It's Now or Never (23 page)

‘Are you sure? I could probably negotiate an increase in the hourly rate if that might help your decision.'

I smiled into the telephone. There wasn't enough money in this world to convince me to lose six weeks of my life to counting electrical components. Ball bearings had been bad enough.

‘Absolutely certain. In fact, it's probably best if you take my details down for the moment. I can't see that I'm going to be able to take on any more assignments in the near future.'

‘Okay, well thanks for letting me know,' said the lovely Polly. ‘If things change, then do get in touch and I can put you back up on our system.'

Putting down the phone, I felt a small swell of affection for Polly and her team. She'd offered me a lifeline when I'd needed one and I'd always be grateful to her for that. If things ever got really bad and I was desperate to earn a bit of money then I knew Polly would do her utmost to help me out. While none of the temporary work I'd undertaken had offered me the stimulating challenges I'd been searching for, it had shown me what it was like to be working out in the big wide world. I wasn't much sure I liked it. If anything it had only confirmed to me that working for myself, pursuing my own creative projects, was where I would be happiest.

I'd just flicked the kettle on when the front doorbell rang.

‘Matt! What a lovely surprise! Come in. I was just making a cup of coffee.'

I led Matt through into the kitchen and he took a seat at the breakfast bar. He looked all around him, an amused expression on his face as he observed my makeshift office on the kitchen table which was home now to my laptop, my mobile phone, my camera, to-do lists and half-finished craft projects.

‘Well it certainly looks as though you're busy,' he said, taking the mug I offered him.

‘Honestly, I've never been busier. I've got so many different things on the go at the moment, but I'm loving every single moment of it. I'm not earning mega bucks but it's enough to pay the rent and to keep me stocked in Prosecco. That's all I need in life, really.' I laughed. ‘Of course, I miss Browns tremendously. It takes some getting used to, working on your own with only the radio for company.'

A sorry smile spread across Matt's lips and I felt a pang of sadness for everything I'd left behind. I still couldn't rid myself of the thought that I'd let him down by leaving.

‘Honestly I do, Matt. I miss you and everyone else hugely, but I still think it was the right decision for me to move on.' I took a sip from my coffee. ‘How are things at work? Is Emma settling in?'

‘Yep, all good. Emma's doing great. She's really enthusiastic and keen to learn. I'm trying not to bombard her with too much information at once though. Of course, what I didn't factor in is that she isn't taking on a clearly defined role. It's only now that you've left that I've realised just how much you took on at work, how much responsibility you had. It was a position that developed and evolved over a number of years and I can't really expect someone else to come in and take on everything that you were doing straight away.'

‘No, I suppose that's true. I guess it will take a little time, but it's great that she's so enthusiastic.'

‘Yes, well actually that was one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to see how you might feel about doing some freelance work for Browns. I'm thinking in particular about the sourcing of products for the kitchen and giftware departments. That was always your speciality, Jen. You seem to have a knack for knowing what's going to be the big sellers for the coming seasons.

As you know I haven't really got any interest in that side of the business and it's something I can't expect Emma to take on just at the moment. If you're interested you'd be doing me a huge favour. You'd probably know better than me, but I'm thinking it would probably be about a day a fortnight?'

‘That sounds about right.' It was the side of my job that I'd loved the most. Scanning supplier websites and stores, searching out the prettiest and most practical items to fill the shelves. It was a role that would fit in perfectly with all my other projects too and would mean at least I'd have a regular small income coming in. I smiled, shaking my head, hardly believing that in such a short space of time everything could have fallen so perfectly into place.

‘Thanks for the offer, Matt, I'd love to take you up on that.'

‘Good. Well why don't you come into the garden centre one day next week and we can draw up a plan, get the ball rolling. There was just one other thing.'

‘Yes,' I asked, intrigued.

‘I wanted to float the idea of you coming in and running some weekly workshops. Ever since your blog post on making chilli jam you wouldn't believe the number of people we've had coming into the store asking for more information.'

