RIDE THE TIDE

Chapter 19-Game Plan:

The sun was just beginning to find its way into the valleys and hills of Nidderdale. Tom, on his fourth cup of coffee, had been working for three hours. It was a casual comment by Penny the night before that woke him at 4:00 this morning and put him to work. The words were flowing.

It was a hazy morning just outside London when Lynne pulled onto the M1.  The traffic was already heavy. There were many miles to go through stoppages and road works, but she was a careful driver. There would be no problems for her. The leather suitcase, resting on the back seat, contained five carefully planned and coordinated outfits, five new sets of silk lingerie, a bottle of scent and her makeup bag.  She was dressed in tight-fitting designer jeans, black high heeled boots, and a lightweight grey cashmere turtle neck sweater. Her leather jacket was tossed over the passenger seat. The large black sunglasses hid her eyes. Narrow silver bangles encircled her wrists. She reached over, inserted a CD, and turned up the sound.

Davey was sitting on the side of his bed contemplating his feet. Today the Black Bull was open for lunch and he would be on hand to complement the ladies and make sure everybody was happy. He looked around the room he kept for himself at the end of the hall. His clothes in the closet and dresser, guitar against the wall, a table by the window holding a single photograph of himself with his Mum and Dad. This was all Davey had accumulated in 39 years. He pushed his hair out of his eyes and stood up. Time to get on with it. He bathed, dressed in his uniform of black trousers and white shirt with the bow tie, turned his head upside down and dried his hair with the hairdryer.

Downstairs the waitress was laying the tables with white linen cloth, pink napkins and silverware. Bud vases held fresh flowers. Old Madge had written out her specials on the blackboard and set it by the door for Davey to put out when he opened. Outside the front door the maid was watering the flower baskets before she washed off the sidewalk in front of the pub. She had already seen to the smoker’s corner by the archway.

In the kitchen Old Madge made Davey a cup of tea and some toast.  It seemed to her he never

ate a proper breakfast. Old Madge appreciated what Davey had accomplished at The Black Bull. She liked the way he dressed, setting the tone for the place. She had been cooking in pubs all her life. This was one of the cleanest she'd ever worked in.

Anna came down for her morning tea dressed for chores. Akkers was cooking sausages and poached eggs for breakfast.  “Good morning, Akkers, have a good day off?”

Akkers turned to say she had, indeed, “Anna, wot have ye done to yer selve?  Let me have a look at yer! Well, now, lass.” She began nodding her head. Yes, this was Anna years ago.

“It’s not too young for me, is it? I must say it feels wonderful. I didn’t realize the weight of my hair. I feel light-headed.”

"You look a good ten years younger," Akkers affirmed. Come, sit down for a cuppa."

As Anna told her about her trip into Pateley Bridge and meeting Edna Barnes, Akkers smiled.  She was glad to see her getting out. Wouldn’t hurt her a bit.

Penny rolled over in the big bed alone. She smelled cigarettes and guessed Tom was working. He’ll have to go down for a nap sometime today, she thought. They talked last night and agreed this might work for a while but he would need time and a place to work without interruptions. Penny thought she could tell everybody not to bother him from ten to two or whatever hours he wanted to set.  He needed to get his rewrite done before the first of October. She still did not know what the tour meant for her.

It was noon when Lynne pulled through the old whitewashed archway at The Black Bull.  She parked her car, retrieved her suitcase, and walked to the door.  The entry was a small room

with a black-painted registrar by the steps.  No one was there so she looked in the door to the pub.  Lunch was being served and she rang the bell to get attention.  Molly appeared down the hall to help. She signed the book as L. Manning and took her bag up the steps and down the hall. It was a nice room, double bed, wardrobe, white lace curtains, old Turkish rugs on the floor.  The window overlooked the archway to the car park. She checked the tiny bath room, deciding it was serviceable.  After her suitcase was unpacked, she ran a brush through her hair.  She had noticed on the blackboard sign at the door, lunch was served between 11:30 and 2:00. She would wait.

Davey was making his rounds through the tables.  There were three tables of elderly ladies he knew were locals.  They came in every Thursday and ordered the same menu. He had to watch out for one of the tables. He was sure he felt a hand on his bum when he handed out the menus. He flirted with them. It made them feel good. The other tables were taken up by tourists and local business people. It was his custom to hand out the menus, welcome his guests and take

their drink orders to the bar. Molly usually delivered the drinks, though sometimes he did if she were busy.

