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When Dorothy said she wanted to speak to me privately, I couldn’t for the life of me think what it could be about. Well, I guess that’s not strictly true, I mean, when Tommy clammed up after Helen left him, she tried to get me to tell her what was going on in his life but I wouldn’t – my loyalty will always be to him and no one else.
I agreed to talk to her anyway, knowing that I wouldn’t break any confidences, no matter how hard she pressed.
I awkwardly nursed my cup of tea as I waited for her to arrive. She had picked the location – an upmarket tearoom that I’d never even heard of. Perhaps she thought the surroundings would throw me off balance, there was a time when that would have been the case, but not now. My friendship and partnership with her son had softened my stance on such things – except my loathing for dainty china teacups like the one I was currently holding. I would never understand the upper-classes' aversion to a trusty mug!
She hurried through the door and to the table I was sitting at, smiling as she saw me.
“Barbara, thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me.”
“No problem,” I said as I watched her settle and order a tea from the waitress.
“I expect you’re wondering why I’ve asked to speak to you alone.”
Sipping my drink, I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, I’m not going to ask you to break any confidences you share with my son, although the reason I want us to talk does concern him.”
“Lady Ashert…”
“Dorothy,” she corrected as the waitress placed her tea in front of her, “or Daze. I think we know each other well enough now not to use titles.”
I acquiesced, “Dorothy.”
“Thank you, Barbara. Now, the reason I arranged this little meeting is to thank you.”
“Thank me?”
“Please don’t sound so worried. My family and I owe you a very large debt of gratitude.”
“I don’t understand.”
Reaching across the table, she squeezed my hand.
“When you met Tommy, you must have seen how angry he was, how fractured our whole family was. My son has always been one to wear his hurt and betrayal like a protective shield. His discovery of my affair with Roddy, his father dying, Deborah, Helen; I don’t think it is an overstatement to say he has walked through hell.
“And then you came along, and something in him changed. I know that the two of you can argue as if it were an Olympic sport, but he respects and values you, and I think you feel the same way about him.”
“He’s my friend, my best friend.”
“Balderdash!”
“Excuse me?”
“Barbara, forgive me but I must be blunt with you. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other, and what you share goes way beyond friendship. The only time my son is at peace is when you and he are together, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that he is only alive because of you. I know what you’ve done for him, and what he’s done for you.”
“What are you trying to say Dorothy?”
“I’m saying, learn the lesson I never did. Don’t let pride or fear stop you from taking the next step. If you love him as much as I think you do, which is as much as he loves you by the way, don’t talk yourself out of embracing something wonderful. The two of you deserve to be happy after all you’ve been through, don’t you agree?”
Stunned, I sat back in my seat.
“Dorothy… I… we…”
She shook her head, gently but firmly.
“Barbara, you were the one who held him together after Helen. You dragged him back from the edge when Julia Oborne nearly cost him everything. You’re the only one who’s ever known how to talk to him in a way that actually gets through.”
Her voice softened.
“You gave him a reason to get up in the morning. If that’s not love… then I’m afraid I’ve no idea what is.”
She glanced at her watch and grimaced. “Damn. I’m going to be late meeting Judith.”
Rising, she gathered her coat and handbag with elegant efficiency, like she hadn’t just lobbed a grenade into my chest cavity.
“Just… think about it, Barbara. Don’t let this pass you by.”
And then she was gone.
I sat there like a stunned cod, dainty teacup held precariously in my shaking hand, brain trying to reboot.
Had that really just happened?
Did Dorothy Asherton really just give me an unsubtle shove toward a romantic relationship with her son ?
I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or head to the nearest pub for a pint.
Maybe I should just do all three.