A New Beginning

by Samantha Hicks

  “I’m also sorry about my mum.” Amy once again looked to the sky. “She seems to think I can’t function without a partner. She tries to set me up with everyone she meets.”

  “And here I thought I was special,” Laura joked.

  “I’m sorry, Laura. You’re probably a very nice woman but I’m not available. I’m in love with my wife and I can’t ever see that changing.”

  As if I didn’t know that already. “Have I done something to give you the impression I’m interested in you that way?”

  “No.”

  “Then I guess we have nothing to worry about then and you don’t need to warn me off. I’m happy being single. If I wanted a relationship I would probably be in one by now.” Keep telling yourself that and you might soon believe it. Of course, she was interested in Amy. Who wouldn’t be? She was gorgeous. Yeah, she came off a little standoffish, but that was only because her mother was playing match maker. The two times she had met her previously Amy had been friendly, charming. If she thinks I’m not interested perhaps we could be friends?

  “I wasn’t warning you off,” Amy said, a sad smile on her lovely face. “I just thought you should know in case my mother keeps trying to set us up.”

  “How does she even know I’m gay?”

  “She probably doesn’t. Any woman with a pulse is fair game in her search to end me of my solitary life. I just wish she would leave me alone. She knows how much I love Julia. No one will ever take her place. She was my soul mate and I’m not interested in finding someone else.”

  “If you like I can suggest to them a retirement cabin in outer Mongolia, that should give you enough distance.”

  Amy let out a pleasant bark of laughter, her smile lightening up her features. “Don’t temp me. It’s fine. I know she only does it because she loves me and wants me to be happy.”

  “Are you? Happy?”

  “As much as I can be. I have Aaron, and that’s enough for me.”

  The slamming of car doors interrupted Laura’s reply. She wasn’t sure what she would have said, so was glad the conversation had been disrupted.

  “They’re back,” Amy said unnecessarily.

  They stood and went back into the house. Aaron still had the remnants of chocolate around his mouth and Laura grinned at the cute boy. Turning to Martha she said, “I need to head off.”

  Aaron ran up to her, his eyes turning sad. “You said you’d look at my Lego?”

  “I’ll come back another time. I promise. Martha, thank you for a wonderful meal. I haven’t eaten that well in years.”

  “Come back anytime,” Martha said, a definite gleam in her eye.

  Laura wasn’t sure if she should be happy or annoyed at her obvious match making. “Jim, I’ve left the portfolio in the dining room for you to look at further. If you’re both interested in anything you like, or you have some ideas, just give me a call. I’ll pick up the folio whenever you’re finished with it. See you all later.” She gathered her laptop and briefcase then headed for the front door. Martha, Jim, and Aaron were absent from the foyer, but Amy stood by the door. She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

  “Goodnight, Amy.” Amy glanced up at her and Laura warmed at the intensity of her gaze.

  “Goodnight, Laura.”

  They stood close together and Laura gripped the handles of her laptop bag and briefcase tighter to stop from dropping them both and reaching out and touching her. After a moment Amy stepped back.

  “Drive safely.”

  “I will”

  Laura heard the door close softly behind her and she didn’t look back as she headed for her car. There was something between them, she could feel it, but it didn’t matter. Amy was clear, she was still in love with Julia. Laura would be a fool to believe Amy would ever act on any attraction between them. In Amy’s mind, she was still married, albeit to a dead woman. How could Laura ever compete with that? She couldn’t, so there was no point in trying.

  Chapter Four

  Amy looked up from her mid-morning breakfast to find her mother sliding Laura’s portfolio across the table toward her. She rolled her eyes. Martha had been non-stop raving about Laura’s talents since their dinner four nights ago. It was wearing thin on Amy’s nerves. Amy wasn’t blind. Laura was attractive. Tall and lean, chestnut hair that shimmered in the light, warm chocolate eyes and wide full lips. Yes, Amy would freely admit Laura was striking but that didn’t mean she had any desire to have a relationship with her.