‘Really? I hoped that item might be of interest but I could never have anticipated just how popular it would be. In fact, I still haven't replied to all the comments on there. There's literally hundreds of them. I've just been so busy, but I really need to get round to doing that soon.'

‘Ah!' Matt fell silent for a moment, suddenly looking uncomfortable as he looked across at me. ‘Um, you do realise why that post was quite as successful as it was.'

‘I think so. I put it down to the fact that it's one of those projects that you can see through from the very beginning to the end. Growing your own chillies at home, making the jam, decorating the jars and labels. It's a very satisfying thing to do and, of course, the finished product makes such a lovely little gift.'

‘Yes, well I suppose there is that, but um… I'm not quite sure how to tell you this, Jen.'

‘What?' It wasn't like Matt to be bashful. ‘Matt, please tell me what you're talking about.'

‘Did you have a proper look at the photo you posted up, Jen?'

‘Yes, of course, it was six pretty jars of chilli jam sitting on my bedroom window. I was quite pleased with that shot actually. I tried them on the kitchen window, in the garden, on the coffee table, but none of them quite worked and then I had a brainwave. Turns out the bedroom window was the perfect place. Who'd have thought?'

‘Hmmm, well…' He pulled a face, his mouth contorting awkwardly and I was just beginning to feel a bit uneasy about this whole thing when Matt reached over to my laptop and called up my blog site. ‘Look, let me show you.'

‘Yes, perfect,' I said, feeling the same warm swell of pride I experienced every time I viewed my blog. I'd spent ages deciding on the background and was delighted when I found the pretty ivy design. It looked just as I'd intended it; pretty, fresh and clean.

‘Over here on the side, Jen,' he said, completely ignoring my pretty design and pointing to the photo of the jars of chilli jam. I looked at them, bemused. It took a moment, but then the penny dropped.

‘Oh my god no!' I slammed the lid of my laptop down and jumped out of my seat, standing with my back against the cooker, putting as much distance as I possibly could between me and the laptop. ‘No, oh no. Shit, shit, shit. No.'

I broke into a run there on the spot, swinging my arms across my chest as though I was warming up for a sprint. In fact that was probably the best idea right at that moment. To start running and never to stop. Ever again.

‘Oh god, Matt, please tell me it isn't so?'

‘'Fraid so,' he said, unable to hide the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

I sat back down, took a deep breath and prepared to open up the laptop again. Maybe it wouldn't look quite so bad second time around. Wrong! If anything, it looked a hundred times worse. There, in the corner of my lovely picture of the chilli jams, was me, reflected in the mirror of my wardrobe, wearing only the skimpiest of underwear, holding my camera up to capture my handiwork. And a whole lot more besides, I realised now.

‘It could have been worse,' said Matt.

‘How?' I said, close to tears now. ‘How could it possibly be any worse?'

‘Well you could have been in the nuddy nude. Just think how embarrassing that would have been.'

‘I suppose,' I said, with a sigh, wondering how I'd ever be able to set foot outside my home again. ‘And at least I was in my best matching underwear,' I said, with a reluctant smile.

Matt stood up to give me a hug.

‘Look you know what they say, all publicity is good publicity. And it does mean you have a very big fan base now. They're calling you
The Red Hot Chilli Girl
.'

‘That's awful, just awful. Will you take the photo down for me?'

‘Of course, although I have a sneaking suspicion you've been saved onto a thousand hard drives by now. Just brazen it out, Jen. Use it as a positive and build on your success. Honestly it will be absolutely fine. And one day, you'll look back on all this and laugh.'

Ha, ha. I was practising, but no, I couldn't ever see that day coming soon.

Matt walked over to the door to leave.

‘Have a think about what I said about doing those workshops. Today's probably not the best day for you to make a decision on that, but I think it would be a great opportunity for you and Browns. You've created quite a demand now, Jen, and there's nothing like striking while the iron's hot.'

