Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

‘So, why did you want to see me?’

‘Oh, it’s just that, well … me an’ Tom wondered if you’d like to come out with us this afternoon?’

Kathy was surprised. She didn’t really know Tom. ‘I’m not sure. Except for what you’ve told me about him, and the odd time we’ve bumped into each other, I hardly know him.’

The old man winked. ‘Mebbe not, lass, but yer like him, don’t yer?’

‘What makes you say that?’ Kathy could feel the blush spreading all over her face and neck.

‘Ah!’ He tapped his nose. ‘I don’t need “telling”. I’ve got eyes. I’ve seen the two of youse, peeping at each other. It don’t tek twopenn’ orth of common sense to see how you’re drawn to each other. And don’t deny it, ’cause you’ll only mek matters worse!’

‘Well, we’ve hardly spoken, but I do like him,’ Kathy admitted shyly. ‘But I don’t know about coming out.’

‘Go on, lass,’ Jasper said as he saw her hesitate. ‘If yer get the job at the site, you’ll not ’ave time for much else. What with overtime and that, you’ll be clapped out once yer get home. So, what d’yer say?’ He saw she was weakening. ‘It’ll be entertaining, if nowt else.’

Kathy thought it might be fun to spend some time in Tom’s company. ‘All right, yes.’

‘Good! I’ll be here to pick you up at two o’clock.’

‘Hang on a minute.’ Kathy had a question. ‘You haven’t told me where we’re going.’

‘We’re off to look at a boat.’ The old man couldn’t conceal his excitement. ‘An old friend o’ mine is giving up the sea … he’s not in the best of health these days, poor devil. Anyway, he can’t keep up with it all any more, so he’s getting rid of the boat, and I don’t mind telling yer, it’s a good ’un!’

Though he had never been able to afford one, boats were his passion. ‘Anyway, the boat’s nobbut four year old, and hardly done any work at all.’

‘So, is Tom planning to use it for fishing?’ She had seen how he was always helping out on one fishing boat or another, and how he seemed to love it.

‘I don’t know about the “fishing”, lass. It’s not that kind o’ boat.’ Taking a slurp of his tea, the old man wiped his moustache. ‘Since Tom’s been helping out on the boats, he’s really tekken to it. He’s been toying with the idea of buying his own boat for some time, and now I’ve found a good ’un at a reasonable price, he’s keen to ’ave a look at it.’

‘If it’s not a fishing boat, what kind is it, then?’

‘It’s a sailing boat … a little beauty of a thing. She’s easy to handle, and he’s had ’er adapted so you’ve got the best of both worlds. When there’s no wind, you’ve got a little engine that’ll carry yer along till the wind gets up agin. By, you’re gonna love it!’ His eyes twinkled with excitement. ‘It’s been kept undercover most of its life and looks good as new. It goes like a good ’un, too. I’ve been on it, so I should know.’

With all that now settled, he glanced at the letter in her hand. ‘So is your friend Maggie coming to see yer?’

Kathy explained, ‘She always promised she’d come and see me when she’d got the time. Well, now it seems she’s been sacked … again!’ She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Anyway, she’s got to find another job to pay the rent before she can come down for a holiday. But she promises it’ll be soon.’ The idea that Maggie would soon be here in her house, sitting across the table talking about old times, was wonderful. ‘Oh, Jasper! It’ll be so good to see her. I can’t wait!’

For a time, they talked about Maggie and her escapades and laughed together.

‘She sounds like a real handful, an’ no mistake.’ Having finished his toast, the old man licked his lips and wiped his face and washed down the dregs of his tea. ‘Man-mad an’ all, by the sound of it.’

He referred to the part in the letter where Maggie had given a hilarious account of a night out with her latest man. ‘I’m not sure I approve of what she’s up to, though … going out with a man years older just ’cause she fancies he might give her a life o’ luxury.’

Kathy dismissed his fears. ‘If she makes a play for you, Jasper,’ she teased, ‘I’ll have something to say, don’t you worry.’

He laughed out loud. ‘Aye, an’ you can tell ’er, it’s no use thinking I’m loaded, ’cause I’ve no money to speak of … except a little pension an’ what I earn round the fishing boats and such.’ Grinning broadly, he began to preen himself. ‘Mind you, if she’s looking for a ’andsome fella with a sense of adventure, she’ll not go wrong wi’ me.’

‘You old devil!’ Kathy laughed with him. ‘I’m sure she’ll love you for the rogue you are … just like I do.’ In fact, she thought Maggie and the old man would get on like a house on fire.

‘Right, lass.’ He stretched and groaned. ‘I’d best be off.’ Making his way to the door, he reminded her again. ‘Two o’clock, mind. We’ll pick yer up from ’ere.’

In the time she had left before being collected for the outing, Kathy brought the dress in, ironed it, and hung it carefully in the wardrobe. She then washed and changed, cleaned her teeth, and brushed her hair into a springy bob.

