Page 85 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Yes, he is.’ All Rachel really wanted to do was to steal upstairs to her room and go over this evening again in her mind, every last delicious detail, whilst it was still fresh in her thoughts. ‘It’s been a long day, I think I’ll go on up to bed, Mum.’

‘Okay, love. See you in the morning then.’ Her mum’s voice seemed to dip a little.

Oh, had her mum hoped for some company? Was there a touch of melancholy there in her voice?

‘Mu-um, are you all right?’ Rachel took a few steps towards her, ready to sit down. With all the distractions of tonight, had she missed that her mum might be silently hurting, maybe feeling lonely?

‘Of course, pet. I’m fine,’ Jill rallied, though she still sounded a little wistful.

Naturally, she’d have had an inkling of what was going on between them. Mums seemed to have a sixth sense for these things. Rachel was sure she’d be happy for her, but had it set Jill off thinking about her early days with Dad, she wondered? All these magical emotions that Rachel was experiencing as a first, her mum must have once shared with Dad. Of course, every day was still a test after her dad’s death. Some days were better than others, but the dreadful and painful truth was never going to go away.

‘Honestly, I’m fine. Off you go to bed, sweetheart. I’ve been engrossed in this crime novel and I’ll get back to finish the last chapters now.’

‘I can stay a while. Make us a tea or something?’

‘No, no. You look tired. You get yourself away to bed.’

‘Okay, if you’re sure.’ Rachel paused for a second or two.

‘Go on, off you go … and I’m glad you’ve had a good night, love.’

‘Thank you.’ That generous maternal spirit as Mum pushed aside her own grief brought a lump to Rachel’s throat. ‘Night then, Mum.’ She gave Jill a kiss on the cheek, suddenly wondering if the smell of Tom’s aftershave would be on her. A sure giveaway. ‘Love you.’

‘Love you too. Night, Rachel. Sleep well.’

‘Sweet dreams.’

Love, family, life. The bliss of a kiss. The harsh finality of death. Rachel lay in her bed a short while later with it all spinning around in her mind. When you’d stared death in the face, it made you want to make the most of every second in life. But she hadn’t been, had she? Even tonight, walking away – at least they’d walked away together – she knew she had been holding back on so much, playing the safe game. She had tasted something more this evening. Suddenly, she wanted to live life now, to dance it, taste it, touch it, kiss it.

In fact, lying there with the recent memory of those three gorgeous kisses, she knew she really, really wanted to make love with Tom Watson very soon indeed! Would it ever really happen?