Page 3 of Wistful Whispers

The minute the two blue ticks appear to show he’s read my message he calls.

“What’s wrong?” Jake asks.

“Nothing,” I reply weakly, but I know there’s no fooling him.

“Hannah, tell me.”

“I got some news earlier, and… I’m just not in the right frame of mind to party,” I try to reassure him with half the story.

“What news? Any problems with Ols?” My brother Oliver had a paragliding accident a little over a month ago and hurt his back. But he’s slowly on the mend.

“No. He’s fine. Actually, he’s probably all cuddled up with Keeley right about now,” I grin at the thought that the woman, who he’s been completely smitten with for weeks (without admitting it to anyone, of course), was surprising him today with the news that she’s moving to Fellside.

“Then tell me Hannah, what’s worrying you?”

“That’s not news to share over the phone,” I sigh.

“I’ll come and get you,” he replies immediately.

“Don’t be silly, Jake. You’re not driving two hours to Manchester in the middle of the night.”

“I can—”

“No.” Suddenly the thought of going home and not staying in a hotel and making happy small talk with Marisa and Nour in the morning is very appealing. I love both to bits, but I need to share this news with Jake and my family first.

“Tell you something. I jump on the next train to Oxenholm and you can pick me up from there.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jake asks concerned.

“Yes. Why?”

“Because I never thought you’d actually come back—”

“If it’s too late—”

“No. Text me when you’re on the train and the time it gets in,” he interrupts me.

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Be careful.”

I drop Marisa a quick message so she knows not to worry and then jump into a car at the taxi rank across the street. It feels like the right decision. I need to be with Jake now.

The train slowly winds its way towards Windermere. Once I realised that the next train to Oxenholme was a TransPennine that would travel on to Windermere I texted Jake to pick me up from there instead. Makes no sense for him to drive all the way to Oxenholme.

The closer we get to the station, the more nervous I get. I’ve no clue how he’ll react and I’m worried I could lose him over this. I inhale deeply to make the nausea go away just as the train pulls in.

I carefully climb from the train in my high heels and mini skirt.God I can’t wait to get changed.

Lights flash as I step into the car park. Jake’s small pick-up truck is parked just behind a row of taxis.

“Hey, thank you so much,” I sigh as I drop into the warm car.

“Of course,” he grins, making his dimples appear even deeper. Jake has these boyband looks that could get him any woman he wants. But in all the time I’ve known him he hasn’t had a girlfriend. At one point I thought he might be gay and I dropped a lot of hints to make it clear that I would be absolutely fine with that, but he isn’t. He went on nights out and double dates with his friend Rob, but after Rob settled down and got married, these one night stands stopped. And he never flirts with anyone when he’s out with me.

“So?” he probes.

“Let’s get home first. I want to get out of these clothes,” I buy myself a little more time. A bit more time where he won’t judge me.

---