The waiter arrived enquiring about drink, he knew from past conversations that she was teetotal and as he was also a non-drinker, with her approval, he ordered a very pleasant bottle of alcohol free Chardonay.
She had always
been teetotal whereas he hadn’t drunk since his early twenties when he realized
his drinking was taking him down a path to oblivion and he never drank again.
During dinner Toddy
explained and shared her own anxieties about the evening despite Chloe and
Verity reassuring her.
“I’ve never
been on a date before” she said “which was why I wasn’t even sure it was a date”
“I know what
you mean” he said “I blame overthinking”
“You too?” she asked,
and he nodded
“Well Chloe had
no such doubts” she continued “Hence the reason I was dragged from pillar to
post from one Church lady to another to get me ready”
“She is
formidable”
“She is, first
it was Catherine Scott who did what she called a “Mani-Pedi”, the manicure was
probably wasted on me, but the pedicure was a revelation, I’m definitely doing
that again” she said and laughed
“Then Emma
Daley did my hair which was really nice”
“It certainly
looks like time well spent” Charlie said
“Thank you, I
will spare you the details of what Geri Phillips did, I will just say that
there was a spatula involved” she said and giggled
“Say no more”
“Finally, it
was Josephine Bell, and she actually tutted when she saw my nails” she said and
laughed out loud
“But I’m very
pleased with what she did” she added as she held out her hand and admired Jo
Bells accomplished handiwork.
“I’m very
pleased with what they all did” he said and took hold of her hand, and Toddy
welcomed it and made sure he held onto it all during coffee.
They were the
last to leave the restaurant when they reluctantly had to accept the evening
was coming to an end and returned to the car.
The
conversation was more sparse on the journey back to the village but not uncomfortably
so, in fact the opposite was true.
Neither of them
was eager to get home and both found the journey home was annoyingly short.
Charlie got out
after parking the car outside the Vicarage and took Toddy’s hand before walking
her slowly up to the front door where she said
“It’s been a
lovely evening”
“It has” he
agreed
“And made more
lovely by the company”
“I had a really
nice time” she said as she turned to face him, then she took a deep breath and
kissed him, but not on the cheek like she had on previously occasions, this
time she kissed him hesitantly on the lips, and when he responded, her
hesitancy melted away and they settled into a long languorous embrace.
It was a
special kiss on many levels, it was a defining moment for them both, it was the
first romantic kiss for Charlie since his wife passed away ten years earlier
and it was the first kiss ever for Toddy, as such neither of the parties were
in any hurry for it to end.
However, even
if she wanted to, it was unclear if Toddy knew how as it was so exhilarating she
felt like she was on a theme park ride but come to an end it must.
It was not
though by their behest, and it only came to an end when the porch light went
on.
Which broke the
mood and the clinch, and they stood and looked at one another.
“Do we get a
round of applause now that the houselights have come up?” she asked and giggled
“I’m more
interested in an encore” he replied
“Me too, but
unfortunately, we’re no longer alone” she said as she noticed the curtain
twitch
“That’s a shame”
he said “Perhaps a different venue will solve that particular problem, lunch at
mine tomorrow”
“I like the
sound of that” Toddy said and kissed his cheek before opening the door and
saying “Goodnight Charlie”
“Goodnight
Toddy”
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