  “Mum!” She dropped her spoon into her bowl in frustration, the clattering ringing through the quiet of the dining room. “Seriously, you need to stop interfering with my love life.”

  Martha raised her eyebrows, her face innocent looking. “What love life? Look, Honey, I’m sorry if this upsets you but you’re only thirty-seven. That’s too young to be a widow forever.”

  Amy stood from the table, taking her bowl to the kitchen. Her mother followed. We’re going to have this conversation again? Amy had lost track of how many times they had been over this. She wasn’t interested in dating anyone. “I can’t just get ‘over it’. Julia was my life.”

  Martha stood in front of her, resting her hands on Amy’s forearms. Her face softening. “Yes, but she’s been gone for six years, you need to move on.”

  “I don’t need to do anything,” she snapped, her voice loud in the quiet kitchen.

  “Stop pouting. And I’m not interfering. I just want you to drop off her portfolio for me while I pop into town.”

  “Why can’t you do it?” She knew she sounded like a whining child but the thought of seeing Laura again unsettled her more than it should. It wasn’t hard to miss the look of interest in Laura’s eyes, and Amy found herself liking the feeling of having someone direct attention toward her. That was what had her nerves all jumbled up. She had done a good job over the last six years of deflecting interest from women who sought to date her knowing she was not interested in them, but one look from Laura had her pulse racing, something that hadn’t happened since the first time she met Julia. That was why she hesitated to see her again. The realisation there might be someone out there who could make her pulse race the way it did with Julia scared her. She never thought she would find that again, and she hadn’t wanted to. She still loved Julia, with all her heart. She didn’t want anyone else, she never had. So why is it I can’t get Laura from my mind?

  “I won’t have time,” Martha replied. “And you hate walking around the shops with me. Please? It won’t take you ten minutes.”

  Amy glared at her mother skeptically. “Are you sure you’re not trying to set me up again?” Her mother was a typical busy-body, always sticking her nose into other people’s business. Normally Amy found it funny, the way she would butt into stranger’s lives, but not when it came to her own love life. There were at least ten different women her mother had try to set her up with over the years, refusing to let Amy live her life caught up in grief.

  “I’m always trying to set you up but you’re too stubborn to do anything about it.”

  Amy ran her hand through her hair, giving herself a moment to think. If she didn’t go to Laura’s office, then her mother would just keep trying to set her up with someone. If she went, she could get her mum off her back for a little while. Sometimes it was just easier to grin and bear it then to keep arguing with her all the time. “Hmph. Fine. I’ll take the stupid folder to her stupid office if it will get you off my back for five minutes.”

  Martha smiled widely and clapped her hands together, clearly pleased her match making for the day was done. “Thanks, honey. You’re an angel.”

  “Whatever.”

  They settled into Martha’s car and headed out of Poole toward Bournemouth Town Centre. As they neared, Amy put the address on Laura’s business card into the GPS and they followed the directions the system told them. Before long, her mother pulled into a carpark of a small trading estate. Office blocks were scattered about, they circled the buildings until they found the right
one.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind walking to find me when you’re done?” Martha asked.

  “No, it’s fine. If I know you, you’ll be hours anyway. I could do with the walk.”

  “Okay. Call me when you’re done and I’ll tell you where I am.”

  Amy nodded then stepped out of the car. She reached into the backseat and grabbed the folder. Her mother pulled away with a quick wave then Amy straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and mentally prepared herself to see Laura.

  She climbed the stairs to the third floor and found Laura’s office. The glass door was frosted so she couldn’t see inside. She took a moment to steady her pulse then knocked on the door.

  “Come in!” Laura’s husky voice called from inside.

  Amy opened the door and stepped through, clutching the folder to her chest, as if using it as a shield. Her gaze swept around the spacious room quickly, taking note of the three drawing boards, office furniture, and artwork of buildings scattered on the walls, before settling on Laura sitting behind her desk.

