Tommy was cooking eggs and Barbara was trying hard not to burn the toast. It was much more of a brunch than a breakfast but they didn't care. He had slept well again and felt better for their talk.
"Look about last night," he started, "I'm sorry to have spoilt such a superb day by being morose."
"You weren't morose." Barbara was glad she had been here. She knew he had felt guilty enjoying himself yesterday. "She wouldn't want you to mourn the rest of your life you know. It is okay to live your life."
He nodded and was about to say something when her phone rang.
"Havers," she spat into the phone. Talk about bad timing.
There had been a murder of an Earl at Harby, a little village in Leicestershire. She and Lynley were being despatched there today to help the local police because of his 'ability to understand the nuances of the situation'.
"Thanks Winston. I'll let his Lordship drive then, the car might impress them." There was a pause as Winston obviously made a crack. Barbara wanted to yell at him how wrong he was but instead forced a laugh and hung up with a promise to keep him informed.
With that Tommy's phone rang. He answered and because he had not heard the story was able to sound convincing as he asked the right questions. "Ok Winston have you rung Havers yet? Good alright I'll drive over then and pick her up in about an hour."
He rang off and looked over at Barbara who seemed lost in thought. He went over and hugged her then kissed the top of her head, "Thank you."
"Come on then Sir. We have to pack."
The conversation in the car was mostly about the case. Winston had emailed some initial crime scene reports and Barbara was reading them to Lynley as he drove. She cursed how contactable everyone was these days but on occasions like this she had to admit is was handy.
The conversation fell into silence for a while until Barbara spoke. She wanted him to understand she really did appreciate the effort he had made yesterday. "I never really thanked you for such a great weekend. I, I haven't enjoyed myself so much in ages."
He did not speak but looked over and gave her an enormous grin. He had enjoyed it too, even if he was now torn as to what to do next. He had been trying hard not to think too much about it fearing he might drive off the road. Their conversation last night had hit home. What if I am doing it again and mistaking feelings of love for being in love? He did not want to hurt Barbara; especially not as he had hurt Helen. He saw her watching him. So she was thinking about last night too. He wondered what she really thought about him, about what was happening. Surely it must seem odd to her to spend two nights the way they had? It seemed increasingly odd to him too but not something that he regretted and certainly his desire for Barbara, despite his confusion and guilt, had only increased.
This morning he had hoped they would spend today and possibly tonight together talking through where this was heading; and how they would manage work and his family next weekend. But work had been thrust back on them and suddenly they had to juggle being DI and Sergeant along with being Tommy and Barbara.
Barbara's thoughts were equally confused. She had secretly hoped that the last few days might have been leading somewhere new. But she also dreaded that thought. Things would change and they were comfortable where they were now. She was glad there was a new case and it might take away the growing anxiety she felt about going to Cornwall next weekend. She knew now that Tommy recognised the issues with Helen and understood he might transfer his affection to her the same way. She could see some of the same behaviours he had with Helen, when he had first chased her, reflected in his actions this weekend. Barbara had been caught up in the flow of it but she could manage him now that she saw it. They would never get involved she decided but just a sliver of her heart hoped that maybe it was different, that maybe this was real.