Magic Under the Mistletoe

by Lucy Coleman

  ‘I can’t believe I didn’t see that pothole, it really was very opportune, thank you,’ I admit, looking down at my left boot and rocking it back and forth to check the stability of the heel.

  ‘Near miss. Nice to know that sometimes I’m capable of being in the right place at the right time.’

  Hmm… do I sense a little general discontent coming through in his tone, there?

  I grab the purse out of my bag. ‘What would you like to drink?’

  ‘I should get these.’ He half–rises from his chair.

  ‘No, I insist.’ I wave my hand to stop him going any further.

  ‘I don’t do alcohol. A cappuccino would be great, thanks.’

  Well, that’s a first for me when I’m buying but it’s nice to hear. By the time I get to the bar the couple have walked past me to take a seat at the table directly in front of the log burner. I order two coffees, hoping what they serve isn’t that weak stuff and has some guts to it. I’m still a little tense after my near-fall.

  ‘Haven’t seen you in here before?’ the young barman enquires in a friendly manner.

  ‘No. First time. Nice old building and lovely ambience.’

  ‘It certainly is. Good to see Tim here with a lady; makes a nice change.’ Then he winks at me.

  Ah, I take it that they know each other. But I’m beginning to feel like some sort of cougar, as clearly the guy behind the bar doesn’t realise this isn’t a blind date. I’m checking out Tim’s skills, not his charming persona. Perhaps a business meeting shouldn’t really be held in a pub.

  ‘I’ll bring the coffees over when they’re ready.’

  I swipe my card over the machine and he smiles, running his eyes over me in a most unprofessional manner.

  As I spin back around I catch Tim watching my every movement. At least, I think that’s what he’s doing but maybe he’s trying to catch his friend’s eye, to stop him. For one moment he reminds me of a young Jeff. The same slightly awkward, sort of embarrassed persona that comes with being extremely shy.

  Settling myself back down into the carver chair, I look directly at Tim. It’s time to get down to business. ‘So, you’re a manager in what I should imagine is a very stressful job.’

  He fiddles nervously with the placemat on the table in front of him.

  ‘I work for my uncle’s finance company. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t granted any favours, and I had to start at the bottom. I spent a couple of years working there part-time on telesales while I was at college. Eventually I joined the admin team after gaining my diploma in Business Management, three years ago.’

  Doing the maths, he’s probably around twenty-three then so I was right.

  ‘You sound as if you have regrets.’

  The barman arrives with a tray. ‘Hey, Tim. Loved the parkour video, by the way. Great stuff!’

  Suddenly, there’s a little frantic eye contact going on between them. Tim nods in acknowledgement, grabbing the coffees off the tray as if to indicate he’s interrupting.

  The young guy shoots him a puzzled look, then turns on his heels without further comment.

  ‘Parkour?’

  ‘Sorry. It’s one of the experimental videos. A mate of mine does this mad running, climbing and jumping stuff.’

  ‘Oh, I know what parkour is but it’s interesting that you tackle all sorts of subject matter. How did it all start?’

  He’s nervous, unsure where to begin but I need to understand why he wants to make this huge change in his working life.

  ‘Look, it might sound like I dabble but I’ve just gained a level one award in Mixed Media Techniques and I’ve attended countless workshops – everything from the use of various software editing programmes, to adding titles, visual effects and soundtracks.’

  I stop him there.

  ‘As I said, your YouTube channel is impressive and a great showcase for your work. The initial project I have in mind, as I mentioned, is an urgent one. If you want to take a look at it, I can give you online access to our system and talk you through what I need. But as this is a bit of a risk I need it done without delay, because if it doesn’t work out then I will have to look elsewhere for some temporary help. I hope you don’t mind me being frank with you, but I have a diary full of pitch meetings in January and early February. Unfortunately, I’m losing a key member of staff and his replacement doesn’t start until the eighteenth of January.’

  I stop to sip my coffee and realise he hasn’t taken his eyes off me the entire time we’ve been talking. He looks keen, that’s for sure.

