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

she had a small circle of those she truly considered friends. He thought automatically of the logistics behind a trip to London, maybe with his new Land Rover.

The week went slowly for Tom. The weather closed in and kept the Periwinkle moored up in the marina. It was the second marina that Tom had called home. He wrote a little, less than he wanted to. His guidebook editor was trying to convince him to write a book length work, perhaps a contemporary revisiting of L.T.C. Rolt’s journey and thoughts in Narrowboat. Tom read quite a bit and he made a few playlists for himself and for Nia. He walked Jack and ran when the weather allowed. His right leg ached with the declining temperature. He bought a Land Rover from Owain’s guy and arranged a parking space at the marina. He thought about Nia a lot.

Tom drove himself and Jack in his newly acquired Land Rover to Rachel’s on the Thursday night. He planned on a dawn start Friday. He had a nine a.m. date, in London.

***

 

London

Nia’s week was never routine, but her work on the audiobook gave her a temporary sense of a regular week. She hit the gym almost daily and met Jane for coffee. Jane let Nia know that she had the lesbian matron role if she wanted it. Nia read. She met Ben and George for a walk and again wondered whether she should get a dog. Nia made time to meet her friends for drinks. Her small circle of friends had been mostly established in the post Goldenboy years. They were a tight clique of five, all actors or media types. They were supportive but not demanding. Their work schedules and lifestyles meant that their get-togethers weren’t calendared but occurred more organically whenever two or three were in town together. Nia wasn’t a core, but they accepted her, cared for her, and they understood her pain and loss. They were surprised when, after one glass of wine, she did indeed say that she could owe her glow to a new guy and briefly described her relationship with Tom. It was if she went through the week keeping one eye on a clock willing it to be Friday morning.

***

 

Friday morning

Nia was early. She stood by the Tower of London’s gatehouse entrance She wore a black beret and black gloves and put her heavy winter coat’s collar up to combat the wind whipping over the Thames to her back. She waited for Tom with excited anticipation. Nia yearned to see him, to hold him, and to be held by him, then she saw him as he walked down the access road from Tower Hill. His limp was now familiar. He wore his boots, jeans, a leather jacket, wool gloves, scarf and hat. She watched as he caught sight of her and as his face broke into a broad smile and he picked up his pace. She went to meet him almost at a run. They hugged and then kissed. She had planned another adventure day in the city.

“Right then,” Nia commanded. “A tour of the Tower.” She linked arms with Tom and they walked over the Tower’s long-vanished moat and into the grounds.

Later, they taxied to Nia’s house after a busy day in the city. As Tom unpacked his small rucksack, he retrieved and presented Nia with a small gift. It was obviously a book and Nia removed the gift wrapping with care.

“Instead of flowers,” he said.

It was a copy of Rolt’s Narrowboat, the rather odd autobiographical canal travelogue written just before the start of the Second World War. Tom said that many canal aficionados believe the book precipitated the rebirth of leisure cruising which, in turn, led to the massive renovation and revival of the UK’s canal system. She smiled and quickly flipped through it. She stopped at a few of the book’s illustrations. Tom noted the importance of the book but also said that it wasn’t one of his favourites. Nia liked the fact that he had given her a book; he was already very familiar with her likes, dislikes, and proclivities.

“I have an ulterior motive for giving you this book,” Tom said.

“Oh, and what’s that?” Nia asked looking up from the book.

“It’s an invitation to spend some time with me on my boat.”

Nia smiled. “I’d love to,” she said genuinely. “And, I think I’m going to be free starting Thursday.”

Tom smiled.

“Okay then, that’s a date,” affirmed Nia. “Now, let’s get ready for dinner with my friends. Just to prepare you, they are going to be loud, and will probably ask you lots of personal questions that will verge on the rude and vulgar.”

“Sounds wonderful. I can’t wait,” Tom lied.

***

 

Nia’s friends were as she described and Tom had been well prepped. The friends were all a little younger than Nia. Amanda, Constance and Orla were actresses doing mostly stage and TV work. Amanda, who had a recurring role on a police procedural, was a household name. Constance probably drank too much. Orla had voracious appetites generally. The fourth friend, Penny was in media PR. The restaurant was quiet and exclusive with the right amount of atmosphere, light and music. Tom was immediately struck by how posh Nia’s friends appeared but wasn’t sure whether they were all to the manor born or whether it was misperception, perhaps one supported by their drama school accents and elocution lessons.

The food and service were excellent. Tom was his quiet, charming self and Nia was clearly comfortable with her old friends. Wine flowed and the women grew louder and more expressive. Tom noticed how the women interacted with Nia, respecting her experience and signalling some suspicion towards Tom. He didn’t mind, it’s what good friends do, he thought. He noticed too, that although Nia was part of the group, she was not of it.

It