When Tom and the old man came for her, she was sitting on the wall, watching the boats and thinking about the one Tom might buy. She was so intent on looking at the boats, she didn’t see them approach. ‘By! She’s a bonny lass if ever there were one.’ Jasper secretly hoped Kathy and Tom might get together; though he knew there was a long way to go yet, he had a good feeling about these two.

Following the old man’s gesture, Tom’s dark gaze fell on Kathy. He agreed with Jasper; she really was a ‘bonny lass’, he thought. In fact, in spite of himself, he had been drawn to her from the first minute he set eyes on her, when she was running for the taxi in London, then again later at the churchyard. The closest he had come to her was at the chip shop, when he had seen the sparkle in her pretty toffee-coloured eyes.

There was something very appealing about Kathy, he thought.

He didn’t know why she stayed in his mind. Maybe it was her wonderful, free smile and that easy way she had of chatting as though she’d known you all her life. Maybe it was her joy at everything and the way she seemed to meet life head on. To his mind, being naturally a quiet, private person, such energy and warmth was a gift.

‘Right then, lass.’ Jasper’s voice shook Kathy out of her thoughts. ‘Ready for off, are yer?’

Leaping off the wall, Kathy hurried towards them, blushing pink when Tom smiled down on her. ‘Hello, there.’

Returning a bright, shy smile, Kathy thanked him for asking her along, but added, ‘I think I should tell you … I don’t know the first thing about boats.’

‘That’s all right.’ He smiled. ‘I just thought it would be nice to have you along.’ He apologised, ‘I don’t know if Jasper told you, but we’ll be going on the bus. My car’s had to go in for repairs … a clattering of sorts in the engine … wants new pistons, or so they tell me.’ He grimaced. ‘I wouldn’t mind, but I haven’t had the thing all that long.’

He seemed relieved when Kathy assured him she was more than happy to go on the bus.

As they walked to the bus stop, Jasper had an idea. ‘Why don’t we go to the pub in Weymouth afterwards?’ he suggested. ‘It’s a lovely day, an’ they’ve got the prettiest garden.’ He licked his lips. ‘A pint o’ the best would go down a treat.’

‘Sounds good to me,’ Tom said. And Kathy felt the same.

‘Good!’ The old man was content. He was with two people he was very fond of, and on top of that there was the promise of a leisurely pint in the offing. ‘By! This’ll be the best day out ever!’ He began whistling, and didn’t stop until they reached the bus stop, where he happily chatted away non-stop.

When the bus came, he gave the order to Tom, ‘You and the lass sit together, an’ I’ll keep an eye on youse from behind.’ Behind Kathy’s back he winked at Tom.

Seeing the twinkle in the old man’s eye, Tom wagged a playful finger at the old chap. ‘Behave yourself,’ he chided, ‘or I’ll have you thrown off the bus.’

With that in mind, the old man sat quietly behind the two of them, minding his P’s and Q’s, and occasionally grinning as he thought how well Tom and Kathy seemed to be getting on.

The very same thought was racing through Tom’s mind. Somehow he felt very at ease with her.

Kathy, too, felt very comfortable chatting to him, though she was keenly aware of the physical closeness between them. He was undeniably attractive. But the last thing she wanted to do was get involved with a man. She’d just got her life in order again.

By the time they got into Weymouth, the sun was at its hottest. ‘By! I’ve never known it so warm.’ As they walked the short distance over the bridge and down to the harbour road, Jasper loosened the neck of his shirt. ‘That pint seems very tempting right now,’ he chuckled, and Tom agreed, though, ‘We’ve got business to attend to first,’ he said firmly.

Walking a step or two behind him, Tom kept close to Kathy. Whenever a vehicle got too close, he would put his arm about her waist to guide her from the kerb edge. Kathy loved the feel of his arm round her. She loved being with him. She was proud to walk alongside him, where everyone must have thought they were a couple. There was a surprising mixture of emotions churning inside her, and the one that surprised her most was the feeling that she might be falling in love. It was a wonderful, terrifying thought.

‘Right! Let’s have a look.’ Stopping by the quayside, the old man raked his eyes over the many boats in the water, crying out when he caught sight of his old friend waving him down. ‘There he is! D’y’ see? Fred Lovett, me old mate.’

The three of them scrambled down and climbed aboard. ‘Glad to see you, old-timer.’ Holding out his hand in greeting, the boat-owner was about Jasper’s age, though more wrinkled and grey, and with a certain stoop to his back that appeared to slow his movements.

Jasper shook his hand, grinning as he retorted, ‘Don’t you call me “old-timer”, yer old bugger! There’s still a dance or two in me yet.’

They hugged and laughed, and after Tom and Kathy had been introduced, they took the boat out to sea. ‘I’ll run her through her tricks, and then you can make up your own minds,’ Fred told them.