‘Well, answer the phone for her then,’ ordered Joy.
‘What and miss all the fun?’ screeched Marlon.
Annie grinned up at Joy and leant over to pick up the phone.
‘Hello, Samaritans?’ she said softly into the phone.
And as the backache temporarily dulled, she closed her eyes and saw Jake there, smiling at her.
Acknowledgements
As many of you know, Melissa left us on April 7th 2006 aged 37. She lived with cancer with extraordinary fortitude for five years, and in that time managed to produce three more novels, our beautiful son, Sam, and thousands of dedicated fans. She also managed to continue to be the ever-upbeat, ever-loving, ever-supportive friend that so many of us adored her for.
We’re so grateful for the many letters that her fans have written to express their sadness and support. Also, the notes that people have written on Amazon have been incredibly touching – they have helped enormously. Thank you so much.
Two very positive things have come from Melissa’s suffering – I hope you’ll indulge me in telling you about them.
First, a new literary award has been established by members of the publishing industry to honour Melissa. The first Melissa Nathan Award for Comic Romance will be held on June 13th 2007 (Melissa’s birthday).
Secondly, we’ve established The Melissa Nathan Foundation – a charity organisation dedicated to raising money to support families who are suffering.
If you would like to donate and/or would like more information about the Melissa Nathan award, please go to www.melissanathan.com
Through this, Melissa can be with us all the time.
Andrew Saffron. Husband and best friend.
2007
A sincere thank you to my local Samaritan Centre for allowing me into their wonderful world.
Thank you Kirsten Edwards and Michael (Baf) Barrie for his karate expertise.
Thank you Andrew, as ever, for getting the food in, dealing with the builders, paying the bills and nodding quietly while I ranted. And for generally making my life a joy.
Thank you Mum and Dad, for buying me the biggest Thesaurus in the world. As you can probably tell from reading this book, it served as a wonderful doorstop.
Thank you marvellous Maggie at Ed Victor, for your unending support, chirpy optimism, great company, amazing contacts and fantastic taste in restaurants.
And thank you so much for all the letters I’ve received from people who read and loved Pride, Prejudice & Jasmin Field. You have no idea how each letter helps soothe the ego of a paranoid neurotic.
Melissa Nathan
2001
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781409036401
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Published by Arrow Books 2007
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Copyright © The executors of the estate of Melissa Jane Nathan
Melissa Nathan has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser
First published in Great Britain in 2001 by Piatkus Books
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780099505778
Persuading Annie Page 31