  ‘I can do it. Really I can.’

  ‘But the day job?’

  ‘Is a day job. I’m on the PC most evenings anyway. I’ll give it my best shot. Just tell me exactly what you need and I’ll do it. If I think I’m going to be out of my depth and I can’t, then I’ll be upfront and admit it.’

  ‘Okay. It’s a big ask, I know, but I think you might enjoy the challenge. We haven’t discussed money.’

  He sits back a little, raising his cup to his mouth and taking a sip. My phone starts to skitter across the table and a quick glance tells me it’s Beth. I switch it off, cross with myself that I’ve forgotten to ask Cary about a convenient date to meet up.

  ‘Sorry about that, Tim.’

  ‘Pay me whatever is the going rate if you’re happy with my work. After that we can talk about future projects if I succeed in impressing you.’

  There’s a resolve in his voice that is impressive, and I might just have found the right person for the job. Result. Well, it will be a result if he can follow instructions to the letter and work quickly.

  Naturally, Tim asks about the history of the company and seems content to sit back and listen. There’s a little nervous tick that keeps tugging away at the side of his eye. He’s trying so hard to keep his cool but I can see he’s excited by this proposal.

  ‘My company is well-established but small. I have major changes planned for this year and hope it will provide me with an opportunity to expand quite quickly. But before I can do that I have to produce several thirty second video concepts for the meetings I have booked. If I succeed in converting just 25 per cent of the pitches into contracts, then I will be looking to expand the team.’

  I talk about some of the projects we’ve handled in the past. Then I touch on the new direction in which I’d like to go, and he nods enthusiastically. Tim is desperate to prove himself and he realises this is a real opportunity. He doesn’t want to mess up and is trying a little too hard to impress me. What he might lack in experience, though, he makes up for with his desire to change his future and that is impressive. Suddenly, my gut instincts are telling me that he won’t let me down and maybe I’ve found another Jeff in the making.

  Walking out together, he can’t hide his excitement about the opportunity I’m offering him. At the end of the day he’s young and hungry; and that’s exactly what I’m looking for – someone who can learn on the job.

  *

  ‘Hi Cary, how did it go last night?’

  Beth has texted me three times since last night. If I don’t come up with a date for our get-together then she’ll twig something isn’t quite right. But I hate bothering Cary again today and I feel distinctly awkward calling him.

  ‘Good, thanks. I intended speaking to you this morning, anyway, to check you were okay after that call. It’s not your responsibility what happens with Nathan from here on in, you do know that?’

  ‘Yes. I sent Sheryl a link and then blocked her number on my phone.’

  ‘Hopefully, that should put an end to it.’ He pauses. ‘There wasn’t time to mention it yesterday, but Grandma has been asking after you. She’s already making plans for Easter and I wondered if you could possibly bear another visit?’

  He sounds uncomfortable about asking, and I jump straight in.

  ‘Of course, it’s no problem at all.’

  When I lay my own request on him he might think I’m asking too much in return, though.

 
‘The way things are looking I probably won’t have a chance to go back for a visit before the Easter break, anyway. I know she’ll be upset about that but there’s nothing I can do.’

  The concern in his voice is tinged with guilt.

  ‘But she will understand,’ I say, gently.

  ‘Laurence has already been in touch voicing his own concerns, which hasn’t helped. Travelling all over the country doing these presentations is going to be exhausting, but the pressure is mounting.’

  He already sounds tired and maybe a little jaded, considering he’s only been back at work for two days.

  ‘But the sales figures are going in the right direction, aren’t they?’

  He makes a noise with his throat, like a stifled laugh.

  ‘Slowly and the board is on my back because of that. We’re entering the fourth quarter of our financial year. Our sales team are working hard now to convert the rash of leads generated by the exhibition in Australia, but the target number is tough. Ironically, though, on my return I found out that the product has just won the prestigious Innovative Energy Solutions Industry Award.’

  ‘That’s marvellous, Cary. You must be delighted about that. Surely that’s proof you’re on the right track.’

