Follow My Lead Episode 36
Stu appeared down the side of the house.
“Hi!” he said, his eyes homing in on Danielle. “I knocked at the front, then followed the noise.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on a family party,” he added diffidently, taking in the scene.
Danielle was so surprised to see him that she froze.
She was thankful when Lydia stepped in.
“Don’t be silly, Stu. Come on and sit down.”
Danielle’s heart was in her throat as he headed straight towards her.
“Hi,” he said quietly, settling down on the grass at her feet.
“Hi.” She swallowed, gathering her courage. “Did I see you at the market today?”
He looked surprised.
“You saw me? I was looking for you! I must have missed you in the crush.”
“Oh,” she said, and felt some tension release. “Yes, it was busy, wasn’t it?”
He shifted his position slightly to look more directly at her.
“I wish I’d found you. I wanted to explain why I’ve not been in touch.”
She sat very still, almost dreading what he might say.
“It’s just been one thing after another.” He swiped a hand across his face in a weary gesture.
She noticed the creases were ingrained with soot.
“I’ve been working all hours. It happens at this time every year.
“Everyone suddenly wants their chimneys swept ready for autumn.
“On top of that, my mate Graham fell out with his missus and he’s been sleeping on my floor while I tried to talk some sense into him.
“He’s a great bloke, but it’s been like looking after a toddler.”
Stu was talking all in a rush.
“I bet you’re thinking that I could have texted, but look.”
Reaching behind him, he drew his phone out of the pocket of his jeans and held it out to show her.
The screen was black and shattered.
“Graham stood on it. Clumsy clod. It’s completely busted and your number is saved inside.
“That’ll teach me not to write these things down.”
He took a deep breath and it struck Danielle that Lydia was right: he was as unsure of her as she was of him.
It was hardly surprising after the way she had treated him over the last couple of years.
“I’ve ordered a new one,” he was saying, “but there’s a delay on delivery . . .”
Another breath.
“Anyway, Graham’s seen sense and headed home. I think he’d had enough of my nagging!” he said with a laugh.
Stu sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“I know all this sounds like lame excuses, but I enjoyed our date and I hope we can do it again.”
How could she resist the appeal in his eyes?
“Me, too,” she said, smiling at his huff of relief.
“That’s great. Maybe tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” Danielle replied. “To be honest, I wasn’t one hundred per cent sure last time was actually a date.”
“You weren’t? Is that why you haven’t called me?” His tone was light now.
“I was going to ask what your excuse was. It couldn’t be a patch on mine!”
She blushed and he reached up to take her hand.
“I would be honoured, Danielle, if you would please come out with me tomorrow night.
“And for the avoidance of doubt, this is definitely a date.”
She had been completely focused on Stu, but she became aware that a silence had fallen.
Glancing up, she found the other three watching with interest, though they tried to hide it in a sudden burst of conversation.
Laughing, she moved to sit close beside him on the grass.
“Tell me what’s been happening. How’s business?” Stu began, but before Danielle could relate her news, Marie tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Sorry, Mum! Stu, this is my mum. Mum, this is Stu.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Stu. And call me Marie.”
Listening as they got acquainted, Danielle idly took another sip from her glass, her gaze drifting over the garden, so she didn’t miss the moment when Cyrus leaned in towards Lydia.
“Do you think we should try one of those? A date, I mean?”
She saw Lydia pretend to consider, although she could read the sparkle in her godmother’s eyes.
“I think we should. What were you thinking?”
“Dinner tomorrow?”
“Deal,” Lydia agreed, and they chinked their glasses together.
Danielle watched Lydia for a moment, thinking back to how stressed and unhappy she had been when she’d first arrived in the village.
Now the woman looked relaxed and happy, and it made her heart glow to know she had been instrumental in that.
She felt her mum nudge her again, and Marie leaned forward.
Evidently she had been watching the exchange, too.
“I’m going to miss it all again,” Marie murmured in her ear. “I think I might have to speak to your dad about moving here!”
The End…