A Year of Taking Chances: a gorgeously uplifting, feel-good read. Jennifer Bohnet
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‘OK,’ Jodie said, coming to a decision. ‘I’ll look into flights and let you know which day. I can check out this Maisie for you then too. I know what a big softie you are.’
Ben, when she told him her plans in bed that night, hugged her. ‘I’ll miss you but I’m glad you’re going. I know you miss your friends. I can lock myself away and, who knows, by the time you get back, my book might be finished and we can spend more time together. Might even have the time to start house-hunting.’
Jodie spent the next few days beginning to organise things for the time she’d be away. It was unbelievable how much there was to do for such a short time. Shopping for food so Ben wouldn’t starve. Dog food. Washing and ironing up-to-date. She couldn’t help remembering how, in her previous, single life, she’d just thrown things into a suitcase and taken off, not worrying about the chaos she left behind in her bedroom.
Organising how to get down to the airport proved a major stumbling block. Leave the house at five and catch an early morning flight? Or book a mid-morning one? Both of which would mean Ben losing hours of his writing day taking her down.
Annette offered to solve her problem. ‘Thierry and I can drive you down at a sensible hour. I’d quite like the opportunity to do some shopping in Nice,’ Annette said. ‘And Thierry has wanted to treat me to lunch at the Negresco for weeks now, so he’ll be happy.’
Thierry might have been happy at the prospect but Ben definitely wasn’t.
‘There was no need to ask him. I would have driven you down,’ he said when she told him the plan.
Jodie gazed at him exasperated. ‘It’s a two-hour drive there and back and you’ve got a book to edit! Besides, I didn’t ask – Annette offered.’
‘Well, I’ll pick you up, OK?’
‘I’ll book an evening return flight so as not to disturb your day,’ Jodie said, smiling.
But picking up the phone to book her flights, something inside made Jodie hesitate. Tina would never tell her she was in the way but London Book Fair week was one of the busiest of the year for her. She didn’t really need extra hassle from Jodie putting in an unexpected appearance and camping out in the flat.
Besides, Jodie herself had always held the opinion that people sleeping on the put-u-up were invariably in the way, so how could she inflict herself on Tina?
She began to seriously question why she was going on her own in the first place. What would she gain from going? Some indulgent retail therapy, and a couple of dinners with Tina and possibly a few other friends.
Spending time at the Book Fair would be interesting, but she was so out of the loop now, was there any real point in her networking, trying to keep her name out there? Although there was always the chance of picking up some freelance work.
Jodie sighed. It was beginning to feel more and more like she was really going just to make the point to Ben that she could still do things independently. Instead of looking forward to it she was almost beginning to feel as if she was running away from her new life – before it had begun properly.
Deep in thought, her fingers fiddled with the pendant’s gold chain. What would her mum say? Would she encourage her to go and do her own thing? Or would she say ‘Sort yourself out, Jodie. Get your priorities in the right order.’ Well, she didn’t really have to think about the answer to that, did she?
‘I wish I could stay and give you another day to settle in but this week is manic at work,’ Tina said as she prepared to leave on Monday morning.
‘I’ll be fine,’ Maisie assured her. ‘After the last few weeks, today will be a doddle, and hopefully, by the time you get home this evening, I’ll have some news about a job.’
‘You’ve got a key and my office number? Any problems give me a ring. Right – I’ll see you later. Good luck.’ And Tina left in a rush.
The weeks before the London Book Fair were always busy and this year was no exception. Meetings with publishers, foreign representatives, networking, clients… everything had to be organised before the Fair even began. Tina’s diary for the three days of the actual event had so many things marked in it, she felt tired every time she tried to squeeze in another appointment.
When Kirsty stopped by her desk to tell her they’d been invited to join the panel at a seminar on ‘The Importance of Foreign Rights’ the second day of the Fair, she protested it was impossible.
‘It’s a bit last-minute, this invitation, isn’t it?’ Tina said, shaking her head as she scanned her diary. ‘Somebody let them down?’
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Kirsty snapped. ‘Brilliant opportunity to get our name out there. I can’t rearrange my meeting so you’ll have to do it. Move whatever you’ve got planned for Wednesday afternoon to another time.’
‘But…’
‘When you’ve done it, make sure you give Leah copies of the timetable for each day, so she can coordinate things on the stand.’
‘I thought Margaret was organising the stand for us like she normally does?’ Tina said. ‘With Leah staying in the office.’
‘Change of plan.’ Kirsty lowered her voice. ‘Margaret’s getting a bit too old to cope with the travelling across London and all the frenzy of the Fair, so I’ve told Leah she’ll be coming with us instead. She’s thrilled.’
‘I bet she is,’ Tina muttered. She sighed as she watched Kirsty walk away. Once upon a time they’d discussed things and Kirsty had valued her opinion. Treated her almost like a partner. These days, though, Kirsty was taking more and more decisions without involving her. And as for Leah being in charge of the stand at the Fair… Tina shook her head. Not good news.
At least she’d be too busy to have much to do with Leah. Definitely no snatched coffee breaks like she’d enjoyed in past years with Margaret, that was for sure. Mentally Tina made a note to check with Margaret that she really was happy with this year’s arrangement. Not that there was anything she could do to change it.
The complete manuscript of the time-slip story was in her email box that morning and she quickly checked to make sure it had synced into her mail programme on her laptop so she could read it at home. She sent a quick email to the author acknowledging receipt and saying she’d be in touch as soon as she’d read it.
Eating a sandwich at her desk at lunchtime, Tina briefly wondered how Maisie was getting on. She picked up her phone to give her a ring but put it down again. She didn’t want Maisie thinking she was checking up on her or that she didn’t trust her, which she did of course. She was probably out job-hunting anyway.
By the time Tina got back to the flat that evening she was exhausted and had decided that a bowl of pasta would be a quick and easy supper before she collapsed into bed. A happy, smiling Maisie greeted her.
‘Supper’s ready. Nothing special – just soup followed by an omelette. Things I found in the kitchen,’ Maisie added anxiously. ‘I hope that’s OK.’
‘Sounds wonderful. You had a good day?’ Tina asked.
‘I’ve got a job. Well, two, actually.’
‘Wow, that was quick. Where? When d’you start?’
‘The coffee bar down by the station. Guy’s Italian. Start tomorrow at ten, finish at three. Says he can’t afford me more than three days a week and possibly a couple of evenings at the moment, but that’s fine, because next week I start a job in a dress shop for three afternoons.’
‘The coffee from Guy’s Italian is good – I often pop in there.’
Maisie glanced at Tina. ‘Pay isn’t brilliant for either of them but it’s a start. It’s amazing