A Year of Taking Chances Read online

  Was this Luc going to turn out to be a special person in Tina’s life? Tina was being so circumspect in terms of what she said about him that Jodie couldn’t help wondering how Tina truly felt about Luc. And what she wasn’t telling her.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  After Luc had sent the edits back, Tina spent a couple of days editing and generally making sure the manuscript was as good as it could be before pushing the button and sending the book out to her selected publishing houses. Now the waiting began.

  Writing an email to Luc telling him his book was out there looking for a home, Tina realised their daily communications would cease for a while, at least until publishers got in touch. There would be no need for daily emails or texts – exchanges, she realised, that had become the highlight of her days.

  About to send the email, she impulsively added another paragraph. We really need to have a discussion about the type of publicity you need to start putting in place as Lucinda Penwood. I can meet you in town. She hesitated for a second before continuing. Or maybe you’d like to come for supper one night? Her resolution to keep things on a professional basis rather than getting personal vanished, forgotten, as she typed. Before she could change her mind, she pressed send. And then began to agonise over what she’d done. Was it too personal an invitation?

  When, half an hour later, Luc sent her a text saying supper would be good, she smiled with relief.

  As long as it’s not at the weekend. Saturdays in particular are difficult for me. But any weekday evening is good.

  Tina quickly texted back. Wednesday all right? My flatmate works that evening so we’ll have the flat to ourselves for a couple of hours. 7.30 OK for you?

  Once the evening and time had been confirmed, Tina began thinking about the food. Nothing too fancy, she decided. She didn’t want to look as though she was trying too hard; besides, she was a competent cook, not a brilliant, cordon bleu one. And it was supper not dinner, which she always thought meant a more formal meal whereas supper was more casual. Comfort food as opposed to food designed to impress. In the end she decided to make a cottage pie served with carrots and peas followed by apple pie and cream – clotted if she could find it. And she’d buy a good bottle of red wine to go with the meal and maybe a half bottle of dessert wine to finish off.

  Maisie arrived home Tuesday evening just as Tina was taking the apple pie she’d made out of the oven. ‘Mmm, looks good. Any chance of you saving me a piece?’

  ‘I’ll try,’ promised Tina.

  ‘I’m going for a drink after work with Veronica tomorrow evening, so you and your Luc will be safe all evening!’ Maisie said, before grinning mischievously at Tina.

  ‘You don’t have to stay out,’ Tina protested. ‘Please, if you want to come back early, do – it’s your home too now.’ To her surprise Maisie threw her arms around her and hugged her tight.

  ‘You’re so lovely,’ she said. ‘I can’t ever thank you enough for taking me in.’

  Tina hugged her back. ‘You’re welcome.’

  Tina hummed happily to herself the next day as she worked in the tiny kitchen making the cottage pie. Working from home made everything so much easier – not that she’d done much agency work today. The flat, though, was sparkling clean. By quarter past seven, everything was ready. Supper was in the oven, the candles were lit, and Tina was nervously waiting for Luc to arrive. What if the whole evening was a disaster? What if…? She gave herself a mental shake. No what ifs. It would be fine.

  Luc arrived before she could work herself further up into what her mother would have described as ‘a bit of a state’. He handed her a gift bag with a diffident smile. ‘I’m a bit out of practice with buying “thank you” presents. But I hope you’ll like this.’

  Tina opened the bag and took out a colourful framed picture. ‘It’s one of Fiona’s – similar to the one you have on your wall. Thank you.’ Without thinking she leant forward and kissed him on the cheek.

  ‘It’s only a print,’ Luc said. ‘But I knew you liked mine. And Fiona’s always grateful for new fans.’

  ‘Please tell her how much I love it. And I know just where I’m going to put it.’ Without stopping to think, Tina opened her bedroom door. ‘Right here on the wall by my desk where I can see it as I work.’

  ‘So this is the nerve centre of the Tina Matthews Literary Agency,’ Luc said, standing in the doorway.