  ‘Yes and no. The directors and the shareholders focus on the bottom line and we have quite a way to go.’

  It strikes me as very unfair, given how hard he’s worked for this, that even winning an award isn’t enough to ease the pressure on him.

  ‘When does the ceremony take place?’

  He chuckles. ‘The fourteenth of February, no less and they will be airing Dynamic Videography’s video in public for the first time. So the pressure is on you to make sure those final amendments do the trick. And now I have a scintillating speech to add to my to-do list, too.’

  Has he ever let up on reminding me I must deliver? I sigh, but at least he’s poking fun at himself to lighten the moment. Cary certainly isn’t the easiest client to please but I’m sure we will end up exceeding his expectations. When he sees the final cut, hopefully he will view it as a whole with a fresh set of eyes, rather than doggedly analysing every single frame.

  ‘Sorry, I should have asked how recruitment was going first, as I can appreciate how worried you’ve been. Is there any news?’

  ‘Jeff’s replacement, Zack, arrives on the eighteenth. I’m confident he’ll hit the ground running, as they say.’

  ‘I’m surprised that you don’t sound stressed about the delay.’

  ‘I’m not,’ I admit. ‘I have someone stepping in to help out. His name is Tim. He’s the grandson of the man I sat next to on the first leg of our journey back from Australia. He’s young but he has a little experience behind him and he’s keen.’

  ‘I’m pleased for you. It must be a huge worry lifted in the interim.’

  I know that Cary can appreciate that more than anyone else around me.

  ‘Well, Tim will be on a steep learning curve, but I have high hopes of being able to offer him a full-time, permanent position if he delivers. I’ve also heard good things about Zack, who is less of an ideas man but a very experienced cameraman and a technical whizz. I am starting to feel that things could slot rather neatly into place. I really think between the three of us we could make a pretty dynamic team.’

  ‘That’s a major step for you, Leesa. You’ve turned one giant headache into a promising opportunity so kudos for your entrepreneurial spirit. I’m impressed. Successful people are those who keep jumping the hurdles.’

  ‘If the pitch meetings I have planned go well, then this could be a significant turning point for the company. I can’t expand unless I take a huge leap of faith with potentially two new team members. I will admit that financially it’s a mega risk, though. But I’m fed up of playing it safe. Anyway, I’m sorry to hear you still don’t have a clear picture about what’s happening back at the old vicarage.’

  He breathes out and I can feel his exasperation over the situation with his grandmother.

  ‘It’s a constant worry but my hands are tied at the moment. Still, when Grandma asked what you and I were doing for Valentine’s Day it was an easy excuse. These things are usually very drawn out, black-tie affairs and definitely not a romantic setting.’

  ‘Where is it being held?’

  ‘The Science Museum in South Kensington, why?’

  ‘Did I tell you I love museums?’ I can’t help myself, and I start laughing.

  ‘Well, this must be one big favour you’re phoning me about if an Easter visit with my family isn’t enough of a fair exchange. I didn’t like to ask for two favours, but if you’re offering then I won’t say no, Leesa. You’d better let me know what I’m in for before I get cold feet.’

  I clear my throat. ‘Can you earmark the third of August on your calendar as that’s the day my sister gets married.’ I feel myself cringe. ‘And as she hasn’t met you yet—’

  ‘Ah, well, that’s a fair enough swap in return for one meal at Easter and being my significant other at a dazzling award ceremony, I suppose. But I will warn you that weddings are definitely not my thing, so I’ll need a sharp elbow to rouse me if I begin to look bored during the celebrations.’

  Result! Bridezilla will be happy.

  ‘Great, thank you. I love an opportunity to wear a posh frock. Besides, I’m genuinely pleased for you, Cary. Anyway, Cressida is bound to think it’s rather odd if I’m not there by your side.’

  There’s a low ‘hmm’ of agreement.

  ‘You’re right. Jeez, this is just such a civilised way of getting around this awkward stuff. That’s what I like about you, Leesa.’

