TOMMY

He recorded his message and waited. And waited. And waited.

It had been too much to assume that Barbara had been waiting for his voicemail and would instantly ring him and tell him she loved him and was on her way back, but he had hoped that would happen. At the very least he expected some sort of acknowledgement. It was not every day someone declared their previously unspoken love. It warranted some form of answer.

BARBARA

"Hello."

Barbara jumped. She had been miles away, thinking about how not to think about Tommy. She looked around. Tom the barista was on the sand ten feet from where she was walking. "Are you stalking me?"

He laughed. "You really are a copper. Do you always assume people are committing crimes?"

"Yes."

He shook his head. "I'm walking my dog."

Barbara looked at him and raised her eyebrows. She was just in the mood to practise some Aikido. "An invisible dog? A new breed I take it?"

Tom grinned at her then whistled. "Ruggles! Come on, boy."

A woolly, wet, tan and black furball raced up the beach. It stopped at Tom's feet and shook water from his coat.

"He's adorable," Barbara said, her suspicions allayed. "What sort is he?"

"A Lakeland Terrier. Similar to an Airedale. Technically, he's one of my sister's dogs. He's a new dad, and has been helping his wife with the pups, but Lizzie thought she needed more time alone with the little ones, so we're having some time doing boy things, aren't we Ruggles?"

The dog wagged it's tail with liquid enthusiasm that sprayed over Barbara. "Is Lizzie his wife, or your sister? Or both?"

Tom stared at her then laughed. "My sister. His wife is Miss Margaret, but we call her Maggie."

"Well, he's lovely." Barbara bent down and tickled the wet dog behind his ear.

"Hear that, boy? You have an admirer. So, where are you headed, Barbara?"

"I'm just walking."

"Trying to clear your head?"

"Something like that." She started to walk off.

"This man of yours must be quite a bastard to have hurt you like this."

"No, he's not. It was... he... he doesn't know I love him. He would never be intentionally cruel."

"So what did he do to cause you to run away to Scarborough, of all places."

"Why 'of all places'?"

"It's a holiday town. Happy people come here to be happier. Sad people come here thinking it will make them forget. The town is like alcohol. Happy people feel better, unhappy people sink deeper into their woes. Who wants to see everyone else happy when your heart aches? Is that why you ran away? To try and be happy?"

He had a point. "I didn't run away. I came to recuperate."

"If that's what you need to believe..."

"Maybe you should take Ruggles home to Maggie."

Tom shook his head. "I'll leave if you tell me what you need to tell someone."

Barbara stopped and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. He was right. She needed to tell someone, but a complete stranger was not ideal. Then again, maybe it was better. "It's a stupid thing. When we were injured, he was delirious and thought I was his deceased wife. He asked me to marry him. I said yes because... I thought he might die and I wanted to him to die at peace."

"And later it was awkward? He remembered and tried to explain it's not you he loves?"

"No. We haven't spoken yet. The doctors kept him in a coma. They were waking him up today."

"Ah, I see."

"Satisfied? Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone." She pushed past him and quickened her pace. Ruggles trotted happily beside her. "Go away. Maggie needs you at home."

"You need to tell him."

"Grr! Just leave me alone."

"No, Barbara. You need to face this, and your man. What's his name?"

"Tommy."

"Really? How ironic. You should tell him how you feel. Why it hurt you so much. Do you even know how he is?"

"My other colleague said he seems okay."

"And?"

"And what?" Tom kept pace with her. She realised they were eye to eye. He was still on the sand while she was on the concrete. She could avoid him by moving further away from the edge of the footpath.

"Your colleague said something else that has turned your self pity into this hostility."

"Self pity? Is that what you think?"

"Yes, because the man has not done anything deliberately cruel. If you were both stabbed and he was wounded more severely, can I assume a degree of survivor guilt?"

"You assume too much. He saved my life, and the doctors think I repaid the debt quickly."

"How?"

