Page 1 of Life After

Chapter 1

Same crap,different day!

Jen sat up and stretched, aware that another mindless day was about to commence. She had a job, and she was grateful for that, but Jesus Christ, it was mind-numbing.You’re lucky anyone wants to employ you!

As Jen checked her phone, she realised it was Thursday. For the last four weeks, Thursday had become her favourite day. It meant Jen would see Mrs Dixon on her delivery round. It meantsomethingwould make her smile today.

Mrs Dixon lived on the nicer side of town.Belmont. She wasn’t fond of that particular area—the wealth dripping from its tenants was enough to make her gag—but Mrs Dixon certainly made Jen’s day memorable. The first time she had delivered there, she wore a sweater and yoga pants. The second time, the smile was far more stunning as she answered the door in a racerback, and last week? Well, Jen had almost tripped over her own feet as she had taken the steps to the front door. Mrs Dixon wore a navy blue pinstriped business suit tailored to her curvy figure. Jen hadn’t expected the reaction she had, nor had she expected Mrs Dixon to appear so…sexy and in control, but Jen had lived with the very image in her head from that day on.

She knew it was a mistake, but Jen found herself flirting right back with the woman standing in the doorway of theveryfancy home. She was married, probably to some CEO, but Jen hadn’t come across him yet. She hoped she never would. It would only shatter the idea she had of the woman in her head. While it was just the two of them harmlessly flirting, Jen was more than happy to play along.

“Jen, love?” Jen’s mum called out from the bottom of the stairs. “Made you a cuppa.”

“Thanks, Mum.” Jen threw back the cover and planted her feet on the floor. If she could just focus on this afternoon—seeing Mrs Dixon again—her day would run smoothly, and it would be over before she’d had time to think.

She took her hoodie from the single chair in the corner of her bedroom and pulled it on. Her mum had been setting the heating to come on at six each morning since Jen had been accepted with the courier firm she was working for. But her mum had always been great like that. No matter Jen’s issues in the past, Denise Fletcher hadalwayslooked after her kids as best as she could. Even now, with Jen thirty years old, that hadn’t changed.

Jen took the stairs slowly, stifling a yawn as she reached the hallway. It was ridiculous to start work at seven-thirty in the morning—no matter the season—but again, Jen was just happy to be bringing in a wage for the time being. She didn’t know if or when her circumstances would change, but she knew she’d never have the chance to use her university degree to its full potential any time soon. Or…at all.Everagain.

“Morning, love.” Jen’s mum kissed her on the cheek as she came out of the kitchen. “Cuppa is on the side. Let me know if you’d like some breakfast.”

“Thanks, Mum. I think I’ll pass on breakfast again. I find it hard to be hungry when it’s not even light outside yet.”

“Then I’ll pack you a snack for when you’re feeling hungry.” Denise winked as she moved through into the living room, the morning news already playing on the TV. “Do you have time to sit down with your cuppa?”

“Oh, yeah.” Jen smiled as she grabbed her cup of tea from the kitchen counter and followed her mum into the living room. “So, any plans today?”

“I think I’m going shopping with Grace and Toby.”

Jen wished she could do that with her sister and baby nephew. No chance any time soon. “That’ll be nice if the weather doesn’t turn like it did yesterday.”

“Oh, it’s just a bit of rain. We won’t melt.” Denise sat in her usual seat, legs crossed as she watched the news. “I hope you drive carefully when the weather is bad, Jen. I worry about you enough as it is.”

“I’m fine. I don’t drive like an idiot. I never have.”

“No, I know.” Denise eyed Jen and smiled. “Are you on your own every day, or do you sometimes have a colleague with you?”

“Nope. Just me.” Jen puffed out her cheeks and sat back. “Which I guess I don’t mind, but itisa boring job.” Jen cleared her throat as she looked over at her mum. “I know it’s not really good enough, but I will try to find something better. I promise you.”

“I’m just glad you’re back here with me, love. You know I’ll give you a hand where I can.”

And that was exactly what Jen didn’t want. Her mum had done enough for her over the last few years. She was lucky to have her. Anyone else would have disowned Jen, given the last five years of her life. “I appreciate that, but I have to stand on my own two feet.”

“So long as you come home each evening and eat the dinner I’ve put out for you, that’s all I care about. Something so bloody normal shouldn’t still make me feel so emotional.” Denise waved a hand in front of her and sniffled. “I’ll make your favourite tonight. You’ll be shattered by the time you finish.”

Yeah. Jen would. With usually one hundred or so parcels to deliver, she couldn’t wait to fall through the door each night. “I’m happy with whatever you’re making for dinner. And I don’t know, maybe I could treat you to a meal out somewhere when I get paid.”

“That would be lovely,” Denise said. “But you should spend your money on you, Jen. Treat yourself to something nice.”

Jen didn’t have anything nice in mind. She was just happy to be breathing fresh air again. Even the cup of tea in her hand tasted amazing when it shouldn’t taste like anything other than a simple cup of tea. “Taking you out for dinnerissomething nice to me.”

“Okay, well, let’s play it by ear.”

Jen glanced at the time in the corner of the TV screen. She should probably get ready to leave for the depot. “Right, I’d love to sit around and chat, but you know, work and that.”

“I’ll get that snack ready for you, love.” Denise got to her feet and took Jen’s empty cup from her as she passed her by. Jen wanted to reach out and hug her mum, to thank her for being so amazing recently, but she wasn’t sure what emotional state she would be in after it. “And Jen?”

Jen looked up at her. “Yeah?”

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