Chasing What's Already Gone (Second Chances Book 1) (22 page)

Chapter

Forty-Seven

The anniversary of my moving into Cotswold Lodge seemed like the perfect day for a celebration—to celebrate a topsy turvy year, where the good things in life far outweighed the bad. Lord Brabham turned out to be not in the least pompous or standoffish—a “toff” by all means, but for all that, a very decent man. The main dining room in Cotswold House has been available for private events for several years, and on first enquiring I was told there was a two year waiting list However, a word in Bill’s ear and hey presto! Not only available for the day, a Saturday, but charged out at half price.

It’s a glorious autumn evening and Rob and I are sitting on a bench looking over the manicured gardens. Rob speaks. “You’d make a good gardener.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Danny, you. You’re patient and caring. Organised.”

“Have you heard a rumour or something? Am I likely to need a new job in the near future?”

“No.”

“You’re just making conversation is that it?”

“Yes.”

“You’d make a good toilet cleaner.”

“Yes.”

“Rob—what’s on your mind?” He points over to Butch, who is quite content, pushing his little sister’s pram up and down the drive. Butch adores his sibling, Jezebel. Jeremiah and Jezebel, you couldn’t make it up. I wave at him and he returns my wave enthusiastically.

“I’m thinking how good life is when it’s simple,” Rob indicates towards Bill and Mary, standing outside the French doors and sharing a private joke, “Married for forty-five years and still best friends.”

“Does all this contemplation mean you are seriously thinking about the offer?”

“I am Dan. I am.”

“Edwin’s a good man, as straight and honest as they come.” We both turn our heads into the house where Edwin is dancing.

“He’s besotted with her isn’t he?” Rob asks

“She’s got him where she wants him. If he steps slightly out of order, she ups and goes, and he’s lost until she comes back again.”

“I don’t know her that well, but she doesn’t come across as having a nasty side to her character.”

“No, not at all. I think Gemma is playing for the long game. She has to know he is one-hundred per cent committed before she drops her defences, but even now I get the feeling her resistance is weakening.”

“That’s love for you.”

I look across at my sister and her husband. “Like Chan and Derek. I’ve never seen them happier, taking that job with Edwin seems to have freed him up as a person. I actually heard him arguing with my sister the other day.”

“Really?”

“Why yes. He lost, obviously, but he did try for a minute or two.”

“Brave man.”

“Brave man.”

Behind us the music is ramping up. Rob predicts, “They’ll be after us in a minute.”

“No doubt they will.”

“How’s the job going?”

“Couldn’t be any better. Buck must be reasonably pleased with me to make the time to come today.”

“He’s a character, isn’t he?”

“He really is.” I can see Rob’s wife looking for him. “Tessa looks stunning today. You’d never guess she was a mother twice over. You’re a lucky man Rob.”

“Thanks Dan. Don’t worry; I know it. Whatever I decide, I know she’ll back me all the way.”

“You can’t ask for more than that. Talk of the devil here she comes.”

“What did you call me?”

“I called you a devil, Tessa. Have you got a problem with that?”

She turns to Rob. “I don’t know why, of all the people in the world you could have picked for a friend…anyway I’ve been told to drag you inside Daniel Pearson.”

Rob smacks me on the knee. “Come on buddy. I’m not that confident you can do this without mucking it up, so I’ve got a first aid kit with me, just in case.”

“You’re not going to say anything else are you?”

“No, no chance.” He leads the way as we go inside.

“You are—aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course I am.” Ah! Rob thinks he is great at public speaking. What a dreamer. He taps away feverishly at a wine glass and the room quietens.

“Gather around, everyone. I know it’s been a long and very tedious day. I, for one, cannot wait to get away from here, but before we all make our escapes there is one last boring tradition to be done and dusted. Daniel and Jessica Pearson, could you please come over and cut this blasted cake so we can get out of here.”

With my arm around her waist, we join hands, and we look into each other’s’ eyes. There is no longer a space beside me; I am back to that moment it all started and I have found something that will never be gone.

BEFORE YOU GO…

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the brilliant team at Limitless Publishing who could not possibly more helpful to a new author, from top to bottom you are the best. And the biggest thank you to Trisha Wooldridge, who has been just too wonderful for words (try editing that out!)

About the Author

It was a strange and twisting road that led to the publication of my first novel. From my humble beginnings, as an office clerk, to ownership of a multi million dollar business I always maintained my love for literature.

Born and raised in Bristol, England. I spent most of my life in business, my companies turning over in the region of $500 million. The majority of that time marketing cars, eventually owning the largest Saab specialist in the world, before a bitter divorce forced me rethink my priorities. Particularly between 2003 and 2005 when I had to accept that I was no longer a millionaire but literally penniless. I avoided bankruptcy by the skin of my teeth and slowly rebuilt my life

This led me to the life changing decision to leave the bustling city and move to live halfway up a mountain in the Welsh valleys. At the same time I started a part time six year English Literature course at Bristol University, and attended creative writing classes at Cardiff University. I left school at sixteen and this was my first taste of further education and an immense challenge.

I eventually adjusted my thinking to the academic life, and on 30 June 2015 had confirmation of my 2.1(Hons) degree from Bristol University. At the same time I also won the prestigious Hopkins Prize for my essay on
Virginia Woolf and the unsaid within her text
. Now the university courses are finished it will, with any luck, gives me plenty of extra time that I can devote to my fiction writing.

Thanks to the university experiences, my interest in English literature has flourished over recent years. Hopefully I have evolved as a writer from my earlier work in short stories (over ninety of them.) Although interestingly my first three novels have all been developed from a long forgotten short story.

Life is, once again, very good, and I live very happily halfway up that mountain, in the Welsh Valleys, with my wonderful partner Mari, and our rescue dog Wolfie.

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