Searching for Steven (Whitsborough Bay Trilogy Book 1)

by Jessica Redland

  ‘Really? You promise you won’t get mad.’

  ‘I promise.’ Clare nodded with vigour but her mischievous smile contradicted her.

  ‘What are you scheming?’

  ‘Nothing. I swear to you. I’ve decided I’m going to humour you this weekend and go along with this whole meeting Steven thing because I know it’s important to you. But I want it to be noted that I still think it’s a big steaming bag of shite.’

  ‘Point noted and well made, thank you.’

  ‘Good. Will we get started then? Do you think any of that lot are Stevens?’ Clare nodded towards the bar.

  I shuffled round in my seat. A group of three fairly attractive men stood by the bar, laughing as they waited for their drinks.

  I turned back to Clare. ‘I’d like to think the dark-haired one might be.’

  She frowned. ‘They’ve all got dark hair.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  Clare giggled. ‘That was quite funny. For you. No time like the present.’ She swigged back the rest of her drink then stood up.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘To introduce us to the nice young men at the bar.’

  ‘You want me to come with you?’

  ‘Of course. Or did you think I was going to drag them over one by one so you could do a name-check?’

  ‘No. But—’

  But Clare wasn’t listening. She’d already picked up her bag and coat. I reluctantly reached for my coat. Then I heard one word that froze me in my seat.

  ‘Steve!’ The tallest of the trio waved in the direction of the door.

  I slowly turned towards the door, stomach lurching. I felt Clare grab my arm.

  ‘I guess that answers our question,’ she whispered.

  It must have started raining as ‘Steve’ held a dripping coat over his head. Could he be The Steven? I swear the whole bar must have been able to hear the thumping of my heart.

  ‘Move your coat,’ I whispered. ‘I can’t see your face.’

  ‘Steve! Over here.’

  I held my breath as he finally removed the coat then shook out his blond hair.

  Clare squeezed my arm. ‘Not bad,’ she whispered. ‘I know you prefer dark hair but he’s pretty cute.’

  ‘Not bad,’ I whispered back. ‘Not bad at all.’

  Steve headed towards the group.

  ‘I can’t believe you’re late for your own bloody stag do,’ shouted one of the men. ‘You’d better not be late next Saturday, Steve, or my sister will lynch you.’

  Bollocks!

  ‘I’m guessing he’ll not be your man Steven then?’

  ‘No. I’m guessing not.’

  ‘Good. Because I have an absolute gem of an idea of how you can meet him quickly.’

  My pulse quickened. ‘Sounds intriguing.’

  She took a deep, dramatic intake of breath before announcing, ‘Internet dating.’

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d heard her sound so excited about something. And I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt such a huge anti-climax. ‘Internet dating? Really?’

  ‘Ah, but I haven’t finished. That’s not the great idea.’

  Thank goodness for that. ‘So what is?’

  ‘I believe you make your own decisions and control your own destiny. Clairvoyance would imply it’s mapped out for us already which means we’re not in control. If you believe the tape, you just have to wait for Steven to appear. How about trying my way and making him appear?’

  ‘How?’

  ‘By joining an Internet dating site, but only looking at profiles of Stevens. It’s a fairly common name so it’s possible you could actually fall for a Steven if you date enough of them. You therefore fulfil the crazy prophecy except you’re in control. You’ve made it happen. Now, tell me, is that a grand idea or is that a grand idea?’

  ‘Internet dating?’

  ‘Weren’t you listening to me? I’m talking about targeted Internet dating. I’m talking about seeking out profiles that only belong to Stevens. Don’t you think that’s genius?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘You’re not sure?’ The high pitch made me flinch and quickly look round the bar to make sure nobody else was looking.

  ‘Maybe I’m just tired,’ I suggested. ‘It’s not a bad idea. I just didn’t imagine that’s how I’d meet him.’

  ‘Well I think it’s a brilliant idea. It can’t hurt to try, surely?’

  ‘Do you really think it will work?’

