Page 93 of The Only Way Is Up

‘We’ll get used to it.’

Tom waved and headed back to Tessa’s grave. He was wiping off the snow with a cloth when he saw Daisy coming out of Church House. He hesitated for a second before raising his hand in greeting. If she was going back to London tomorrow, he’d rather one of their final conversations in Shipton Combe didn’t take place in such close proximity to his late wife, but it couldn’t really be helped.

Daisy hobbled over, bits of hair from her bun breaking free in the breeze. A dusting of snow dislodged from an overhanging tree and rained down on her like confetti, and for a second Tom imagined her walking the same path towards him in a wedding dress. The thought gave him a feeling in his chest that was somewhere between joy and pain, and he mentally apologised to Tessa. Daisy stopped in front of him and tipped forward on her toes like she was going in for a kiss, then spotted the gravestone and rocked back, brushing his arm instead.

‘You OK?’ asked Tom searching her face.

‘I’m fine.’ Daisy’s eyes darted to Tessa’s grave then back again. ‘It turns out that Miriam’s the mole.’

‘Christ! Or one of his messengers, at least.’

Daisy smiled. ‘I’m not angry about it. It was done out of desperation.’

Tom nodded and thought for a moment. ‘I suppose I should thank her, really. Without her causing trouble you might have gone home sooner. So maybe it was divine intervention.’

‘Do you believe in that kind of stuff?’ Daisy started to pick snow out of her hair.

Tom leaned over and gently brushed a few flakes from her shoulders. ‘I don’t believe in God, but I believe in fate.’

Daisy nodded at the gravestone. ‘Is that how you cope with what happened to Tessa? Fate?’

Tom nodded, looking up at the clear blue sky. ‘We had a happy decade together, but we’d been talking about moving before the baby arrived – a job at a bigger school, a town where there were more young families. She loved this church but found the village rather stifling. But because she died, I stayed, and that meant I got to meet you. And because of what Miriam did, you stayed long enough for me to fall in love with you.’ He smiled shyly, wondering if he’d said too much. ‘Sometimes you have to read the signs, I guess.’

Daisy was quiet for a long moment, looking at him with a far away expression that he couldn’t quite fathom. He wondered if using the ‘L’ word was a mistake.

‘I have a call I need to make. Give me an hour, then I’ll come to your place.’

‘You look serious,’ said Tom. She had a determined look in her eyes, like something important had just happened.

‘I am serious, but in a good way.’ She leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek, then hurried off towards the school gates. Tom stared after her until she disappeared, then turned back to Tessa’s grave.

‘Sorry you had to see that,’ he whispered. ‘You know I’ll always love you, but it’s time for me to move on.’

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Daisy ended the call and breathed out slowly, feeling like she’d just shed ten pounds she hadn’t even noticed she was carrying. She rushed to the bathroom and ran a brush through her hair, adding a touch of lipstick and a pair of sunglasses. It was a big day, and that called for a very small effort.

Ruby had gone for a walk with Simon, Archie and Hank, so she dropped her a message and hurried out of Willow Cottage and across the field to Tom’s house. The snow on the fields glittered like diamonds in the sunshine, and the row of snowmen by the lake politely watched her progress like spectators lining a red carpet. It felt like a sign, and today she was reading the signs.

Daisy could see Tom waiting by the gate with Henry and quickened her pace; he must have been watching out of the window. He looked worried and unsure, so she pulled him into a long kiss, then decided not to keep him waiting any longer.

‘I’ve made a decision. I’m quitting Spotlight.’

He didn’t say anything at first, then his eyes widened with shock. ‘What? Are you kidding?’

Daisy rolled her eyes. ‘Of course I’m not kidding.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘I don’t want that life any more,’ Daisy explained patiently. ‘It’s been twenty-five years. I need – want – something different.’ Her eyes searched his.

‘What did you have in mind?’ Tom looked like he was holding his breath.

‘I’m going to move to the countryside. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks, really. I want somewhere I can grow my own food and chop my own firewood. Maybe write my memoirs. I definitely want to spend more time with my mum and Ruby. And never wear high heels again.’

Tom pretended to be horrified. ‘No heels? Not even for special occasions?’

‘Love me, love my sensible shoes.’