  “Hi.” She was pleased her voice came out normal. Laura looked great. Her hair was flowing around her shoulders, slightly obscuring her face, and the white shirt she wore looked sharp and fit her perfectly. Amy felt heat rise to her cheeks. She hadn’t felt this so out of her depth since before she met Julia.

  Laura glanced up, her lips stretching into a wide smile when she saw Amy. “Amy, hi.”

  “Um, Mum said they’d finished with your portfolio and asked me to drop it off.” She thrust the folder out so hard she nearly let go.

  “Thanks, but I would have come and collected it,” Laura said as she stood from the desk and came to take it from her. “You didn’t need to come all the way out here to drop it off.”

  Amy watched as Laura’s gaze dropped to her lips, she looked away, knowing her cheeks were flaming. “Mum wanted to go to the shops anyway, so it’s was no problem.”

  “Well, thanks again.” Thankfully, Laura stepped away and tossed the folder onto a nearby loveseat. “So, how are things?”

  “Yeah, we’re good.” She scratched her head, thinking. She needed to leave before her embarrassment killed her. Instead she said, “I have a job interview next week at Aaron’s school, which he isn’t happy about.”

  “Oh, you’re a teacher?”

  “Yeah, I used to be, before Julia...Anyway, I’ve been out of it for a while and this job is for a class assistant, but hopefully it’ll get me back into full-time teaching soon.”

  Laura re-took her seat. “That’s good. Good luck with the interview.”

  “Thanks.” This was the perfect opportunity to leave, to get out of there before her hammering pulse caused a heart attack, but she found she didn’t want to go just yet. There was something about Laura that captivated Amy. She didn’t know what it was or if she wanted to find out, but she found her feet betraying her and walking more fully into the room. “Uh, you have a really nice office.”

  Laura blinked. “Thanks. I’ve been in this building for about two years now. I’m looking into maybe getting something bigger. I’m old fashioned and like to do my initial designing on drawing boards, instead of computers. For me it’s easier.”

  Amy glanced at the drawing boards in questions which were positioned off to one side of the room. “Can I have a look?” She motioned to them with a tilt of her chin.

  “Sure.” Laura once again stood and led her over to the first of the three. “This is one I’m working on for a client in America. He’s moving his business here and wanted a property that was specific to his needs.”

  Amy looked at the blueprint, her eyes squinting as she tried to make sense of all the lines and measurements. Seemed like a standard building to her. She moved to next one, her mouth hanging open at the much more detailed drawing in front of her. Laura had obviously spent a lot of time and effort on this one. It was different to the other, this having been drawn of the finished product instead of just floor plans. It was a beautiful one-story large property, a wraparound porch encircling three sides. Large windows and even a welcome mat were included in the drawing. Trees and bushes were set around it and Laura had added a child’s bicycle leaning against the porch. It was so detailed and shaded that to Amy it looked like a copy of a painting.

  “And what about this one?” she asked.

  “Um, that one is a personal project.” Laura blushed. “I’ve been planning on building my own home for years but have only just started to get down to specifics.”

  Amy looked back to the drawing, finding Laura’s discomfort cute. “It’s wonderful. You have an excellent eye for detail.” Amy didn’t comment on the child’s bike. Is that something she wants, kids?

  “Thank you.”

  Amy straightened. “Look, Laura. I need to apologise for the other night at dinner. I know I probably came off as rude—”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  She smiled ruefully. “Yes, I did. But you need to realise that my mum can be somewhat single minded when it comes to me. She won’t be happy until I’m married off again.”

  “But you don’t want that?” Laura asked carefully, her eyes guarded.

