Page 38 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘No, you shouldn’t have.’ Tom’s words had cut deep, and Rachel looked so down. ‘Look, Tom, this really isn’t the time or the place.’ Several customers were already looking up, curious as to the developments near the counter.

‘Yes, I know this isn’t ideal … but it couldn’t wait.’

They stood silently for a second or two. ‘Look, I’ll come back later, when you’re finished here. We need to talk, Rach.’

Eve stood up and found herself swiftly heading for the counter, ready for action. ‘It’s okay Rachel, I’ll help out here for a while; looks like you two might need a bit of time.’

Rachel seemed to falter. ‘Umm.’

‘Go on,’ Eve encouraged, thinking that if Tom was here apologising, then they could surely sort out their differences, whatever had gone on before.

‘Okay.’ Rachel took a slow breath, as if bracing herself.

Eve watched as the pair of them walked out of the barn and across to the farmhouse. She hoped to goodness they’d be able to put things right. Having her own relationship crumbling was bad enough, but she wouldn’t stand by and see these two getting in a mess too.

19

‘So …’ Rachel stood in the middle of the farmhouse kitchen with her hands on her hips, bracing herself for what Tom was about to say.

‘Okay, I spoke out of turn yesterday. I didn’t mean it to come out like that …’ Tom looked sheepish.

Rachel took a deep breath. She needed to know what was really going on with her fiancé, however hard it might be to take. ‘If you’re having doubts, then you need to be honest with me, Tom. Right here, right now. No more messing about. We’ve been friends for so long. The least we can be is honest with each other.’ She felt sick as she waited for his response. Were all her dreams, her hopes, her new belief in romance after the past traumas with Jake – this new romance that was solid and truthful and passionate – about to be shattered once more?

‘I know. That’s why I’m here, Rach.’ His voice was warm yet seemed to be tinged with sadness. Was he trying to let her down gently? Oh, God.

She grabbed the kettle from the hob, needing something to do, and began to fill it at the sink. Tom walked to stand behind her and, slowly, with his hands on her shoulders, turned her to face him.

‘Rachel, it’s so hard for me to let my real feelings show after all I’ve been through with Caitlin. It’s been so hard to trust again … to love again.’ He paused.

Rachel felt a tear crowd her eye, and gulped back a knot in her throat.

‘Look, I didn’t want you to find out before the wedding … I thought I could keep it to myself, to save us both the stress. I thought that’d be best.’

There was a stark silence as the two of them held each other’s gaze, Rachel wondering where on earth this was going.

‘What?’ Rachel asked firmly, yet dreading his words to come.

‘Caitlin has pursued the claim against me, the farm. There’s a case coming up … soon. Very soon.’

‘Oh Tom, why didn’t you tell me all this …?’ Although this was dreadful, Rachel also felt a jolt of relief. If this was it, the crux of the problem, there was hope for them. Yet, there still might be more to this …

‘When’s the case?’

‘On the first of July.’

‘The first?’

‘I’m afraid so, yep.’ Tom’s brow furrowed.

What bloody shit timing. ‘But, that’s three days before our wedding!’ Rachel suddenly had a sinking feeling that it was timed to perfection as far as Caitlin was concerned, as if she’d planned to stir up as much mischief as she could.

‘Umm, yes … Caitlin always did have a knack of choosing the worst possible timings for things,’ Tom answered drily.

‘Could you postpone the hearing? Contest it?’ Rachel quizzed.

‘I did think about that. But it will still be hanging over me … and I’ve been advised that the only way to contest it is to be there in court and tell them my side of the story. I’m sorry, Rach, but I just want it done and dusted, even if it is just before the wedding. Then maybe I can get on and finally relax, and we can enjoy our big day like we should.’

He was talking as if their wedding was still on. Rachel felt a rush of relief. Oh, thank heavens. But … would all this with Caitlin serve to remind him just how disastrous some marriages could be? His words from the lane were still taunting her.