A Year of Taking Chances

by Jennifer Bohnet

  ‘Sorry. All gone,’ Maisie said. ‘If you’d said you intended coming…’ Her voice trailed off and she glared at him.

  ‘I wanted it to be a surprise,’ John said.

  ‘I could make you a cheese sandwich,’ Tina said, her natural politeness coming to the fore even though she’d disliked John from the moment he’d arrogantly walked into her flat. ‘And there are some strawberries left.’

  As John ate the sandwich Tina gave him, followed by a bowl of strawberries, Tina listened to Moira and Bruce as they told her about their plans for the next day, pleased to see they paid little attention to John, who seemed impervious to the cold shoulder they were giving him.

  She could tell that Bruce in particular was struggling to remain silent and not have a go at John over his treatment of his daughter. Maisie just sat there staring at John and not joining in. The evening quickly turned from being a happy, laughter-filled one into one with an undercurrent of tension.

  An hour later, when Moira and Bruce stood up to leave and thanked Tina effusively, to her relief John also left, but not before telling Maisie he’d see her as usual tomorrow. As the flat door closed behind them, Maisie collapsed on the sofa.

  ‘I can’t believe John turned up like that and made out he’d been invited,’ she said. ‘My fault, I suppose, for telling him about tonight. I’ve never told him where I live, though – he must have followed me home one day.’

  ‘Don’t blame yourself for his behaviour,’ Tina said. ‘I was going to ask how being “just friends” with him was going but I think he already feels you’re a couple again.’ She frowned as she looked at Maisie. ‘John does seem very controlling. Stalking you to discover where you live isn’t good either.’

  Maisie nodded miserably. ‘He is controlling. Us being a couple again is all he talks about. Even though we’re not properly. But the way he turned up here this evening, Mum and Dad are going to think everything’s back to normal between us. I’m so cross. He spoilt the evening for me.’

  ‘Your dad particularly didn’t seem very happy to see him. Before they go home make sure you tell them how things really are between you and John.’ Tina hesitated before continuing. ‘Getting back together as just friends is clearly not working for you.’

  Maisie rubbed her eyes. ‘We definitely don’t seem to want the same things any more. I love my life down here and John keeps on about wanting to go back to Scotland. You’re right – it’s never going to work between us again. Hell, I don’t even like him anymore.’

  Tina sighed. ‘It’s not my place to say this really but you need to spell it out to John that it’s over. Whatever the two of you had in the past is no more. It’s time for both of you to move on with your lives.’

  ‘I know you’re right. I’m going to have to tell him, make him understand, that it’s over full stop. Problem is, he doesn’t listen to me these days.’

  Chapter Thirty

  Tina was late getting to the café in Covent Garden the evening she and Luc were going to the jazz club. Luc was waiting for her at a table near the bar and stood up to greet her with a kiss on the cheek as she rushed in.

  ‘Sorry, sorry, sorry,’ Tina said. ‘I’d forgotten how busy it gets at this time of the evening.’

  ‘You’re here now – that’s all that matters,’ Luc said. ‘I’ve ordered you a glass of Prosecco. Is that OK?’

  ‘Perfect. I’ve got some celebrating to do because there’s another reason I’m late. You might like to join me in a glass of bubbly when I tell you the news.’

  Luc looked at her. ‘News about the agency?’

  Tina nodded. ‘Mainly about your book. I had a phone call before I left and it’s wonderful news.’ She was so looking forward to seeing his reaction to what she had to tell him.

  Before Tina could continue, they were interrupted by a shrill burst of laughter and she turned to look – only to come face to face with Kirsty and Leah making their way out of the café.

  ‘Well, if it isn’t my old friend Tina Matthews. Long time no see,’ Kirsty said,

  ‘Hello,’ Tina said, keeping the obvious response, ‘Not long enough for me’, to herself and forcing a smile.

  Kirsty eyed Luc up and down. ‘And you are?’

  ‘I’m Tina’s boyfriend. I’m afraid I don’t know who you are?’