  “No. I don’t think I could ever risk losing someone again. Julia was everything to me and it nearly destroyed me.” Those first couple of years after her death had been excruciating for Amy. There were some days she didn’t even get out of bed. In the end her parents had stepped in. They sold her house and she went to live back with them. It was easier for Aaron and her to be with them. Her mother was instrumental in helping to raise Aaron and it allowed Amy the time she needed to at least try and get back on her feet. “If I didn’t have Aaron, I dread to think what I would have done.”

  “It’s okay. As I said the other night, I’m not looking for a relationship either. But a friendship could be good.”

  Amy shook her head. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”

  “Why?” Laura asked, her forehead creasing.

  Why? Because I find myself insanely attracted to you and don’t know if I could handle having you in my life? She took a deep breath. “I’m being silly, aren’t I? We’ll see.” Taking a step back from Laura’s penetrating gaze, afraid she might see too much, she said, “I need to go find my mother before she spends all of dad’s money.”

  “Thanks for bringing my folder back.”

  Amy walked to the door, now desperate to leave. Before she stepped over the threshold she looked back. “I almost forgot. Mum wants to invite you to dinner again next Friday night. I told her to stop meddling, but she assured me it was because they want to talk ideas with you.”

  “Will you and Aaron be there?”

  “No, we have a birthday party to go to that evening.” She didn’t miss the look of regret in Laura’s eyes.

  “Okay. Let Martha know I’m free and looking forward to eating her wonderful cooking again.” She grinned.

  “Will do. See you around.”

  “Bye.”

  After a quick call to her mother and a short ride in a taxi, Amy found Martha waiting for her in a sports shop looking at golf clubs. Why she was looking at golf clubs Amy couldn’t fathom. As far as she was aware no one her parents knew played golf. She just loves looking at everything.

  Her mother glanced at her as she approached, sliding a five-iron back into its bag. “Well, how’d it go?”

  “It was fine. I hope you aren’t looking for a murder weapon.”

  Martha laughed. “No, honey. When it comes time to kill off your father, I have better ideas.”

  Amy wasn’t sure if she was joking or not. Many a time Martha threatened her dad with death. It was usually after he had done something stupid, like trying to cut down a tree with a chainsaw he had no idea how to use. “I gave her her folder and invited her to dinner for you.”

  “Excellent! She’s really nice, and talented.”

  “Yeah, she is.” She thought over the house Laura had drawn for herself, the perfect family home. “
She showed me a couple of her designs. I think you’ll love your new retirement home.”

  “You just want us out of the house.”

  “Yep. Oh, and don’t forget Aaron and I won’t be there for dinner next week. We have Michael’s birthday party.” She smiled at the crest fallen look on her mother’s face. Amy was no fool. She could spot a match making attempt from forty paces. No doubt Martha thought they would have another lovely evening together and she could continue her quest to set Amy up. Tough luck, Mummy dearest.

  “No problem. We don’t need you there to discuss business anyway.”

  Amy didn’t like the gleam that was now in Martha’s eyes. She had a bad feeling she had shown her cards too soon and her mother had just thought of a different way to set her up.

  Chapter Five

  The following Thursday night Amy stood in the kitchen watching her mother baste the chicken. She glanced around at the array of tureens filled with different vegetables and mixes of things she couldn’t identify. To Amy it looked like her mother was cooking a Christmas feast. “Mum? Why are you cooking so much food?” It was only the four of them for dinner, like it always was, and Amy wanted to know what had gotten into her mother.

  “Hmm? Oh, it’s some new recipes I’ve been wanting to try and I’m afraid I got a little carried away.” She opened the oven door and deftly pushed the roasting pan inside. As she straightened the doorbell dinged. “Can you answer the door for me?”

  “Sure.” Perhaps she’s invited her coffee club over. She walked through the house cursing herself. If Martha’s friends were coming over, Amy wished she had been told so she could have dressed more smartly. She looked down at her tatty jogging bottoms, her bare feet sticking out from under the threadbare cuffs. Too late now. She pulled opened the door and her stomach dropped.