As soon as Matt left, I slumped against the door cradling my head in my arms, before breaking into uncontrollable fits of laughter there on my kitchen floor. What a numpty I'd been. Still, there was nothing I could do about it now. Matt was absolutely right; I needed to make the most of the situation and strike while the iron was hot. I would definitely be taking him up on his offer to run some workshops at the garden centre. Why not? These last few weeks had taught me that I needed to take my chances when I could get them and, along with all the work opportunities coming my way, there was one other big opportunity that I had no intention of overlooking.

I stood up and picked up my phone, tapping in the number.

Be bold, be brave, love more!

‘Hi Alex,' I said, when he picked up, my heart fluttering at the sound of his voice. ‘It's Jen. There's something I wanted to ask you…'

Chapter Twenty-Five

We must have looked at every wedding venue in town, from the cute and quaint to the chic and sophisticated. What we decided on very early on was that we wanted something fairly intimate, for about forty guests, and in the end, after looking much further afield, we plumped for the local Royal British Legion Club, just down the road, familiar and cosy.

The room was transformed from a fairly standard function hall into a magical winter wonderland by the addition of cream silk roof drapes, a fairy light canopy, sparkly snowflakes and twinkling topiary trees. Even if I said so myself, I'd done a pretty amazing job.

‘Have I told you, you look absolutely gorgeous today,' said Gramps, coming up to me for a hug as I took a moment to look around and appreciate that, despite all my worries, the sleepless nights and the last minute panics over the table decorations, the day had been a roaring success. It was the first time I'd been able to properly relax all day, but now that the formalities were over, people had their plates piled high from the amazing buffet provided by a catering friend and the wine and beer was flowing, I was determined to enjoy every single last moment of this happy occasion.

‘Do you really think so?' I said giving him a twirl. I'd tried on every dress within a twenty-mile radius of home and discarded each of them before deciding on a two-piece cream flared trouser suit. I hoped it gave off just the right impression. I hadn't wanted anything too frilly, flouncy or frou frou. I was going for feminine and understated, and judging by the complimentary comments I'd already received I think I'd achieved it.

‘Beautiful! And what you've done here, it's just simply amazing. Marcia couldn't believe her eyes when she saw it. You really are such a talented and lovely girl. I'm so lucky to have you as my granddaughter, you mean the world to me you know that. And Marcia too.'

‘Aw, Gramps, you're looking pretty dapper yourself. I don't think I've ever seen you looking so smart. And I'm the lucky one having you as my Gramps.'

‘Well, you know,' he said, his voice giving a little wobble, ‘I didn't want to let anyone down today.'

‘What? Are you kidding me? You could never do that, Gramps.' I gazed up into his moistened eyes and then straightened up the flower in his buttonhole. ‘Don't you dare go all soppy on me today. I'm just about holding it together as it is.'

He dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief before kissing me on the forehead.

‘Anyway, where is that young man of yours hiding? I've not had a chance to speak to him properly yet.'

‘I'll go and get him,' I said. I spotted Alex over the other side of the room and gestured for him to come and join us. When I'd seen him for the first time that morning, dressed in a soft grey three-piece suit, my heart had filled and I'd known instinctively that I was doing absolutely the right thing. To be honest, I couldn't understand why I'd fought my feelings for so long. Alex had been absolutely right. Sometimes you just had to take that first step and see where it took you.

He was definitely the best looking man in the building, apart from Gramps of course, and to see the pair of them together meant the world to me. Even Harvey, another of my favourite men, was here too, sat in the corner, with some of Gramps' friends from the bowls club, taking the opportunity to hoover up any crumbs of food that fell to the floor.

‘Mr Faraday,' said Alex now, holding out his hand to Gramps and shaking it vigorously. ‘Many congratulations to you and your new wife. It's been a marvellous day.'

‘Thank you, son,' said Gramps, ‘and that's mainly down to my clever granddaughter here. She's organised it all, under Marcia's instructions. And please, it's Harry. I don't want any of that Mr Faraday nonsense.'