The Rain-Soaked Bride (34 page)

Tamar is getting out of the car, stretching her legs and lifting her face up to the sun.

The man in the baseball cap stops walking and hands her the bouquet of flowers.

‘For you,’ he says, ‘as a sign of thanks.’

He walks away, leaving her holding the bouquet and looking confused.

Toby is already running, the phone dangling from the callbox as he chases after the man.

He is too quick, the car engine is already running and the Seat pulls away just as Toby reaches the driver’s door. He catches a glimpse of the driver, and now he sees something he recognises beyond the beard, cap and glasses.

Fratfield.

The car drives off, and Toby turns to Tamar who is still holding the bouquet.

‘Why did he do this?’ she asks, picking at the flowers. She gives an angry shout as the thorn on one of the roses pricks her and she drops the bouquet.

From between the blooms, a small piece of paper tumbles onto the ground, is caught by the breeze and spirals up into the air above them.

Toby watches it go and, in the distance he sees dark shapes forming.

‘Come on,’ he says, pushing Tamar back towards the car. ‘We need to get out of here now.’

‘What is it?’ she asks, getting into the passenger seat as he moves around to the driver’s side.

He looks out across the open country. What looks like a tornado is heading their way, a pillar of dust curling towards them.

He doesn’t answer her, just climbs in the car, turns it in the opposite direction to that taken by the Seat and, in a roar of an over-revved engine, tears off up the road.

‘Young people,’ says the stall owner, watching them go. ‘Always in such a hurry. When will they learn? They have all the time in the world.’