  Tina caught her breath. Thank goodness he hadn’t told Kirsty his name. She knew Kirsty would have heard the rumours buzzing around the publishing industry already about this mysterious debut author, Lucinda Penwood, who was set to be the next big thing. No way did she want Kirsty putting two and two together and discovering who Luc was before they were ready to reveal his identity.

  Kirsty gave him a withering glance but didn’t deign to tell him her name before turning her attention back to Tina.

  ‘Managed to sign up any authors yet to your little agency? Leah is gathering quite a list herself, including… no, I shan’t tell you. You’ll have to read it in The Bookseller next week.’ And Kirsty turned away, indicating to Leah with a jerk of her head that she should follow her.

  ‘Bye, Kirsty, Leah.’ As Kirsty and Leah left, Tina took a deep breath. ‘Sorry about that.’

  ‘That was Kirsty? Geez,’ Luc said. ‘She’s a piece of work.’

  ‘You can say that again,’ Tina said, shaking. ‘To think she and I were friends once upon a time.’

  ‘To say I’m glad I didn’t sign up with her agency is the understatement of the year. Forget her,’ Luc said. ‘Now, tell me your news,’

  ‘I hope you’re ready for this. Your book has gone to auction. Which means we’ll soon be discussing which major publishing contract you want to sign.’

  A big smile appeared on Luc’s face. ‘Really? That’s amazing. Stand up and come here, Miss Crack-Shot Agent. I need to give you a hug.’ Laughing, Tina pushed her chair back and complied with Luc’s request. Minutes ago he’d told Kirsty he was her boyfriend and now she was in his arms. That had to mean something, didn’t it?

  Later, wandering through the streets of London to the jazz club in Soho, hand in hand with Luc, Tina felt happier than she had in a long time. Her professional life was good. The agency was receiving several manuscripts a day from authors seeking representation, and Luc’s book going to auction was definitely a good sign.

  She’d ignore for now the little niggling voice of her conscience telling her she was pushing the personal boundaries of her relationship with Luc too fast and reminding her that mixing business with pleasure invariably caused problems.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Her conscience, though, was on the case just days later when, about to shut her computer down for the evening, her email programme pinged. Luc. His simple message took her breath away.

  ‘Hi, look, I know it’s short notice but I’ve got a bit of a do to go to tomorrow evening and I wondered whether you’d like to come as my plus one. No worries if you’re busy. Let me know.’

  The question, to go or not to go, spun round and round in her brain. Such a large part of her wanted to continue getting to know Luc on an even more personal level, but was it too soon? Would it complicate things? Would she be better taking a step back and keeping things on the strict business footing she’d intended – at least until the book was the big success she knew it was going to be? She’d hate it if their personal relationship got in the way of agency business and caused problems all round. She needed the agency to be a success as much as Luc wanted a bestseller.

  Tina sat back in her chair thoughtfully. However comfortable she felt with him, however much she liked him, and like him she did, she had to remember she was his agent. Purely professional had always been the only way to go as far as clients were concerned. In the past the only time she’d socialised with clients had been at book launch parties and signings. She’d always felt it better to keep things on a business footing rather than becoming best friends. But, and it was a big but, somehow Luc was different. Her sensible, businesslike resolve had started to crumble the mome
nt she met him. Getting it back under control would be difficult.

  She had already got to know him as a friend as well as a client, but this was him moving everything up another notch by inviting her out and using the phrase ‘plus one’. Presumably he would be introducing her to some of his friends, so that had to mean something, didn’t it? After all, he was the one who’d told her he had to take things slowly.

  Tina sighed. What constituted ‘a bit of a do’ in Luc’s world anyway? Was it a formal occasion connected to his day job? Or was it simply a get-together with his friends? Were those three little words ‘my plus one’ important – or was she reading far too much into it and it was just Luc’s way of inviting her?

  Jodie, she knew, would probably advise caution. ‘Think things through thoroughly before you jump,’ she’d often urged in the past when Tina had been about to leap feet first into something. Tina remembered her words about Jake: ‘Be careful, take things slowly with him. He’s not a stayer.’ Was Luc a stayer?

  Besides, Jodie hadn’t exactly followed her own advice, had she, when she met Ben? She’d taken an impetuous jump into the unknown without a care in the world and it had worked.

