‘As you wish,’ he said, gently kissing me once again. On a beautiful beach with the backdrop of Bamburgh Castle, what could be more romantic?
* * *
Ned arrived shortly after we’d closed to the public on Friday afternoon. Jude had been a nervous wreck all day, unable to settle on the best time to tell him how she felt about him. If she told him tonight, it would get it out of the way but, if her feelings weren’t reciprocated, it could make his stay a little uncomfortable. Saturday evening brought less of a risk and Sunday would mean there was no chance of awkwardness but it was a wasted opportunity if he felt the same.
Ned exited the taxi and hugged me tightly.
‘It’s so good to be here,’ he said, smiling at me as he released me. ‘I’m so sorry that we’re halfway through July and it’s the first time I’ve seen you this year.’
‘It’s fine. We’ve both had a lot on. I’m just glad we’re doing this now.’
He hugged Jude next and I thought he was never going to let her go – definitely the hug of a man who felt more than friendship.
We took Ned inside to see Mam and Maddie who both greeted him with hugs before Jude and I took him upstairs to show him where he’d be staying. We didn’t have a spare room or a sofa bed and, while Caleb had kindly offered his second bedroom, we’d decided the best plan was for Ned to take Jude’s room and for Jude to share with me.
After we’d had tea, the three of us took some drinks out to the front garden. I’d invited Caleb to join us a bit later but Jude and I wanted to tell Ned about Adrian first. I’d already talked to Caleb about it with it being the trigger for my marriage decline, but it didn’t feel right to share the news with Ned in the presence of someone he didn’t know. Ned was just as shocked as Jude and I had been.
‘I shared a house with him for two years,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘How do you live with someone for that long and not notice something like that? Mind you, I didn’t notice Erica seeing one of our friends behind my back for three years. I must be the world’s most unobservant person.’
‘It’s not you,’ I said, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. ‘Adrian and Erica both had things they wanted to hide from the world and they happened to be really good at doing it. I’m sure we’ve all done it at some point in our lives.’
While Ned was looking down, scratching at the label on his bottle, I gave Jude a meaningful look. She nodded at me and I knew she’d just acknowledged that there’d never be a more appropriate segue into talking about what she’d been hiding for years.
‘I’m going to love you and leave you for a bit,’ I said, pushing my chair back. ‘I need to talk to Mam about the menu for tomorrow before she goes to bed. See you shortly.’
‘How about a tour round the farm?’ Jude suggested to Ned.
‘Sounds good to me.’
‘Enjoy yourselves,’ I said, giving two thumbs up to Jude when Ned wasn’t looking.
* * *
Caleb had joined me in the front garden. He knew about Jude and Ned – she’d given me permission to tell him while she was away this week – and he was just as hopeful as me for a positive outcome this weekend.
They’d been gone ages, which I hoped was a good sign. When we spotted them walking towards us from the direction of the farmyard, I craned my neck and my heart sank.
‘Oh no! This doesn’t look good.’
Caleb looked up and winced.
‘I had such high hopes for them,’ I said. ‘Jude’s going to be devastated.’
She was walking a little in front of Ned, her arms crossed over her chest, and Ned’s shoulders were slumped, his head dipped.
‘That didn’t go well,’ she said as she reached us, her eyes downcast, her voice flat.
I shook my head, tears pricking my eyes. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Ned joined her, his head still dipped, but then the pair of them burst out laughing and Ned slipped his arm round Jude’s shoulder and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.
‘It went brilliantly,’ Jude admitted, grinning at me.
‘You… you… Argh! I don’t know what to call you. I genuinely thought it had been a disaster.’
‘Far from it,’ Ned said, as I got up and hugged them both. ‘Thanks for encouraging her.’
Conscious that Caleb and Ned hadn’t met, I did the introductions before declaring the need to celebrate and dashing inside for a bottle of bubbly and glasses.
