there's much to appreciate.' His eyes locked onto hers, and she felt herself blush. ‘Besides, the gossip in London isn't half as good, neither are the nachos.'

Beth smiled. ‘You should try the beef and ale pie one day.'

‘As long as I never have to suffer your homemade soup again, I think I'll survive.' He laughed.

‘Ungrateful sod,' she said.

‘Back to normal, I see,' said Jack.

‘Still eavesdropping, I see,' said Tom.

Beth laughed and realised she hadn't laughed like that for some time.