  ‘Yep,’ Tina said. ‘Glass of wine before supper?’ She closed the door and led the way back into the sitting room where she’d laid the small table ready for their meal.

  It was a good evening all round. The food was delicious and she and Luc chatted away like old friends. Conversation veered from teenage mishaps and favourite holiday destinations to F1 – Luc was a keen fan but Tina admitted to not being similarly enthusiastic. There was an awkward moment when, the meal finished, they moved across to the settee with their drinks and Luc said, ‘This flat is lovely.’

  ‘Thanks. I can’t take all the credit, though – Jodie was the interior designer when we moved here. I’ve just continued the theme.’ She glanced at Luc. ‘Have you always lived at home? Never wanted your own place? Having seen a corner of your room on the video I can imagine you living in one of those ultra-modern minimalistic places with a view of the river.’

  Luc’s face briefly clouded over and he sighed.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Tina said. ‘That was a nosey question too far.’

  ‘No, it’s fine,’ Luc said. ‘My room is like it is because it was always going to be a stopgap. Never ever meant to be permanent. Moving out again has proved harder than I anticipated for various reasons. And no, I’m not a fan of minimalism. Do you like jazz by the way?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Fancy coming to Ronnie Scott’s with me? I’ve got two tickets for next week.’

  ‘All these years in London and I’ve never been,’ Tina said. ‘So, yes, please, I’d love to come with you.’

  ‘Shall we meet in that Covent Garden café where we first met?’ Luc said. ‘About eight o’clock. Then we can take our time wandering through to Soho.

  ‘Looking forward to it already,’ Tina said.

  It was gone ten when Luc left. As Tina showed him out, he put his arms around her and gave her a hug. ‘Thanks for a lovely evening,’ he said, looking at her seriously. ‘Can I just say, I really like you, Tina, but my life is a bit complicated at the moment.’

  He hesitated and for a moment Tina thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he hugged her tightly. ‘I have to take things slowly, to be really sure of certain things.’ A gentle kiss on the cheek and he was gone.

  Tina stayed where she was for several seconds before walking back into the sitting room, pouring herself another glass of wine and sitting on the sofa thinking about the evening. The fact that they’d failed to discuss future publicity for Luc’s book, which had been the ostensible point of meeting tonight, seemed a good omen for their personal relationship.

  She was pretty sure Luc liked her as much as she liked him, especially now he’d admitted his life was complicated and that something was holding him back. But why did he have to take things slowly? Would he ever tell her what the complication was, and would it always be there between them?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  When Herve rang to say things were moving quickly with the house and gave them a completion date just a fortnight away, Jodie found herself struggling to fit everything she needed to do into daylight hours. She even thought about cancelling the day out with Annette at the auction but Annette wouldn’t hear of it.

  ‘You need a break. I’ll come over for a couple of days between now and moving day and help you with the packing up and cleaning.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jodie said gratefully. ‘I’d appreciate that.’

  Thursday morning, Annette arrived at nine o’clock promptly and they set off.

  ‘Usually takes about an hour to get there,’ Annette said, as she drove through the village and made for the
main road up into the mountains. ‘Ben tells me you had a letter the other day from someone claiming to be your brother?’ she said, glancing sideways at Jodie, as if unsure of her reaction.

  Jodie nodded. She should have guessed Ben would mention it to his mother. ‘I know he thinks I should agree to meet him, but really, what’s the point? I know it’s just a hoax.’

  ‘It has been known for strangers who turn up out of the blue claiming to be relatives to be telling the truth,’ Annette said gently.

  ‘Not in this case,’ Jodie said. ‘I’m my mother’s only child and my father died when I was a toddler. If he was claiming to be a distant relative I might be tempted to listen to him.’ She sighed. ‘As much as I would have loved to have had a brother it’s just not possible.’ She fingered the chain of her locket, deciding not to voice the thoughts that occupied her mind during the night. ‘Do you mind if we change the subject, please? You said you wanted to ask me something?’

