Read Online A New Beginning by Miranda Barnes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Miranda Barnes
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morning, disappointingly but perhaps predictably, Bob was already gone when Kirsty appeared for breakfast.
‘Disappeared into the gloom,’ Carol said, gazing out of the window. ‘Probably exhausted from all the talking he did last night,’ she added, giving Kirsty a pointed look.
‘Carol! Don’t be so mean. We had our evening meal together. That was all.’
‘If you say so.’ Carol wore a severe look for a moment longer. Then she chuckled and smiled. ‘Actually, I was pleased to see the two of you sitting together. It was good for you both to have a bit of company for a change.’
Kirsty laughed happily. ‘What would I do without you, Carol? You remind me of my mother.’
Carol scowled and departed.
***
All the way home, and long after she got there, there were just two things on Kirsty’s mind. One was Bob, and the confused feelings she had for him now. His kiss lingered in her mind, as did the insight she had been given into his life and circumstances.
Poor man. Losing his family like that. He had a big load to carry. No wonder he needed time and space to himself. No wonder he was sometimes depressed.
Yet he was good company when you got to know him, and she’d really enjoyed their day together. She’d enjoyed their brief moment of intimacy, too.
What on earth had come over them both? She smiled mischievously. It hadn’t been just her either. Bob had something to answer for.
All in all, it was an experience, brief though it had been, that convinced her she had been right to split up with Craig. It was a long time since she had felt thrilled to be in a man’s arms.
What a pity Bob had gone by the time she’d got up in the morning. She wondered why he had. They’d parted on good terms. Nothing had been said the night before, but they had looked at each other and held hands. And it had been understood, certainly by her, that it was the start of something, not the end.
He must have had his work to go to, she decided. Whatever that was. She had to be practical. He stole time away from it but he would have commitments he couldn’t avoid. She shouldn’t read too much into his departure. It didn’t mean he regretted what had happened. Not at all.
She would see him next time she went to Fells. No need to wonder and agonise. She would see him again then. Of that, she was certain.
The other matter on her mind was the very practical question of whether or not to resurrect her bid for the inn. Had the other offer really been withdrawn? Or had the wind blown the “Under Offer” sign away, exposing the original “For Sale” sign underneath? The latter possibility seemed the more likely, now she thought about it. But it was worth enquiring. You never knew.
The question became increasingly pressing as her first day back at work wore on. In the end, she decided there was only one way to find out for sure. There was no point speculating. She really had better ask.
The next morning, during a lull in the life of the office, she rang Fells Inn. To her surprise, Henry answered. Cautiously, she explained her interest and asked what the situation was now. Had the previous offer really been withdrawn?
Henry sounded even more weary and dispirited than usual. ‘Who knows?’ he said. ‘Bob changes his mind from one day to the next.’
‘Bob?’
‘Bob Simpson. That guy who’s always here. You must have seen him?’
‘Yes. I know who Bob is. But what’s he got to do with it?’
‘It was his offer that got withdrawn, wasn’t it?’
Kirsty was shocked. For a moment she didn’t know what to say. Had she misheard? Was Henry joking?
‘Are you serious?’ she asked finally.
‘Of course I am. And I’m sick to death of him, as well as this dump. So make me an offer – please!’
She was so stunned by the surprise news that she took an early lunch break. She sat in a corner of her favourite café and pondered. But she didn’t really know what to think, or to do. That was the truth of it. She was in
‘Disappeared into the gloom,’ Carol said, gazing out of the window. ‘Probably exhausted from all the talking he did last night,’ she added, giving Kirsty a pointed look.
‘Carol! Don’t be so mean. We had our evening meal together. That was all.’
‘If you say so.’ Carol wore a severe look for a moment longer. Then she chuckled and smiled. ‘Actually, I was pleased to see the two of you sitting together. It was good for you both to have a bit of company for a change.’
Kirsty laughed happily. ‘What would I do without you, Carol? You remind me of my mother.’
Carol scowled and departed.
***
All the way home, and long after she got there, there were just two things on Kirsty’s mind. One was Bob, and the confused feelings she had for him now. His kiss lingered in her mind, as did the insight she had been given into his life and circumstances.
Poor man. Losing his family like that. He had a big load to carry. No wonder he needed time and space to himself. No wonder he was sometimes depressed.
Yet he was good company when you got to know him, and she’d really enjoyed their day together. She’d enjoyed their brief moment of intimacy, too.
What on earth had come over them both? She smiled mischievously. It hadn’t been just her either. Bob had something to answer for.
All in all, it was an experience, brief though it had been, that convinced her she had been right to split up with Craig. It was a long time since she had felt thrilled to be in a man’s arms.
What a pity Bob had gone by the time she’d got up in the morning. She wondered why he had. They’d parted on good terms. Nothing had been said the night before, but they had looked at each other and held hands. And it had been understood, certainly by her, that it was the start of something, not the end.
He must have had his work to go to, she decided. Whatever that was. She had to be practical. He stole time away from it but he would have commitments he couldn’t avoid. She shouldn’t read too much into his departure. It didn’t mean he regretted what had happened. Not at all.
She would see him next time she went to Fells. No need to wonder and agonise. She would see him again then. Of that, she was certain.
The other matter on her mind was the very practical question of whether or not to resurrect her bid for the inn. Had the other offer really been withdrawn? Or had the wind blown the “Under Offer” sign away, exposing the original “For Sale” sign underneath? The latter possibility seemed the more likely, now she thought about it. But it was worth enquiring. You never knew.
The question became increasingly pressing as her first day back at work wore on. In the end, she decided there was only one way to find out for sure. There was no point speculating. She really had better ask.
The next morning, during a lull in the life of the office, she rang Fells Inn. To her surprise, Henry answered. Cautiously, she explained her interest and asked what the situation was now. Had the previous offer really been withdrawn?
Henry sounded even more weary and dispirited than usual. ‘Who knows?’ he said. ‘Bob changes his mind from one day to the next.’
‘Bob?’
‘Bob Simpson. That guy who’s always here. You must have seen him?’
‘Yes. I know who Bob is. But what’s he got to do with it?’
‘It was his offer that got withdrawn, wasn’t it?’
Kirsty was shocked. For a moment she didn’t know what to say. Had she misheard? Was Henry joking?
‘Are you serious?’ she asked finally.
‘Of course I am. And I’m sick to death of him, as well as this dump. So make me an offer – please!’
She was so stunned by the surprise news that she took an early lunch break. She sat in a corner of her favourite café and pondered. But she didn’t really know what to think, or to do. That was the truth of it. She was in
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