It was 1:30 and the tables were beginning to empty when he saw her come in alone, look around and choose a small table by the window overlooking the street. London, he thought, and he slowly made his way over to her table, stopping to talk to a few customers. He approached her table, offered her a menu and welcomed her to The Black Bull.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asked.

She studied the menu for a moment and said, “I’d like a tall drink of Davey Cox, but I don’t see it on the menu, so a Pinot Noir, house, if you please.” She removed her sunglasses and looked up at him.

She had said it so casually he didn’t at first realize what she said. It hit him as he looked into the prettiest crystal blue eyes he had ever seen. His expression didn’t change. “Good choice.”

He turned and walked back to the bar. What the fuck?

Lynne took a deep breath.  She'd seen the change in his eyes. He’ll play.

Davey, moving behind the bar, sent Molly to the table with the glass of wine. He was studying her. He’d never met her. He was sure of that. How did she know his name? And that line...never heard that before. And he was sure of that, too. And cool, oh, she was cool, maybe sophisticated, maybe not. He noticed the way she was dressed, expensive. Could be somebody’s babe but no rings. He’d noticed that, still. 

Molly brought out her meal. She’d ordered the chicken salad. Yeah, a Londoner. It unsettled him somehow and he pulled himself a pale ale. He was watching her wine glass and as it emptied he took the bottle and walked back to her table.

“More wine? It’s on the house.”

“Yes, thank you.” She held her glass out and smiled.

Davey was careful not to spill. She had the prettiest smile, her teeth like little pearls. Her lips were tinted red. He pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. “You don’t mind, do

ya?”

“No, not at all.” She was sipping her wine

“So, what brings you to Knaresborough?”

“A little vacation.”

“How little?”

“Five days.”

“Maybe I’ll see ya around?”

“Maybe you will.” She put her glass down, gathered up her jacket and stood up.

“Here, let me give you a hand with that.” Davey helped her with her jacket.  She was tall and slim and smelled good.

“Thanks.” And she walked out the door.

Davey followed her to the door, watching her walk down the street, pause at a shop window and walk on.  The big black bag slung over her shoulder swayed as she moved. The wind was tossing her dark, shiny hair. He took a deep breath. He needed some air in his lungs. He wished he had asked her where she was staying, but Knaresborough wasn’t that big. He'd ask around and find out. Cool, yeah, she was a cool Londoner.

Lynne walked into a book shop and chose a Tom Cox book. It had been easier than she thought it would be. His reactions were perfect. Step one was completed. Now a book to get her through the night.

Tom hung up the phone and waited for the email to come through.  The schedule was finalized and was to begin the first of October. He was half way through his rewrite, which should be ready in a couple of weeks.  There were all these loose ends he had to tidy up before he could leave. Here it comes in black and white.  He printed it out, studied it for a minute and went to find Penny.

Penny and Anna were walking up from the stables. She saw Tom coming with a piece of paper and stopped, waiting. Tom still couldn’t get over his mother. He’d never seen her with her hair cut before. She was really lovely only she didn’t look like Mum. 

"I've got the schedule," he said, lifting the paper. "We need to talk." 

Anna left them, continuing on to the house. They walked up to the bench outside the bungalow and sat down. Penny had the schedule and was reading over it. Almost daily airplanes and hotel rooms. She turned and looked at Tom, her heart sinking.

“Now, it’s not as bad as it looks, Penny.  I want you to come with me. Here is what I think can happen. The first stop is London, no problem there.  We’ll fly to New York, no problem there, either. The next stop is Boston and you can come there if you want to. After that it gets crazy. 

I thought if you want to, we can send you to Terry and Jess until I get to Atlanta.  You meet me in Atlanta and we fly home from there.”

“Oh, Tom, yes! Yes to all of it! I would love to see Terry and Jess.  We’ll have to call them and let them know. You know I was so afraid I wouldn’t get to go, afraid I'd be left here on my own. Oh, not that I mind being here, but without you it wouldn’t be the same.”

“I know you were worried. Whenever I can. I'll take you with me, but there may be times that you can’t go. You do understand that, don’t you?”

Lynne was propped against her pillows, reading. She listened as the middle-aged couple returned to their room next door and the young couple returned across the hall. All was quiet

in The Black Bull. She slipped out of bed, took her scent bottle, opened her door and sprayed just a touch in the hallway. Back in bed she waited. It wasn’t long before she heard his brisk

step as he passed her door, stopped, and then turned the corner to his own room. Lynne smiled and turned out her light.

ON TO PART 20

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