Page 21 of Date with Destiny

‘Pretty much.’ I glance past him at yet another poster of my mum snarling from the wall. ‘A family business has its perks and its…’ I trail off and he leans forward.

‘Anti-perks?’

‘I’m not sure that’s a word,’ I smirk.

‘Well, I don’t do words!’ he replies expansively, waving at the store around him. ‘I do jewellery!’

‘Same,’ I nod, reaching for my coffee. He does the same and for a moment there is silence as we both sip. I wonder if he’s feeling as discombobulated as me.

The meeting goes so well. As we leave the office, I’m buzzing with possibilities. Celeste’s Stones and Walliams’ Custom Designs are officially going to collaborate for a trial period of four months up to Christmas. Zach will be signing up as a contractor on a freelance basis, coming into the store one day a week to sit down with clients and work with us on bespoke designs.

I’m honestly so excited – almost as excited as Toni, who bounds over.

‘All good?’ she asks with energy, searching my face, then Zach’s.

‘Very!’ I nod as Zach hands her the piece of paper. She looks at it, squeals, then runs away.

‘What did you write?’ I ask, amused, and he twinkles.

‘You’ll have to find out…’ he says mysteriously. I laugh at this, leading him to the door.

‘Is it just the two of you? No more siblings?’ He gestures in the direction Toni disappeared in.

I feel his eyes scanning my face.

‘Yep,’ I say, trying to make normal eye contact. ‘I thought I was going to be an only child, but then along she came when I was nine. My mum decided it would be funny to name her Toni, middle name Celeste – after herself.’ I wait for him to put this together but most people take a minute.I explain. ‘As in Toni C? As in Tonic? I’m Gin and she’s Tonic?’ I sigh. ‘My mum thinks it’s the most hilarious thing in the world.’

Zach’s eyes widen and then he howls with laughter. ‘I kind of agree with your mum! That’s pretty epic.’

‘The stupid thing is that Ginny isn’t even my real name.’ I shake my head, smiling. ‘It’s Jenny. I had a South African teacher at school who pronounced itGinnyand everyone thought that was better. Ginny stuck. I tried to go back to Jenny so many times, but only one person ever did as I asked – a school friend, Flo.’ He frowns as I clear my throat, looking away. In that moment, my phone rings.

Ugh, it’s Celeste.

‘Sorry, one second, I’ll just get rid of her,’ I say in a whisper gesturing elaborately at my phone. He nods, looking distracted. I’ve kept him here too long.

‘Ginny, darling? Are you there?’ Celeste sounds odd and something like a stone hardens in my stomach.

‘Mum? What’s wrong?’ I say and I can tell my face has whitened because Zach is suddenly looking at me intensely, eyebrows drawn together.

‘Darling…’ Celeste’s voice wobbles and my hand tightens around the phone. ‘Darling, it’s your Aunt Diane… something’s happened. They’re not telling us much, but they said people should come.’

‘Come?Diane? What? What do you mean? Come where?’ My brain isn’t processing the information.

‘The hospital, darling, St Phillip’s, come as fast as youcan, head for the A&E section, ask for us.’ She pauses and I suddenly can’t breathe.

‘Did you hear me, Ginny darling?’ She sounds impatient now. ‘Come to St Phillip’s. Bring Toni. Call me when you get here, OK?’

‘Bring Toni? But the shop…’

‘Close the shop.’

‘Right, yes, of course.’ I need more information, I need to ask more questions, but she’s gone.

‘What’s happened?’ Zach gets closer. ‘Are you OK? What can I do?’

‘It’s my aunt…’ I trail off. ‘I need to get to the hospital, but I don’t even know where St Phillip’s is… I…’

‘I do,’ he nods decisively. ‘I’ve got my car across the road – I’ll drive you there. Shall I fetch your sister?’

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