Katie Fforde - Going Dutch

‘Definitely. It would be wonderful!' She told Tom about this when they had disconnected. 'It'll be fun. We'll see Jo and you can meet Karen and' – she shot a glance at him -'at least you can't arrange anything nasty for me to do on that day.'

‘I never arrange anything nasty! You've enjoyed all of the bets so far, admit it!’

Dora inclined her head, indicating that maybe she had, a little. 'I didn't enjoy the loos at the festival.'

‘Well, no, who would? But most of it was good, wasn't it?'

‘Yes. Actually, it was OK.’

He pushed her playfully and then ran up the steps to the platform.

Everyone at the boatyard was very pleased to see her. Someone made tea and most of the men there crowded into the office so they could hear every detail. Dora was very glad that Tom was there to provide the technical details.

‘So you went to Flushing?'

‘Yes, Marcus said it was the way he knew best.'

‘And is this Marcus as good as everyone says?' asked another man through a mouthful of ginger nut.

‘Oh yes,' said Tom. 'No doubt about it.'

‘Tom was a bit of a hero too,' said Dora. 'When Ed fell in.'

‘Holy sh- sugarlumps! You had a man overboard?’

Dora did a little gentle filing while Tom related every detail. She chimed in only to say, 'We would never have got him back on board if it hadn't been for Tom.'

‘Yes you would,' Tom said modestly, but grinning from ear to ear. 'Jo or you would have taken the wheel and Marcus would have come down to help.'

‘Not easy to keep a barge in the same place, though,' said Fred.

‘And are those continental barges really massive?' some one went on, when every detail of Ed's rescue had been re run.

‘Oh yes. You wouldn't believe it,' said Dora, finishing her filing. 'Some had parking for two cars, let alone one. And one – it made me a bit sad, actually – had a little play area for this little girl. She was swinging away as the barge went down the waterway.'

‘Why sad?' said Tom. 'She didn't make me feel like that.'

‘I just think that life on those big barges must be quite lonely for a child. I'm an only child but I always had friends.’

Tom looked at his watch. 'Time I took you away from all this, Dora.'

‘I'll be back on Monday, I promise,' said Dora to Fred. 'I could stay now-'

‘Off you go.' Fred ushered them out of the door. 'We're getting on fine without you to boss us around.’

After quite a bit more banter about Dora's bossy ways and the men's slack attitude to office work, Tom and Dora stepped into the boat and Dora manoeuvred their way back across to the bank.

‘You're quite good at this now,' said Tom.

‘Mm. I'm getting multi-talented in my old age,' said Dora. 'Get out and make fast, would you?'

‘And you speak the language too,' said Tom, taking the line and tying it to a cast-iron ring.

‘Almost fluently. Now, what's the torture for today?’

‘You're going to eat in a restaurant by yourself.’

Dora sighed. 'That doesn't sound much fun! Surely it would be far nicer to eat together. I really don't want-’

She stopped. 'Oh, OK. It's something I should be able to do.

I'm sure you're right. I just hope you haven't chosen anywhere too scary.’

Tom suddenly frowned, staring down at the bottom of Dora's trousers. 'Mm. I don't suppose you feel like buying a pair of kecks, do you?'

‘Kecks?'

‘Shruggies, slacks, pants… trousers?’

At last Dora understood. 'You're telling me it's a problem that I've got muddy? Then why did you let us go to the boatyard? You know it's impossible to get there without getting mud on you!'

‘Sorry! Didn't think. Now, what shall we do before your dare?'

‘It's lunchtime. Surely-’

He shook his head. 'It's tea.'

‘Tea?'

‘Mm. A hot brown drink you seem to be quite fond of?'

‘I know what tea is. I just didn't-'

‘Well, you're going to. But not immediately. What would you like to do first?'

‘I can't believe you're asking me what I want to do!’

‘Am I so bossy then?'

‘Yes,' she said immediately but then realised that although he'd certainly been making her do things, he wasn't bossy in the way that John had been bossy. With John there'd been no discussion, no argument. She'd just said, 'Yes, John,' and, 'No, John,' for the sake of an easy life. And saying 'Yes, John' at the wrong time had nearly precipitated disaster. 'Let's go for a walk through London and look in shop windows and I'll see if I can find any trousers. Is the rest of me OK?’

Tom regarded her quizzically. 'I should think so.’

Dora took this as a no and determined to find a little jacket if she could. 'Seriously, are you willing to do a bit of shopping?'

‘Sure. Especially as it's my fault you have to. I'm not saying I'll sit outside the changing room and comment on every item you try on, I'll buy a paper and read it.’

Dora smiled. 'Cool!' John did not like shopping.

As they got on a bus that Tom assured her would take them to Oxford Street, Dora wondered yet again how he felt about her. There'd definitely been times when she'd thought he was looking at her with something more than the eyes of friendship but he'd never made any move. And there were times when she longed to be more like Carole. Carole would have taken the initiative by now, she was convinced. All that time at the festival and Dora had never even slipped her arm round his waist. On the other hand, an over-subscribed four-man tent was hardly conducive to seduction. She chuckled at the notion and had to look out of the window of the bus so Tom wouldn't see.

‘Couldn't we skip the whole thing and just have a jolly time?' she said a little later as they headed down Oxford Street.

‘Come on, Dora! Where's the plucky girl who helped me rescue Ed? Eating in a restaurant on your own should be a doddle.’

His praise warmed her for a moment. 'You're just so bossy!'

‘No I'm not, I'm being your facilitator.’

She made a face. 'That's just the politically correct word for bossy.’

He shrugged, his head slightly on one side, a grin giving him a dimple at one corner of his mouth. He was far too attractive for his own good, Dora decided, and then wondered if it was her good she was worried about. There was no point in fancying someone who looked on her as a sort of kid sister.

'I do wish you'd told me to buy something smarter,' said Dora indignantly. They were outside a very elegant hotel in Mayfair. 'I can't go in there looking like this!' Especially not on her own, and even if Tom came with her it wouldn't have helped much.

‘Yes you can, you look fine. Anyway, it's part of the dare. Just hold your head high and ask for your table. It's booked in my name.'

‘I didn't think I'd ever say this again, but I want my mum!’

Tom laughed and it gave her the courage she needed. After all, it wasn't actually dangerous; she wouldn't really die of embarrassment.

‘If I'm thrown onto the street, Tom Watkins, I'll do something horrible to you,' she said, and went up the steps and through the door held open by a porter in a very elaborate uniform.

Instantly a beautiful young man swept up to her. 'Can I help you, mademoiselle?' he asked her in a deeply sexy voice.

‘Um – there's a table booked – the name is Watkins.’

The young man checked his book. 'Ah yes, follow me, please.' He was wearing a black-tailed coat, striped trousers and a waistcoat. He was, Dora decided, by anyone's standards, completely delicious.

He pulled out Dora's chair, spread her napkin upon her lap and handed her a menu. 'The set tea includes sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and a selection of cakes. Which kind of tea would mademoiselle prefer?' He reeled off a list of teas including several souchongs and oolongs along with the more familiar varieties.