  Remembering how quickly Jodie’s life had changed in a few months, Tina smiled to herself. Jodie getting married and moving to France had been the catalyst for the knock-down domino effect of changes in her own life. Unexpected changes that were turning out to be good.

  Thoughtfully, Tina pulled the laptop towards her and began to type. It might only have been weeks ago that she’d assured Jodie nothing was going to jeopardise her new agency, but she’d already taken the chance and mixed business with pleasure by inviting Luc to supper and then going to Ronnie Scott’s with him. So yes, she’d go with Luc to whatever this do on Friday evening turned out to be. Even if her conscience was telling her she was getting in too deep and it could all end in tears.

  Tina had just finished typing her reply when she heard the flat door slam. Followed quickly by a knocking on her bedroom door.

  ‘Tina, are you busy? Can I talk to you, please?’ Maisie said.

  ‘Sure, come on in.’

  ‘You’ll never guess what’s happened,’ Maisie said, bubbling with excitement. ‘One of the girls at the boutique has given in her notice and Veronica’s offered me a full-time job replacing her! And a pay rise.’

  ‘That’s wonderful,’ Tina said. ‘I’m so pleased for you.’

  ‘It means I can start paying my way here properly and really start to enjoy my life in London now.’

  ‘When does full-time at the boutique start? And what about the coffee shop?’

  ‘Veronica wants me to be fully involved and up to speed with all the new stock that will be coming in for the Christmas party season. So she’s suggested I start full-time the first week of next month, which means I can stay at Guy’s until he can replace me. I thought maybe tomorrow night we could go out on the town and celebrate?’

  ‘Oh, Maisie, I’m sorry but I’m already going out. Luc has been invited to some sort of party and has asked me to go with him. But there’s nothing to stop us celebrating with a takeaway and a glass of Prosecco tonight, is there?’ Tina added. ‘In fact, I’ll order some Chinese now.’

  An hour later, as they tucked into their takeaway, Tina said, ‘Have you talked to John yet? Finished things between you properly?’

  Maisie sighed. ‘I’ve tried but he refuses to accept it. Whenever he comes into the café with his mates he can’t seem to resist having a little dig about him and me getting it together again. That we’re meant to be. He can’t get it through his head that I don’t want to know. He keeps muttering, too, about how different his life is down here to what he’d expected.’

  ‘Still applying pressure for you to change your mind then?’

  ‘Keeps insisting that we should be more than friends. I’ve even sent him a text spelling it out but he said he deleted it as it wasn’t true.

  ‘Have you told him about your full-time job at the boutique?’

  ‘Yep. I’m hoping he’ll finally accept that I meant what I said about staying down here.’

  Just then Maisie’s phone gave a beep and she glanced at the caller ID. ‘Talk of the devil! D’you mind if I read it?’

  Tina shook her head. ‘Go ahead.’ She watched the expression on Maisie’s face carefully. Was it a good message from John or simply more aggro?

  ‘Me going full-time at the boutique needs to be discussed. He hopes I haven’t already committed myself. We have to talk about it. He’ll see me at work tomorrow.’

  ‘Not a simple good luck message then?’ Tina said. ‘He’s definitely bullying you.’

  Maisie nodded and picked up her Prosecco glass. ‘Not this time,’ she said. ‘I’ve come to my senses.’ She took a quick drink before she typed a text. ‘Sorry. Can’t make talk tomorrow. Have already got plans.’ Pressing send, she smiled.

  ‘It’s my day off tomorrow anyway,’ she said, looking at Tina. ‘So I won’t be there when he comes in for lunch. How much longer d’you think it will be before the message finally gets through that we’re finished?’

  Tina shrugged. ‘Who knows? But from what you’ve told me about John and the one time I met him, I’d take a wild guess and say it will be later rather than sooner!’

  Maisie looked at her in dismay. ‘God, I do hope you’re wrong.’

  ‘I hope so too,’ Tina said. ‘Has he ever hit you or threatened to?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘That’s something. Fingers crossed he doesn’t start stalking you seriously,’ Tina said, looking at Maisie. ‘Because if he does we’re going straight to the police.’

