Fit For Purpose by Julian Parrott (novels for students .TXT) 📕

its guest bedroom, where Tom was momentarily crestfallen thinking that it was for him, and then a study which he noted held a beautiful fireplace, an Adam he wondered, and lots of books, then another bathroom. Then up narrow stairs again, third floor with its spacious bathroom, master bedroom, and an office-cum-guest bedroom. Nia turned on bedside lights and sat on her bed.

“Lovely,” Tom said.

“Thanks, I’ve put a lot of time and effort into it.”

“I meant you,” he said.

Nia laughed and lay back on the bed and Tom moved across the room and kissed her.

Tom unbuttoned Nia’s dress, pulling it gently off her body. He undressed her slowly, teasing her with kisses. They made love, tenderly and passionately. After, they drifted off to sleep content in each other’s arms.

Morning’s diffuse light etched its way across the bedroom as Tom woke to see a beaming Nia in her dressing gown carrying a tray of breakfast into the bedroom.

“I thought I’d let you sleep while I fixed some breakfast,” she said.

“Hhmmmm, Nice. I like the service you get here,” Tom joked. “Better than the hotel.”

***

They spent the remainder of the day at Nia’s home. They settled into the warm study on the cold and grey winter’s afternoon. Tom was touched and slightly embarrassed to see his canal guides on Nia’s reading table.

“Insomnia?” he asked nodding to his books. Nia giggled.

“Why the change of name?” she asked.

“Errr, military thing,” Tom confirmed. “My name appeared in the press a few years back when I was, umm, picking up a medal. Thought it best not to necessarily advertise that the canal guy and the medal guy are one and the same.”

Tom browsed the bookshelves and picked a well-reviewed thriller. Nia was curled up on her chair with a history book. He sat in the leather wingback near the fireplace. Nia looked up from her book.

“You write well,” she enthused. “I didn’t study English, but I’ve read a lot of scripts and have a decent sense of what’s good writing.”

Tom thanked her. They talked of favourite authors, of books that had made differences in their lives, and films made from books. Then they settled in and read in companionable silence.

When it was time for Tom to head back, Nia once again walked with him to the Tube station and down onto the platform. This time, however, they kissed passionately and deeply. Nia asked Tom whether he could visit again, and they arranged a time and place to meet on the following Friday. The audiobook job meant that, for that week, she had almost regular work hours. The Tube train arrived too quickly for them. She watched Tom’s train disappear into the tunnel and felt an immediate emptiness.

Tom thought of Nia through his entire trip back north. He was suddenly aware that she had given him a reason to move on with his life. He hadn’t had as much fun on the town since… before the war, he recalled. And it wasn’t just fun, Nia made him want to live rather than just exist. He stopped at Rachel’s to drop off the Land Rover and to pick up Jack. Tom was made to sit through a cup of tea and a good-natured grilling from Rachel. Owain, from behind his newspaper, suggested Rachel leave Tom alone.

Tom cleared his throat and turned to Owain.

“Owain, you have lots of guys — plumbers, roofers, tractor guys, yeah?”

Owain nodded.

“Do you have a Land Rover guy?” asked Tom.

“Err, yes,” Owain replied, putting his paper down.

“I’d like to get one. Gently used. Probably something with a short wheelbase, a Defender 90 perhaps.”

Owain and Rachel exchanged glances.

“What colour?” Rachel asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” Tom answered.

Rachel looked towards Owain and raised an eyebrow.

Later, Rachel drove Tom and Jack back to the marina.

“Nia?” Rachel asked simply.

“Is wonderful,” was all Tom replied.

Rachel attempted to watch Tom’s face as she drove, trying to also keep an eye on the road ahead. She thought Tom’s face reflected a contentment that she hadn’t seen in him for years. Still, she had a concern.

“Be careful little brother. She’s already binned you once. She doesn’t have a good track record at this sort of thing.”

Tom faced Rachel. “Oh, and I do?” he replied.

“Well,” Rachel said turning briefly to Tom as she drove. “There was the Marina Girl.”

Tom laughed at the reference. He’d had a disastrous short-lived liaison with the divorced daughter of a marina owner. It ended badly and resulted in the loss of Periwinkle’s permanent berth.

“I’d like to meet Nia Williams,” Rachel said. “Will she ever come up for a visit?”

The thought of Nia at the farm being given the third degree by Rachel didn’t thrill Tom but the thought of Nia on the Periwinkle did completely.

Back at the farm, Rachel put the car keys on the table where Owain was still reading the Sunday paper.

“Tom seems good,” Owain announced, not really looking up. “Better somehow.”

“Yes,” Rachel said as she moved to the sideboard and picked up the photo of Tom in full uniform. She remembered exactly when the photo was taken just after Tom officially received the MC. He had begun to change then, still the kind man he always was, but struggling. His sadness was palpable. Rachel had now witnessed further change in Tom since his meeting Nia, more positive change. But it was Nia Williams, how could that relationship work? She worried for Tom.

“I hope it will last,” she said, really to herself. “I really do.”

***

Periwinkle

Jack and Tom settled into an evening on the boat. Tom’s phone dinged with a text. Nia. Some friends were hosting an early Christmas dinner next Saturday, would he like to join them? Tom replied he’d be delighted. He’d like to meet some of her friends, he was already aware that