  ‘Of course.’ Annette hesitated. ‘But first, I know, as your mother-in-law, I can never take the place of your mother – and, trust me, I wouldn’t even try – but do remember I’m always here if you need someone motherly to talk to, OK?’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jodie said. Surprised by how emotional Annette’s last words made her feel, she swallowed hard.

  ‘Right, now that’s out of the way, please will you be my maid of honour when I marry Thierry? Strictly speaking, I don’t need one, but your love and support are important to me. You’re like the daughter I never had but always wanted.’

  ‘It would be an honour,’ Jodie managed to say, struggling to keep her emotions at bay. ‘You’ll have to tell me what my duties are, though.’

  ‘The most important one will be coming shopping with me for an outfit,’ Annette said. ‘And on the day making sure I’m in the right place at the right time – I might intend to be traditionally late for the ceremony but in reality I can’t wait to marry Thierry.’

  ‘I think I can manage that,’ Jodie said. ‘Have you fixed a date yet?’

  ‘Thierry’s talking to the Mairie today. Good, now that’s settled, what are you hoping to find at the auction?’ Annette said.

  ‘Not sure,’ Jodie answered. ‘We’re going to need more furniture of every description for the new house. Beds, tables, chairs, sofa, a big kitchen table – oh, and a dresser for the kitchen, too, if I can find one. Obviously we can’t afford to buy it all new and all at once but I’m hoping I can find some of it secondhand and hopefully get a bargain or two.’

  After arriving at the chateau and parking, they had a quick coffee in the tearooms before clutching their catalogues and making their way to the Grand Hall where a jumble of larger items like beds, dressers and sofas had been placed together.

  An hour later and Jodie had marked her catalogue with several possible purchases, including a large old oak table that would be perfect in the kitchen of the new house. Having seen everything on offer in the Grand Hall, Annette led the way to the first of the anterooms.

  Chairs, stools, small tables, old-fashioned radiators and boxes of linen, cutlery and glassware were piled on every available surface, including that of Lot No. 103, an old desk, in the far corner.

  Jodie looked at the details in the catalogue. ‘Lot No. 103 – Mahogany Serpentine Desk with brass teardrop handles. Concave-shaped middle drawer. Bottle-green leather top. Needs attention. No reserve.’

  ‘Polished up, this would be lovely,’ Jodie said, carefully moving a box and inspecting the top before opening and closing the middle drawer. ‘If it’s not too expensive, I think I may just have found Ben’s birthday present,’ she said to Annette. ‘I’m sure he’d prefer a proper desk instead of the table he works on now. It would look lovely in his study at the new house too.’

  Deciding they’d seen enough of the goods on offer inside the chateau, the two of them made their way outside to the barn where the catalogue indicated ‘garden furniture and other implements’ were stored.

  Apart from a wrought-iron table and chairs set that Jodie liked but which Annette warned her was likely to go for a lot of euros, nothing else caught her attention.

  ‘Right, let’s have lunch,’ Annette said. ‘And then you can go over the items you’ve marked as of interest and put your price limit against them.’

  She brushed away Jodie’s protests about knowing when to stop. ‘It’s easy to get carried away and spend more than you intend. Trust me – I’ve got carried away at auctions in the past.’

  The auction started promptly at two o’clock with the professional auctioneer fairly whizzing through the early lots. Jodie found herself outbid on a couple of things but to her delight succeeded in buying the oak table she wanted for the new kitchen, as well as a couple of boxes of glasses and table linen.

  She found herself holding her breath as Lot No. 103 was announced and the bidding began for the desk. A man in front of her raised his hand to start and then the auctioneer accepted a bid from a woman over to the right of the hall. Jodie waited patiently for a minute or two as the bids went to and fro between the two of them before she raised her hand and joined in. At which point the man in front shook his head and dropped out.

  Showing her hand to bid on the latest rise, Jodie began to despair. The price was fast approaching the limit she’d marked on her catalogue. The woman bidding against her clearly wanted the desk as much as she did.