  ‘Christ, how would I know? I don’t do long term relationships so I’m probably the worst person in the world to be giving you advice. But, as we’ve just discussed, you’re probably not going to meet Steven at work and the first one we encounter on a night out is on his stag do. Do you have any better ideas? Apparently one in four relationships start online these days.’

  ‘One in four?’

  ‘I knew you’d like those odds.’ Clare grinned. ‘So why not try this? For whatever stupid and misguided reason, I think you’re convinced that woman is right and Steven’s your destiny. I know you and I know you’ll get yourself into a right state constantly wondering when you’re going to meet him. I say don’t wait. Get out there, control your own destiny, and search for Steven yourself. Sure, there must be loads from North Yorkshire registered on dating sites and, if none of them are right, then I think you should admit defeat and accept your clairvoyant was wrong. Could you do that?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘Sarah. Where’s your sense of adventure?’

  ‘Can I promise to think about it?’

  Clare stared at me for a while. ‘You have until tomorrow morning,’ she said at last. ‘Because tomorrow we register. I’m going to the bar. You can start thinking about it while I’m gone.’

  I watched her head to the now-packed bar, men gazing adoringly at her as she passed and women narrowing their eyes with instant dislike. It happened everywhere she went. I leaned back in my seat. Internet dating, but only targeting Stevens? Interesting idea. Maybe I hadn’t given her enough credit for it. Logic would say that the more Stevens I met, the more likely I was to find The Steven. Going through the Yellow Pages definitely wasn’t the way forward. Especially when my copy was five years out of date. Maybe Internet dating was the way to go. I took another sip of my wine. Maybe I would check out some of those sites tomorrow. One in four? Hmm. Couldn’t do any harm looking.

  Chapter 11

  * From Clare

  Still can’t believe you bottled it on Sunday. If you want to meet Stevens, surely Internet dating is the way forward? I’m going to nag you every day till you register.

  ‘It looks fantastic in here now that you’ve painted,’ Auntie Kay said.

  It was the Tuesday after Clare’s visit. Over the past week I’d had the shop plastered, painted, and new flooring installed.

  Auntie Kay turned in a small circle in the middle of the new solid wood floor. ‘I can’t believe how big it looks. I should have done this years ago.’

  ‘The shop looked great when you had it, Auntie Kay. All I’ve done is freshen it up a bit.’

  ‘Thanks, angel. That’s very sweet of you, but we both know it was looking a bit shabby.’ She moved to one of the walls and ran her hand down the smooth plaster. ‘Nice job. Who did it?’

  My cheeks flushed and I quickly turned away and put my bag down on the pasting table I’d set up as a workstation. ‘Some bloke I found in the Yellow Pages.’ After my disgraceful attempt at flirting with Stephen Lewis, I’d phoned round another eight plasterers (avoiding Stevens) the next morning and discovered none of them were available for several weeks. I then had a major attack of the guilts. Stephen had seemed like a lovely guy and he clearly needed the work. It was hardly his fault he was so damn gorgeous that I couldn’t put lustful thoughts out of my mind.
I bottled any contact, though. I texted him to say he had the job and he should pick up and drop off the keys at The Chocolate Pot the next day. It cost me an hour’s dog walking each evening for a fortnight, but I considered it a small price to pay for avoiding further humiliation. I was starting to like the owner, Tara, but that damn woman could drive a hard bargain.

  ‘He’s done a great job,’ Auntie Kay said. ‘And I’m loving these cream walls. So much warmer than the white.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘Clare’s coming up again this weekend to draw some abstract flowers on the walls. She’s good at stuff like that.’

  ‘Sounds lovely. Is she okay with your move home now?’

  ‘I don’t think she’ll ever love the idea but I think she accepts it now. She’s got clients in Leeds and Newcastle so she’s regularly in the north with work. She’s trying to get into a schedule of seeing them on Mondays and Fridays so she can visit for the weekend on work’s mileage. I’ll probably end up seeing more of her than I did in London. Cup of tea?’

  ‘I thought you’d never ask.’