  Getting ready for Luc’s ‘bit of a do’ the following evening, Tina found herself still thinking about Maisie. Despite her brave words she’d been very quiet after John’s text, saying at one stage, ‘Why can’t he just be happy for me and wish me all the best?’

  Tina had refrained from saying something along the lines of ‘because he’s totally selfish and a control freak’. Instead she’d shrugged and offered Maisie some more spring rolls. In an effort to get her thinking about something else, she’d started talking about the party Luc was taking her to.

  ‘I’ve got no idea what to wear tomorrow evening,’ she’d said. ‘Luc just said it’s informal and to wear whatever I like. So I was thinking my best jeans tucked into my pink cowboy boots and a sparkly sweater. As my resident fashion expert, what d’you think?’

  Maisie had stood up. ‘Can I take a look in your wardrobe?’ Half an hour later, she’d vetoed the pink cowboy boots, but OK’d the knee-high black ones to go with Maisie’s best pair of skinny jeans. The sparkly sweater had been replaced with Tina’s favourite black sweater, livened up with a long scarf tied artistically, and she was to wear her pale-cream, leather biker-style coat.

  By the time Maisie had pronounced herself satisfied with Tina’s outfit, she was humming happily to herself and John had been forgotten.

  Now, sitting on the tube with Luc on Friday night as it made its way across town towards Edgware, Tina hoped she’d worn the right outfit. That she’d fit in with Luc’s friends, whoever they were.

  ‘Will there be many people at this do?’

  ‘About fifteen, I think, including us,’ Luc said. ‘Fiona’s house would burst at the seams with more.’

  ‘It’s at your sister’s?’ Tina said, surprised. ‘I thought it was friends from work. Not family. I wish you’d told me before.’

  Luc glanced at her. ‘Not a problem, is it, meeting my sister?’

  ‘No, of course not,’ Tina said, wondering why he needed a plus one to go to his sister’s party. Surely he didn’t need a plus one or moral support to attend? Did Luc introducing her to his sister mean anything? Or had he invited her so Fiona could check her out? Give her approval – or otherwise?

  ‘I think the two of you will like each other and get on,’ Luc said.

  Tina’s heart sank at his words. In her experience, when somebody
thought two people would like each other, it usually ended in disaster. But before she could say anything Luc got to his feet as the tube drew in at the next station. He held out his hand. ‘Come on – this is our stop.’

  Five minutes later they were walking up the front path of a terraced house with lights shining from every window and the sound of music filling the evening air. Luc didn’t bother to knock. He simply opened the door and ushered Tina in, calling out ‘Fiona!’ as he did so.

  From the little Luc had told her about his sister, Tina had no idea what to expect. Would she be arty? Fingers crossed she’d at least be friendly.

  ‘Luc, you made it.’ If the girl greeting Luc with cheek kisses and a hug was Fiona she certainly looked every bit the artist in her burgundy-velvet bohemian dress, long blonde hair framing her face. Tina gave her a nervous smile.

  ‘Don’t let her looks deceive you,’ Luc said as he introduced them. ‘She’s not as soft as she looks tonight. Wears a power suit with attitude in her day job in the City.’

  Fiona punched Luc on the arm. ‘Shut up, you.’ She turned to Tina.

  ‘Hi, it’s nice to meet a girlfriend of Luc’s – they’re usually mythical creatures kept far away from the family for some reason. You must be special,’ Fiona said, regarding Tina with interest. ‘Luc says you’re a literary agent. You should sign him up. He’s always writing something.’

  ‘I have,’ Tina said, wondering if she should ignore the bit about being Luc’s girlfriend.

  ‘And there was me thinking you were his girlfriend and not just someone he works with.’ Fiona sighed.

  ‘Once again, sister dear, you’re jumping to conclusions,’ Luc said, placing his arm around Tina’s shoulders. ‘Tina is my literary agent but…’ He shrugged. ‘Who knows? Just don’t scare her off – OK?’

  ‘R-i-i-ight,’ Fiona said slowly, giving her brother a long look before saying, ‘Food and stuff is in the kitchen. Tina and I are going to have a woman-to-woman, five-minute chat.’ Turning back to Tina she said, ‘Let’s put your coat in the bedroom.’