  ‘Might have to go over the limit for this,’ Jodie whispered to Annette.

  ‘Don’t get carried away but I’m happy to contribute towards it, make it a joint present from us both,’ Annette said.

  Jodie smiled her thanks and raised her hand again, then waited as the auctioneer turned to look at the other woman, who was taking her time responding to the latest increase. Jodie held her breath and let it go with relief as the auctioneer gave the woman behind one last chance before looking at Jodie and bringing his gavel down with a loud bang in her favour. ‘Sold.’

  Half an hour later, when all the items Jodie was interested in had gone under the hammer, she and Annette made their way to the office to collect her purchases and to pay and arrange delivery of the table and the desk – everything else would fit in Annette’s car. When the man behind the desk apprehensively said there would be a delay with delivery and told her the first available date, Jodie took a deep breath and smiled at him.

  ‘No problem. That’s actually the day I’m moving house, so you can deliver it straight to my new address.’

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Early evening and Tina was at her desk about to finish work for the day before taking a shower and spending a couple of hours with Maisie and her parents.

  Moira and Bruce, Maisie’s parents, had arrived yesterday for a long weekend break and Maisie had asked if she could cook them supper at the flat this evening.

  ‘For you too,’ she’d said. ‘I so want them to meet you and I can’t afford to take them out to a restaurant.’

  Tina had been happy to agree and had offered to provide the dessert. ‘Just strawberries and cream, nothing difficult or fancy, if that’s OK.’

  Tina took one last look at her email inbox hoping to see an email from Luc in reply to the one she’d sent him earlier. Nothing. Luc had told her he was busy with his day job for the next couple of days so she wasn’t really surprised at his lack of response.

  Before she closed down the computer she tried to Skype Jodie, but the call went unanswered.

  She’d heard Maisie rush in earlier from work and now she could hear her clattering around in the kitchen preparing supper.

  ‘Need any help before I jump in the shower?’ she asked, going into the kitchen.

  Maisie shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I think I’ve got everything under control. Oh, apart from setting the table.’ She looked at Tina hopefully.

  ‘OK. I’ll shower and get ready, then I’ll do it with as much matching crockery as I can find. We’ve still got half an hour before your parents arrive,’ Tina said.
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br />   Moira and Bruce arrived full of grateful thanks towards Tina and clutching a gift for her.

  ‘We were that worried when Maisie told us about her “guardian angel” taking her in for free,’ Moira said. ‘You hear such dreadful tales these days about youngsters being duped into things against their will, don’t you? We still can’t believe how John treated her. But you really have been a guardian angel for our Maisie, so this is to say thank you from the three of us.’

  A bottle of her favourite perfume appeared as Tina peeled away the gift-wrapping. Maisie had clearly seen her current bottle was almost empty.

  ‘Thank you. It really wasn’t necessary but I’m truly touched,’ she said.

  ‘Right, supper is ready,’ Maisie said, placing a fish pie and a plate of vegetables on the table. ‘Dive in.’

  The evening was going well, and Maisie had just removed the empty fish pie dish and put the strawberries and cream on the table when there was a knock on the door. Tina went to open it.

  ‘Hi. You must be Tina. I’m John. Nice to meet you at last. So sorry to be late.’ And he breezed past her into the flat, leaving Tina staring after him in astonishment.

  ‘Moira. Bruce. It’s great to see you again. I’d have been here earlier but you know the London traffic.’

  ‘Well, this is a surprise,’ Bruce said. ‘We certainly didn’t expect to see you this visit.’ The hard edge to his voice was evident to everyone in the room apart from John, it seemed, who simply turned to Maisie. ‘How’s my favourite girl then?’

  Judging from the look on Maisie’s face as she avoided John’s kiss on the cheek, she hadn’t been expecting him either, Tina noted.

  ‘Any food left?’ John asked, looking hopefully at Maisie. ‘I’m starving.’