  ‘I’ve got a question to ask you while the kettle’s boiling.’

  Auntie Kay followed me into The Outback. I filled the kettle in the small kitchen area and switched it on. ‘What do you think about Internet dating?’

  She stiffened. ‘I’ve told you before. I don’t want to meet anyone so don’t start that again.’

  Crumbs. Hit a raw nerve there. ‘Not for you, silly. I mean for me.’

  ‘Oh. Why didn’t you say so?’ Her voice had softened, but the fiddling with Grandma’s ring told me she was still on edge. I’ve always thought it was such a shame that Auntie Kay was single. Before leaving home for university, I set her up with the divorced dad of a school friend. She spotted the set-up and traced it back to me. It’s the one and only time she’s ever shouted at me and boy did she shout. I asked Mum why she got so mad but she told me it was Auntie Kay’s business and she’d tell me if she wanted to. It became a taboo subject after that.

  ‘I thought it was obvious I meant for me.’ I threw teabags into the mugs. ‘Why would I suggest you start Internet dating when you’re about to leave the country?’

  ‘Good point. Sorry for snapping. I thought you said you weren’t ready to start dating again so soon after…’ She trailed off, staring at her ring.

  ‘After what?’

  ‘After Jason.’

  ‘You make it sound as if he’s dead and I’m the heartless widow who’s buried him one morning and dined out with a new man that evening.’

  ‘Do I?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  I lightly touched her arm. ‘Are you okay, Auntie Kay?’

  ‘Fine. Why?’

  ‘You seem a bit distracted.’

  She smiled and finally stopped twiddling with the ring. ‘Lots to do before I leave. Sorry. You have my full attention now. What were you saying?’

  I wasn’t convinced she was okay but sensed it wasn’t the time to push further. I made the teas and handed her a mug. ‘I don’t know if I am ready to date again. It’s a scary thought after so long with Jason. But I want to meet someone sooner or later and I don’t think it’ll happen through work. Clare came up with the Internet dating idea. Do you think I should give it a try?’ I ushered Auntie Kay to the desk chair then perched on the desk.

  ‘I don’t know anything about Internet dating,’ she said, leaning back in her seat, ‘but if you want to start dating, I know the perfect man for you.’

  ‘Really. Who?’ Please say he’s called Steven!

  ‘It’s someone you’ve already met.’

  I shrugged. ‘Who?’

  ‘Nick Derbyshire.’

  The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t quite place it.

  ‘You must remember him,’ she said. ‘Granny Sutton’s grandson. He came in for the flowers for his sister’s wedding.’

  Oh yes! The man with the eyes like the ocean. I definitely remembered him! My pulse quickened as I pictured him in his morning suit, looking at me intently.

  ‘You said he was handsome,’ she said.

  ‘I didn’t.’

  ‘You did.’

  ‘Only because you made me.’

  ‘But you do think he’s handsome, don’t you?’

  ‘I can’t say I was paying that much attention,’ I lied. ‘If you recall, I’d just jumped on a train after dumping Jason. Checking out other men wasn’t high on my list of priorities that day.’

  ‘Well, he is handsome.’ She looked so proud you’d have thought she was his mum. ‘And he’s single. And he’s lovely. And he has his own business which is doing pretty well.’

  ‘If he’s that handsome and lovely and successful, why’s he single?’

  ‘Sarah! That’s a bit harsh.’ She playfully slapped at my leg. ‘Perhaps he’s like you; hasn’t found the right person yet.’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘So it’s agreed?’

  ‘What is?’

  ‘I’ll set you up on a date with Nick.’

  I put my tea down with such vigour, it slopped everywhere. ‘You’ll do no such thing.’

  ‘But you just said—’

  ‘I said the word “perhaps” in agreement that Nick may, like me, not have met The One yet. How you interpret that as “please set me up on a date with him” is beyond me.’ I took a tissue out of my pocket and dabbed at the spilt liquid.

  Auntie Kay took a long noisy slurp of her tea. ‘We’ll see.’

