Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox

you want to know something?’

      ‘If you like, yes.’

      ‘I love you too.’

      And because she had uttered those sincere words when her mind appeared to be fully alert, Thomas found he was too choked up to make an immediate reply. Then he cleared his throat and told her, ‘That is such a wonderful thing for you to say.’

      ‘Would you do something for me, Thomas?’

      ‘Of course – if I can.’

      The confident little glance she gave him was that of a woman at peace with herself. ‘May I please have a proper kiss?’

      Thomas was pleasantly surprised. He had already kissed her, but he thought maybe she’d forgotten.

      Growing impatient, she raised her small hands to place them either side of his face, and when she smiled at him in a special way, with her brown eyes sparkling, he felt his heart turn over. ‘I’m waiting for my kiss, Thomas,’ she said. ‘A proper one, mind.’

      Gingerly placing his hands over hers, then easing them into his large fists, he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the cheek.

      When he moved away, she caught hold of his arm and kept him there. ‘Naughty Thomas!’ She suddenly closed her eyes, lifted her face up to him, and in a small, trembling voice she whispered, ‘Please, I need a proper kiss.’

      In the whole of his life, Thomas Farraday had never experienced emotions such as now, when his heart turned inside out, and he was lost as to what he should do. There was nothing he would like more, than to give her a ‘proper’ kiss, providing he could remember what a proper kiss was! He had been without a woman for so long, he could hardly remember.

      He must not take advantage of Eileen, in her fragile state of mind – that would be a shocking betrayal of trust. So he smiled and brushed away her request for a ‘proper kiss’. ‘We’d best get a move on, m’dear,’ he said casually. ‘We don’t want to miss the ducks, now do we, eh?’

      When he tried to make a move, she held him there. ‘Thomas!’

      ‘Yes?’

      ‘I’m waiting.’

      Emotionally torn, he leaned forward, like a shy boy on his first date. Tenderly placing his lips over hers, he was shocked by the warm softness of her skin against his mouth, and the way her lips opened to his.

      When she raised her arms to wrap them about his neck and draw him ever closer, the long, sorry years fled away. He was a vibrant young man again, with a young man’s heart and soul.

      For what seemed the longest and most wonderful moment of his life, Eileen held him close. She was his sweetheart, and he was her man. And the stirring of emotion, so deep and amazing, took his breath away.

      It was a long kiss. The kiss of true lovers. And when it was over, he knew he would never forget that very special moment. He would cherish the memory. It would go with him to the grave.

      When she released him and looked up into his astonished face, her tender expression revealed the true strength of the love she felt for him. It was there, too, in the light of her shining eyes. She was a woman in love. A woman who trusted him enough to allow him into her heart. In that lingering moment, her eyes told him more than a thousand words ever could.

      Then, without warning, her smile was gone; the light in her eyes grew dim, and the cruel cloak of twilight passed over her mind. The magic had flown, and now she was fiddling with her hair, twirling it round and round in her fingers, until it seemed she might pull it out by the roots. ‘Don’t do that, sweetheart.’ He softly laid his hand over hers.

      ‘Thomas?’

      ‘Yes, what is it?’

      Her face lit up. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

      Thomas nodded. ‘I’m glad as well.’ Today was turning out to be a very emotional journey.

      ‘I’m really glad you’re here.’ She was so pleased, she repeated it: ‘I’m glad you’re here.’ Her voice faltered. ‘Did I say that right, Thomas?’

      ‘Yes, you said it right – twice, in fact.’ The whisper of a smile crossed his face. ‘Well done.’

      When he now clapped his hands, she clapped hers too. ‘See!’ She wagged a finger at him. ‘I know what I said, and it’s not raining yet. So get a move on, Thomas, before the skies open!’

      Because it had confused her, Thomas was beginning to wish he’d never even mentioned the damned rain!

      It was as well she couldn’t see him quietly smiling as he walked with her down the path beside the pretty flower-beds. With every passing second he loved her that little bit more, until his heart was fit to burst. ‘I do love you, Eileen,’ he muttered softly under his breath.

      ‘That’s ’cause you belong to me,’ she said matter-of-factly.

      The tears quickening in his eyes, Thomas pretended not to have heard her. Instead, he said in a firm voice, ‘Watch out, you ducks, here we come!’

      As they made their way up the hill, he warned himself that just now, when she claimed that he ‘belonged’ to her, Eileen was probably thinking about her late husband, Ian. She did that often, talking to him as though he was the husband she had loved and lost. Many times she addressed Libby, poor girl, as though her father was still with them.

      Both he and Libby had come to accept the situation, but whenever Eileen addressed him as though speaking to her husband, the pain of it all was like a clenched fist inside Thomas.

      The first stop was the lake. It was a long, hard walk, though as they followed the path up into the spinney, the birdsong and the pleasant scents wafting from the myriad blooms of every colour, shape and size, made the way less arduous and more of a journey for the soul. ‘Look, Thomas – look there!’

      Eileen had spotted two doves. So close you could reach out and touch them, they were settled on a tree-branch, face to face, making loving noises while they inched closer together.

      Thomas came to a halt a short distance away. ‘Ssh!’ Putting his finger to his lips, he whispered, ‘We mustn’t frighten them away,’ and she gave a little nod of understanding.

      For what seemed an age, Eileen remained mesmerised, her face tilted upwards and her eyes wide with amazement. She kept smiling at Thomas, who was congratulating himself because he’d chosen to go the longest route to the lake. He could so easily have gone straight up the main walkway, but they would have missed all the glorious sights that now surrounded them.

      When they arrived at the man-made lake, Thomas slung the picnic bag over his shoulder and, giving Eileen his other arm to hang on to, they walked arm in arm to the bench at the edge of the lake, where he sat her down, before dropping the bag on the grass.

      ‘Are you hungry?’ he asked.

      ‘Not yet.’

      ‘Thirsty?’

      ‘No, thank you, Thomas.’

      Leaning back against the bench, she sat very still, watching the water as the gentle breeze moved it along in gentle ripples. And while she watched the water, Thomas watched her, thinking that he was more content than any man deserved to be.

      After a while, Eileen grew restless. ‘Where are the ducks, Thomas?’

      ‘Oh, I’m sure they’ll be along in a while. I expect they’re hiding under the bushes, having a little kip.’

      ‘Promise?’

      ‘I don’t know if I should.’

      ‘Are you fibbing, then?’

      ‘I hope not.’

      ‘So, promise me, then.’

      ‘What exactly do you want me to promise?’