Barbara stopped and sat on a bench that looked out to sea. Ruggles jumped up and sat beside her, his damp head nestling into her lap. With ease, Tom stepped up onto the path and sat next to Ruggles. Without looking at him once, Barbara told him the story. Then she found herself telling him almost everything starting with being paired together, their different backgrounds, their growing friendship, and the moment she knew she was in love with him. As she talked about holding his hand and walking away, tears began to run down her face. Tom passed her a clean handkerchief. It was the sort of thing Tommy would do. She looked over and smiled.

TOMMY

In the four hours since leaving his message, Tommy had come full circle on his emotions. Hope, despair, anger, elation, peace, worry. It was not like Barbara to ignore him. He knew that he was being arrogant, but he also knew it was the truth.

He rang Winston. "Have you heard from Barbara yet?"

"Hi. Er, no, Sir. I have left a couple of messages. I was hoping she was too busy talking to you."

"No. She hasn't rung me. I am about thirty minutes away from reporting her as a missing person. Or I could take out a private advertisement on national television asking for help in locating her."

"Sir, you don't think that's extreme?"

"Of course it is. But I can't just lie here and do nothing."

"Sir..."

"What Winston?"

"I don't know what you said in your message, but maybe you need to say more. Convince her that she can come back safely."

"Safely? I'd never hurt her. She knows that."

"Not physically. Sir, this is not my place to say, but I think she's in love with you, and... it must be difficult."

"It needn't be."

"And..."

"Yes?"

"Maybe it is time you told her how you feel."

"Do you think I am in love with her?"

There was a long pause. "Yes, Sir, I think you have been for a long time, but neither of you were ever going to say anything."

"Thank you, Winston. For your peace of mind, I have already left messages to that effect. I intend to convince her when I eventually find her. If you hear anything, let me know."

Tommy checked his phone log but there were no missed calls and no messages. He rang Barbara's number. It went straight to voicemail. So, she still had it switched off. "Hi. It's me. I had hoped to hear from you by now. I am worried, Barbara. Please call me. I love you."

Ten minutes later, he rang again. "Me again. I was thinking that my sudden declaration might have scared you. I had hoped you would come running back to me and it would all be fine, but I know we both have history and baggage. The stabbing was traumatic and... we both need to work through that. If changing our relationship status now is too hard, that's okay. I just wanted you to know how I feel. Above everything, I am your friend and I am here for you."

Another five minutes. "When you had me in your arms, it was the most wonderful feeling of peace. I want to feel that again. Please come back to me. Let me love you."

Five minutes later. "That last message might have sounded wrong. I meant love you in a broad sense, please don't think I meant sex. I know what you think of my reputation, but this is different. Don't get me wrong, I do want that too of course, but in time, when we are both better."

Over the next two hours, Tommy left several messages. Finally, his eyes were so heavy he could not keep them open. The phone dropped onto his chest when he fell asleep.

BARBARA

Tom and Ruggles escorted her back to the hotel in the fading light. "Best of luck, Barbara. I hope to read in the papers soon that you are now Lady Asherton."

Barbara smiled. "Thanks, Tom. You were right. Talking has helped. I think I will go back to London in the morning."

"You should. Making peace with Tommy is the only way you will find any. All the best, Barbara." He leant down and gave her a light kiss on her cheek.

"Woof!"

Barbara laughed then kneeled down to embrace Ruggles. "You too. Now be a good father and husband won't you. I bet you have beautiful pups."

"They're adorable. Maggie's wheaten, so they have pups of all colours. We should go, shouldn't we boy? Take care, Barbara."

Barbara watched them walk away. At the corner, Ruggles looked back. So did Tom. He waved and smiled.

She stopped at Reception and changed her booking back to one night. That way she could not change her mind.

Upstairs, she had a quick shower then turned on the television. She picked up her phone and checked voicemail. Eighteen new messages.

TOMMY

He woke just before the knife went into his chest. He ran his hand through his hair. His face was cold and sweaty. He tried to roll onto his good side but something sharp jabbed him. "Ow!"

His fingers found his phone. He dug it out from under his side. The screen lit up. There was a text from a number he did not recognise.

This is Barbara.

He hurriedly used his thumbprint to unlock his phone. There were three messages from the same number.

I do love you, Tommy. More than you will ever know.

I am coming back tomorrow. I should be there about 1 or 2 pm.

This is Barbara.