  ‘I mean it,’ I said. ‘He seems nice enough and I admit he’s easy on the eye but I don’t want to go out with him so don’t you dare play cupid.’

  ‘Okay. Okay.’ She put her hands up in surrender. ‘I won’t set you up on a date with him. It’s a missed opportunity, though.’

  I narrowed my eyes and gave her the meanest scowl I could manage.

  ‘Fine. I’ll shut up. I just don’t get why you won’t even consider one evening with him.’

  ‘Because I don’t want to.’ Because he’s not called Steven.

  ‘You sound like a five-year-old when you say that.’

  Auntie Kay held my gaze with her eyebrows raised. Damn! How did she do it? She knew there was more to it. Should I…? I hadn’t intended to tell anyone else, but she’d always been such a good listener. Oh, sod it. The accounts could wait. ‘If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else. Not even Mum…?’

  ‘So that’s why you won’t let me fix you up with Nick,’ Auntie Kay said when I’d finished, ‘When I can tell you clearly fancy the pants off him.’

  ‘Auntie Kay! I do not. Can we focus back on Steven? What do you think?’

  ‘Honestly?’

  ‘Honestly.’

  ‘I get it. I do. I understand why you’d believe and I want to be supportive of you but I’m just not convinced by the whole clairvoyance thing.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Personal experience.’ Auntie Kay started fiddling with her ring again.

  ‘You’ve seen a clairvoyant?’

  She seemed in a daze, fiddling with the ring and staring into nothing.

  ‘Auntie Kay? You’ve seen one?’

  ‘I must have seen about twenty after…’

  ‘After what? Auntie Kay? After what?’

  She blinked and looked back at me. ‘I need to show you these accounts, don’t I?’

  ‘The accounts can wait. Why did you see twenty clairvoyants? What happened?’

  ‘Nothing. Did I say twenty? I meant twenty of us went to a spiritualist church once. Load of nonsense. Right, it’s just after eleven. I’m all yours till half twelve then I’m meeting Linda for lunch to plan our next shopping trip.’

  ‘We were talking about clairvoyants; not shopping.’

  ‘And we should hav
e been talking about the accounts instead so let’s get on with that.’

  I desperately wanted to know why she’d visited twenty clairvoyants and what she thought of my search for Steven but I knew the subject was closed. If I pushed, she’d find an excuse to leave.

  ‘Accounts? Whoopee! Bring it on!’ I said.

  The knock on the door a few hours later startled me. I rubbed my eyes as I went to answer it. My stomach flipped when I saw him standing there. ‘Nick? Hi.’ I’d kill her. Hadn’t she listened to a word I said about Steven?

  ‘Congratulations on becoming the new owner.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  There was an awkward pause. What was the protocol for visits like this? Should I invite him in? What had she said to him? Did he think it was a date?

  ‘Kay said you needed someone to set up your website and could I pop by this afternoon to chat about what you wanted.’

  ‘Did she now?’ The crafty little…

  He looked beyond me into the empty shop. ‘Is it a bad time?’

  ‘Sorry.’ I swung the door open. ‘Come in.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He stepped inside. ‘I can come back another time if you’re busy.’

  ‘No. It’s fine. You’re here now and I could do with a break from the accounts. Cuppa?’

  ‘Yes please.’ He followed me through The Outback into the kitchen area. ‘The shop looks good.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘I’m really pleased so far.’

  I put the kettle on. ‘So, I’m guessing you’re a web designer or something like that.’

  He smiled. Those gorgeous bright blue eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘Do you mind if I say something?’

  ‘Is it a nice something or a nasty something?’

  ‘It’s sort of an observation.’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘I’m not trying to embarrass you or put you on the spot,’ he said, ‘but you looked a bit shocked to see me at the door just now. Given that you don’t know what my job is, I’m guessing that having me pop by to discuss your website wasn’t your idea. I’m therefore wondering whether me being here is more about your auntie trying to do a little match-making than you actually needing help with your website.’

  My cheeks flushed deeply.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I have embarrassed you.’