Page 5 of Twin Flames
Cara walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. Her hand shook. She plucked a fresh t-shirt from a pile of neatly folded clothes in the airing cupboard and threw the drenched one into the wicker laundry basket. Her pale face stared back at her in the mirror; she looked as if she’d seen Anne Boleyn herself.
She sank down on to her bed and within moments, sleep mercifully transported her far away.
CHAPTER 2
York, present day
Daniel Wetmore, Cara’s fiancé, booked a table for two at The Royal Oak on Goodramgate. Like much of York, The Royal Oak could have been transported back to the fifteenth century and wouldn’t look out of place. They ate in one of the quaint dining rooms towards the back of the pub.
Daniel’s law firm had opened an office in York ten years earlier, and he’d relocated from Manchester. He liked York but didn’t share Cara’s devotion to the city. For Daniel, Cara was the main attraction, and although he hadn’t mentioned his plan to her yet, he intended to persuade her to move to Manchester. He knew he would face an uphill struggle to prise her away from her beloved York but was counting on her understanding his desire to be near his children.
Oh lord!
Cara thought she glimpsed George through the alcove. Hold on; was it really him, or was she imagining it? She couldn’t be sure. But yes, there he was, near the bar. He was animated, and his hands cut through the air in bold strokes as he talked. Shecouldn’t see who was with him. Here he was, twice in three days. How odd.
Cara’s first thought was to pretend she hadn’t seen him. He may not spot her through the alcove; their table was tucked away from the main dining area. After all, it would be less awkward. Nothing had happened between them, but she felt irrationally guilty as if they were somehow intimate. But then again, they were intimate in her visions. Five hundred years ago, they were married, with two children. This was no schoolgirl crush. He was her husband! It was too much to take in. Cara avoided looking in his direction, trying to give Daniel her full attention but she struggled to register his words. She sank lower into the chair, praying George wouldn’t spot her.
A few minutes later, unable to resist, she shot a glance at the alcove. He was staring intently at her, a bemused look on his face. As he caught her eye, he smiled and waved before disappearing from view. She waited, like a mouse snagged in a trap, mouth dry, senses reeling.
George bounded into the small dining area, and their eyes met. An instant rush of happiness flooded through her, and she hoped it didn’t show on her face.
‘Hello, Cara, what a coincidence to see you again.’ He stood over their table, smiling, looking down at her.
Daniel, who was still explaining the intricacies of his somewhat dull day in court, toyed with his large glass of brandy. He looked up in surprise, unable to hide his irritation at the unexpected intrusion.
‘Daniel, this is George. George was kind enough to assist me the other day when I fell off the stepladder at the bookshop.’
Cara attempted a casual tone, but her chest beat faster than a tap dancer’s shoes. George stared at her quizzically as a light blush stung her cheeks. She turned her attention back to Daniel, tearing her eyes away from George.
‘George, this is Daniel.’ Then she added, ‘My fiancé,’ almost as an afterthought.
George raised his eyebrow, smiled and offered his hand to Daniel.
Daniel arranged his thin lips into a lukewarm response and shook George’s hand. The introduction lacked enthusiasm on both sides.
‘Great to see you, George. How strange we should run into each other again so soon,’ said Cara.
They exchanged a few more words before George made his excuses and left.
Cara’s favourite cheesecake tasted bland, and Daniel’s conversation flew over her head. Her eyes kept returning to the alcove in search of George, but she knew he had gone.
It was as if he’d never been there. She was hollow. What was usually a pleasant evening with her fiancé, was suddenly pointless. Would she ever see George again? The thought slipped into her mind as she tried to act normal.
Nothing would ever be the same. At that moment, she knew it was over for her and Daniel. It was only a question of when—the sudden realisation terrified her.
Daniel paid the bill and pulled out Cara’s chair as they prepared to leave.
‘He seemed like an interesting chap. You didn’t mention anything about meeting him.’
A slight frown furrowed his brow as he spoke.
‘We only met for a couple of minutes.’
They wandered outside into the cool night air.
‘How about you stay at mine tonight? It’s been ages,’ said Daniel.
Cara couldn’t muster the enthusiasm; she craved being alone and quashed Daniel’s suggestion.
