Page 107 of The Village of Lost and Found

Lucy threw herself on the bed and burst into tears.

Of all the people, Tom was the one that she had ended up trusting the most. She had never thought that he would use her like this. That he could hurt her so much.

Had she just been the rebound woman for him to toy with? She didn’t know.

The only thing she knew was how much she loved him. And that she didn’t think the pain of losing him would be something that she could ever get over.

Tom stepped back almost as soon as Andrea had kissed him.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked, shocked.

‘I’m kissing you, my darling.’ Andrea smiled smugly at him. ‘I thought you wouldn’t mind.’

‘Well, I do,’ said Tom.

He was still stunned from the turn that the evening had taken. It had been utterly amazing being with Lucy. They had danced and then he had thought they were about to top a memorable evening. Instead, his past had walked over the bridge and back into his life.

‘Why are you here?’ he asked.

He briefly looked her up and down. As usual, she was in one of her severe black trouser suits. Andrea couldn’t look any more different to soft, warm Lucy when she had been in his arms just a short time ago.

‘I thought I would stop by,’ she told him. ‘For old times’ sake.’

‘I thought the old times were miserable, according to you.’

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Perhaps I was wrong.’

‘Or perhaps you’ve discovered that the grass isn’t greener on the other side,’ he said, guessing the truth.

‘I made a mistake, OK?’ Andrea frowned as much as her botox would allow. ‘I miss your funny little quips.’ She stepped forward to wrap her arms around his neck. ‘I miss you.’

If she had been thinking that this would persuade him, she was mistaken. In fact, it only served to show Tom the vast difference he felt in having Lucy do the same.

He reached up to remove her hold on him. ‘Go home, Andrea. It’s over.’

But before he could let go of her hands, she had clasped his fingers. ‘Is it?’ she said. ‘I’m not so sure.’

‘I am,’ he told her, snatching his hand away. ‘Goodbye, Andrea.’ He walked away from her, drawing out his front door keys.

‘You don’t mean that,’ she called out behind him, but he ignored her and carried on walking.

‘I suppose this is all about that woman you were with just now,’ she said.

At the front door, Tom stopped and turned around. ‘That’s the first thing you’ve been right about all evening,’ he told her.

‘It won’t last, you know,’ she said, in a taunting voice. ‘She’s not me.’

‘You’re quite right,’ he said. ‘She most certainly is not you. She’s funny, kind, passionate and I love her.’ He stopped abruptly and realised it was true. Somehow Lucy had found a way into his heart and he truly loved her.

He ignored Andrea and whatever she was saying, instead going inside his front door and closing the door on his ex-wife forever. He pulled out his phone and blocked Andrea’s number. She wouldn’t bother him again. He wouldn’t let her. It was over.

Then he brought up Lucy’s number. His thumb hovered on the button to call her before he placed the phone down onto the little table in the hallway instead. It was late. She was probably in bed. He would be able to explain everything to her when he saw her in the morning. He just hoped that Lucy hadn’t misread the situation with Andrea and still wanted to listen to him.

59

Lucy tossed and turned all night until the early hours.

She groaned as soon as she opened her eyes in the morning. They felt tiny, such was the level of crying that had gone on most of the night, but immediately the tears began to flow once more as soon as she remembered what had happened the previous evening. Tom and his ex-wife kissing. She had lost him. It was over and she had never felt so utterly heartbroken.