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He breaks off from his song. ‘This is beautiful, Just Janie. Very beautiful.’ Dominic takes me in his arms. ‘I am singing a song of thanks. A song for my family. I am hoping that I will send the rain to them.’
‘Teach me the song,’ I say.
He starts to sing again in his gentle lilting voice and I try to copy him. We dance around the garden as the rain pours down on us. I throw off my towel with a reckless, ‘woo hoo’ and I can safely say that this is the first time that I’ve been in my garden in just my bra and pants. Instantly, my skin and my underwear are soaked. Dominic is beaming and his smile is so infectious that despite the cold, the rain, the wind, I start to laugh. We twirl around the garden, entwined together. I throw my head back and let the rain course down my face and I feel cleansed, liberated, and very much in love.
‘I love you,’ I shout out to Dominic. ‘I love you so much.’
And he picks me up in his strong arms, spinning me around and around.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
After a fabulous weekend of Dominic and I getting to know each other again, I’m very reluctant to go back to work. I’d much rather stay in bed with him. Plus I’m worried about leaving Dominic alone all day while I go to the salon so I issue him a list of instructions.
I’ve shown him how to work the microwave so he can make himself some porridge for lunch. He still hasn’t been tempted to eat anything else since he’s been here, but perhaps he will in time. I’ve shown him how to work the television and he’s currently mesmerised by a programme which is showing what the fashions will be for the coming season. I’m not sure that exaggerated shoulder pads and nipped-in waists would suit my Maasai warrior, but he seems transfixed nevertheless. I think he’s missing his songs from home, but he absolutely loves Radio Two and is already starting to sing along to some of the more jaunty pop songs. Cheryl Cole’s ‘Fight for This Love’ seems to be a particular favourite whenever that belts out – but I think the irony of the lyrics may be lost on him.
‘You will be OK?’ I ask for the tenth time.
‘Yes, Just Janie. Do not worry about me.’
But worry, I do. With all my fussing over Dominic, it’s later than normal when I get to work, so I don’t have time for my usual coffee with Nina. It seems this is just as well because when I walk into the staffroom an uncomfortable silence falls over everyone. It looks like Nina has already shared her opinion about Dominic with the rest of the staff. So much for friendship. I thought she would be happy that I’ve finally found love, whatever shape, size, colour or culture that it came in. But no, it seems that’s not the case.
Somehow I get through the day, cutting and perming and setting and straightening. At lunchtime I go out and wander up and down the High Street rather than sit in the staffroom, even though the day is bitterly cold. Buckingham is a nice town that’s retained a lot of its old charm. In the middle is an ancient gaol that’s now a museum and there’s a smattering of half-timbered buildings that escaped the sixties massacre. Normally a bit of a walk around lifts my spirits, but today it singularly fails to do so.
I ring the cottage at lunchtime and Dominic assures me that he is OK. I’m worried that he hasn’t eaten since this morning, but he convinces me that he doesn’t need to have anything else until this evening. How can someone eat so little? I’m half the size of him and eat twice as much. I ring off, promising that I won’t be home late. If everyone is avoiding talking to me in the salon, then there’ll be no temptation to hang around and chat. It will be so much better when Dominic is properly domiciled here and he can work. I imagine that it’s no fun for him being stuck at home all day in the cold with nothing very much to do other than watch crap telly and listen to vacuous pop songs. I’ll have to think about if there’s some way I can help him to pass the time.
At six o’clock I grab up my things and I’m out of the door. Nina and I have barely exchanged two words all day and it pains me that in finding love, I seem to have lost my best friend.
I drive home like a thing possessed, unable to wait to see Dominic again. My stomach is literally fluttering with joy and it’s worth putting up with all the tittering behind hands to have this feeling.
Pulling up outside Little Cottage, I’m slightly alarmed to see that there are no lights on inside. Is Dominic sitting in the dark in there? I can’t even see the flicker of the television. Surely he knows how to work the lights?
I’m out of the car like greased lightning and fumble with my key as I open the door. Sure enough, the whole house is in darkness. ‘Dominic!’ I shout out. ‘Dominic! Are you home?’
