Page 14 of It's Now or Never

Any shame or embarrassment I may have felt after that night spent with Alex was quickly forgotten about in the following weeks. It was a one-off thing, and while it had been lovely and memorable, it had now been consigned to history, even if Alex’s compelling eyes came back to taunt me occasionally in the middle of night. I’d been busy in my spare time writing, taking photos and crafting, and really didn’t have time for romance. There was only room for one man in my life at the moment.

It always lifted my mood to see Gramps’ smiling, friendly face, and on that particular day I found him sitting in his armchair flicking through the pages of a travel brochure.

‘Ooh, are you off somewhere nice, Gramps?’

‘Well, I thought I’d go away, love, just for a couple of weeks. I’ve not been away since your nan died. It’s about time, I reckon.’

‘What a brilliant idea!’ I called from the kitchen as I popped the kettle on. A few minutes later I brought in a couple of mugs of tea and two bacon sandwiches and sat down beside him. I peered over his shoulder and gasped, immediately taken in by the images of fairytale castles, mediaeval villages, toweringmountains and dramatic scenery. A river cruise on the Rhine sounded right up my street. I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before, but it made perfect sense to get away properly. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a decent holiday. Angie and I had gone to Brighton for a long weekend last year, but that had involved a lot of cocktails, some frenetic dancing and some midnight paddling in the sea – so you couldn’t really call it a proper holiday as we both came home feeling a whole lot worse than when we’d arrived due to the lack of sleep and our alcohol consumption.

No, a European tour would be just the ticket. Who wants to go and lie on a beach in the sun for a couple of weeks with a bunch of over-sexed girls when you can experience a bit of sophisticated culture with your lovely Gramps. I was definitely in need of some of that. I would meet new people, people I wouldn’t necessarily meet otherwise, and it would give me the opportunity to dress up. I’d have to buy a whole new wardrobe especially, and I’d be able to sashay down to dinner in my new finery to eat seven-course meals. Who knew, I might even meet a handsome millionaire on the trip. At the very least it would give Gramps and me the chance for some special bonding time together too.

‘Obviously I’ve got Harvey to think about.’

‘How could we ever forget about you, Harvey?’ I scooped up the little dog for a sneaky cuddle, fondling his ears. Already I was feeling so excited about this new turn of affairs. ‘I don’t suppose he’ll like the kennels, but at least you know he’ll be well looked after.’

‘Oh, I couldn’t put him in the kennels, love. That’s the thing. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself thinking of Harvey pining in a strange place. That’s why I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind looking after him while I’m away. He’s no trouble, as you know, and he knows and loves you.’

‘Me?’ My voice came out as a squeak. Images of crystal-clear lakes, half-timbered chocolate box houses and black forest gateaux whizzed through my brain like the fast train. It clearly had no intention of stopping at my station.

‘I think Marcia and I have decided on this one,’ he said, holding up the page to me, the one I was now fully acquainted with, having been eagerly scanning it for the last few minutes. ‘We can get a good last-minute deal on it.’

‘You and Marcia?’

‘Yes. Why? Oh, you didn’t think…? Sorry, love.’ He fell silent for a moment, concern on his features. ‘Well, I’m sure you could come along too if you really wanted to. I could have a word with Marcia.’

‘No! Oh God no! You wouldn’t want me tagging along, cramping your style. Besides, you don’t think I’d really want to go away with a couple of old fogeys like you, do you?’ My tone was light, but my mood was as dark as the deepest recesses of all those Bavarian castles I wouldn’t get to see now. ‘Those sort of holidays sound like my idea of hell. Loads of people get food poisoning on those cruises, you know.’

I stood up, gathered the dirty plates and mugs, and took them through to the kitchen before returning and pacing the length of the living room. My gaze caught on a silver-framed photo of Nan, her deep blue eyes sparkling at me in understanding. Marcia and Gramps had moved onto the holidaying together stage already. Wasn’t it a bit too soon for that? Did that mean they’d be sharing a bedroom, getting naked? Eugh. I blinked furiously, trying to rid myself of the scary images. ‘Really, I couldn’t think of anything worse.’

‘Do you mean that?’

I sighed, tipping my head to the ceiling.

‘No, I don’t,’ I said, slumping down onto the sofa. With mylegs stretched out in front of me, my bum slid down the edge of the sofa and I just stopped myself before landing in a disgruntled heap on the floor. Gramps looked at me from across the top of his glasses. He could always read me like a book.

‘I would have loved to go to Germany with you Gramps, but Marcia, well, you know we would probably end up killing each other after a day or two.’ I gave an evil chuckle.

‘Oh, Jen. I do wish you’d give her a chance. She’s not nearly as bad as you make her out to be.’

I rolled my eyes, feeling about fifteen again. For the last few years it had just been me and Gramps, and I liked it that way. Now Marcia was moving in on Gramps and it was as though he barely gave me a second thought these days.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter what I feel about Marcia. As long as you’re happy, that’s the main thing.’ I stood, picked up Harvey and wandered over to look out of the window, burying my head in the dog’s coat. ‘Did you get rid of all Nan’s things then?’

‘Jen, don’t be like that. I took some magazines to the tip and a few of her clothes to the charity shop, that’s all. It has been four years, love.’

I shrugged, feeling an overwhelming and, what I suspected was a totally irrational, sense of betrayal. Things were changing all round me and I wasn’t entirely sure I liked it.

‘The thing is, Jen, I like Marcia a lot. She brings me out of myself and makes me feel young again. Is that such a bad thing? We’re good friends. We get on well and have a laugh together, but she’s never going to replace your nan. You do know that, don’t you?’ He eased himself up out of the chair to come towards me, but I dropped my gaze and turned away.

‘Well, it’s nothing to do with me. If it’s what you want then that’s fine,’ I said. I put Harvey back down in his basket. ‘Of course, I’ll look after the dog while you’re away.’ I picked up myhandbag from the floor and grabbed my coat. ‘I need to get off, Gramps, or I’ll be late for work. I’ll see you later in the week.’

I guessed Polly Powers must be the work experience girl as, in all her natural adolescent beauty, she looked about fourteen. It wasn’t until she sat down at the desk opposite me and straightened her pile of papers briskly on the desk, fixing me with a determined gaze, that I caught sight of the name badge on her lapel.Polly Powers. Senior Recruitment Consultant.

‘Jennifer?’

‘Yes. Hello.’

I looked across at her and smiled. With a name like that I half expected her to whip on her cape, twirl around on her seat and be transformed into a recruitment superhero with the means to find me the most perfect job in the world.

---