  My grip tightens on the phone.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You’re like me. You do what you have to do to keep the people you love happy, but don’t let it detract from your main focus.’

  I find myself nodding but I will admit the words do have a bit of a hollow ring to them. Does that make us a pair of cold-hearted, overly ambitious people? Or two sad people who will end up alone, because we are incapable of making a romantic relationship work? It dawns on me that aside from Cary there isn’t anyone else I could have asked to be my plus one.

  ‘Well, I hate to break the bad news, but my sister is anxious that you have a role in her wedding as an usher. My parents have been gushing about you. As Cressida’s grandson you’ve impressed her even before she’s met you in person. I did say that August is a long way away, though and—’

  ‘You don’t intend breaking up with me in the interim, I hope? Of course I’ll be an usher, and text me a couple of dates so that I can meet the happy couple. It’s the least I can do. And I’m really delighted you are up for the awards ceremony. I will be honest and admit that I wasn’t relishing going without someone on my arm. I’m staying overnight at the Knightsbridge Hotel. I could book you a room as it will be a late one. All that celebrating and drinking champagne. It’s a hard life!’

  His spirits have lifted, and he seems to have put his worries to one side for a moment. I am relieved that our arrangement is working out well mutually and at least I can satisfy Beth for the time being.

  ‘That would be great, thanks.’

  ‘How long is Jeff going to be around?’

  ‘A week. I still can’t believe he isn’t simply going on an extended holiday. I will miss his friendship as much as I’ll miss him at work. He’s on a high and I can only hope that continues and he doesn’t have any regrets. He’s morphing into a different person to the one I’ve always known. I guess that’s what falling in love does to you.’

  Am I just the teensiest bit envious, I wonder? Jeff is leaving behind all of his worries and responsibilities, so he can savour each day as it comes. There are moments when I feel so anxious about the imminent future. Ploughing forward in the aftermath of my personal disasters has been tough. What if I end up taking one risk too many because I’m desperate to prove I can get at least something right in my life?

  ‘Yeah, turns everythi
ng on its head until it’s over. Then you’re left to pick up the pieces, from what I’ve seen. Still, it might not come to that. Anyway, I’ll email you the hotel booking, and you’ll earmark Monday the twenty-second of April for the Anderson Easter Monday lunch? Grandma will be delighted. Send my regards to your parents, won’t you?’

  There’s a general cheerfulness in his voice that wasn’t there when he first answered the phone. Ironically, I feel like I’ve succeeded in lifting his spirits a little.

  ‘I will do. And I’ll find a suitable posh frock for that black-tie event. I hope someone will be videoing the occasion.’

  Cary bursts out laughing. ‘Of course, and I’m only sorry I don’t have any sway in the company they employ. I’m afraid this is one video in which you’ll be appearing as the beautiful lady on my arm, rather than the one standing behind the camera directing the action.’

  As we disconnect an image of Cary’s face flashes in front of me. He never seems to feel lonely. The sort of feeling that hits you when you’ve had a bad day and walk in through your front door wishing someone was there who could give you a reassuring hug.

  Stop it, Leesa, I chide myself. You have a plan and it’s moving forward – you are going to be just fine.

  21

  Acting Up

  One thing is for sure: this is going to be the strangest Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. My stomach is feeling very jittery indeed, today. The best way to overcome one’s nerves is to exude confidence, the article I’m reading informs me. Well, I’ve done just about everything I can think of to give myself a boost to achieve precisely that. My hair and nails look amazing, thanks to the local beauty salon, and my specially-purchased little black dress looks elegant and sophisticated. It follows the curves of my body with ease, magically smoothing out the little jelly belly from a spate of overly indulgent, cupcake-eating days of angst about finances.

  One last glance in the mirror as I pull on the cashmere, silver-grey, cropped evening jacket and I flick my head to check my silver spiral earrings. I’m content with what I see and think I do at least look the part. Glancing around the hotel room, it’s in dire need of a tidy but I’m conscious I’m running a little late, so I head straight downstairs.