A Debt of Honour – Episode 25
A Debt Of Honour
« Previous Post- 1. A Debt of Honour – Episode 01
- 1. A Debt of Honour – Episode 25
They huddled together over a roughly cleaned table at the bus station café.
It was cold, noisy and full of movement as people hurried out and in to check departure boards or book tickets.
It wasn’t the greatest venue in the world, but it offered anonymity.
Ellie hesitated, then reached across the table to cover Calum’s hand.
“I’m so sorry, Calum,” she said.
“It’s OK,” he replied woodenly.
“Look, it wasn’t a straight ‘no’. You caught me off balance.
“My mind froze, and all these people watching and smiling didn’t help . . .”
Calum’s eyes were on the table. She sensed he was as shell-shocked as she was.
“I’m sorry,” Ellie said again. “My body took over – and I just ran. I didn’t mean to do that . . . it just happened.”
“My fault,” Calum said, in that same dead voice. “It was an impulse – driven by me being on a high after getting that job.”
He smiled wryly.
“Maybe the few pints of beer had something to do with it as well,” he added.
“It must have been awful for you, left standing with everyone watching – so it’s my turn to say sorry,” Ellie said quietly.
“I’ve had better moments,” Calum admitted. “But I should have picked a better time – and place.”
It might have made a difference, Ellie thought. But probably not.
“My problem is that I’m still in free-fall after Finals,” she said.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do next. It would be crazy to make new commitments until I sort that out.”
Unspoken, but in her mind, was the knowledge that her mother had once acted on impulse, then spent the rest of her life trying to make that decision work.
It had taken Shauna almost 30 years to try to put things right.
But would Calum be a mistake, she wondered. She loved the shy and awkward man.
If she was choosing a life-partner, then Calum’s would be the first name on her list. And the last.
She squeezed his hand.
“Calum.” She tried to smile. “I didn’t say no. If I hadn’t panicked, I would probably have said, not now. Give me time to think.”
His eyes were suddenly very intense, direct.
“Is what you’re saying now, your real reply?” he asked quietly.
Ellie didn’t hesitate.
“Yes,” she said. “Cut me some slack, please. Marriage is a lifetime’s commitment. I want to be fair and honest, for both of us.”
His hand gripped hers fiercely.
“Take all the time in the world,” he said. “Because I know you are the person I want to share my life with.
“I can wait until you feel just as sure about me.”
He smiled. This time, there was real warmth in it.
“I love you with all my heart and soul. For ever.
“My proposal’s open, until either you accept it – or find someone better.”
Ellie swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Calum,” she said, “I can’t tell you how honoured I feel to be asked.”
“Then let’s get home.” Calum sighed. “We’re running out of buses . . .”
Ellie had met and judged her flatmates’ boyfriends, but it was a strange experience to see someone with her mum.
The man made Shauna smile, she saw – and, smiling, her mum looked years younger.
No man who did that could be all bad. But . . . effectively standing in her dad’s shoes?
Ellie was uncertain about how to react, and that made her uncomfortable, not least because the man himself was quietly personable.
He was no longer an anonymous benefactor, but a senior research professor, weatherbeaten and lean.
He had made no attempt to launch a charm offensive at her. She gave him Brownie points for that.
He sat quietly, listening to the chat between herself and her mum, answering briefly when her mum directed a question at him.
Was he shy, like Calum, or simply old enough and wise enough to bide his time?
To be continued…
