Page 42 of It's Now or Never

‘Look, move your bloody van now,’ I said, channelling my inner bear. ‘I’ve been called out on a medical emergency. I should be assisting at the birth of a child right now, not waiting on you to get your arse into gear. Show a bit of consideration by parking in a place that’s not going to hold up all the traffic.’ I gestured towards all the cars behind me just in case he was missing my point. ‘There is a frightened and vulnerable pregnant woman waiting on me and if anything should happen to her whilst I’mstuck here then I’m going to hold you personally responsible. I’ve taken a note of your registration number. Do you understand?’

‘I’m really sorry, love,’ he said, having the good grace to look sheepish as he slammed the doors of the van shut. ‘You should have said. I’m on my way now. You ought to have a flashing light on your car, you know that. Then you wouldn’t have these problems.’

‘Yes, well, thank you.’ I wasn’t sure about a flashing light but I felt certain my face was shining a lovely shade of shameful scarlet. ‘I’ll remember that for next time.’

Five minutes later I pulled up outside Angie and Tom’s little cottage and rushed up to the front door, banging urgently on the knocker.

‘Jen! Ooh, how lovely to see you,’ said Angie, as if me turning up was a total surprise. She wafted to the threshold in a cream floaty dress, her skin and hair glowing with vitality and health, her whole being exuding serenity and calm, whilst I grabbed onto the door handle gasping for breath, convinced I might pass out at any moment.

‘What’s happening? Have you called the doctor? How close are the contractions?’

‘Oh that,’ she giggled, waving her arm in the air nonchalantly, ‘that was a false alarm. Apparently it’s quite common in the last few weeks. Still, it’s so lovely you’re here. Come inside and we can have a good old catch-up.’

20

I was slumped in Angie’s armchair, my nerves completely frazzled.

‘You do realise I walked out on my job to come dashing to your side, Angie. I was panicking. From what you said, I thought the baby might have arrived by the time I got here.’

Angie handed me a big mug of tea and a plate of biscuits which went a small way to making me feel marginally better after my mad dash across town and my run-in with Kelly and White Van Man.

‘Sorry, Jen. I kind of forget that there’s still a whole other world going on out there. I’ve been lost in my own little pregnancy bubble. Do you think you ought to get back to work then?’

‘No, don’t worry. I walked out for good.’ Angie’s face fell, but I was quick to reassure her. ‘Really, you did me a favour. It was officially the worst job in the world and I was looking for an excuse to leave. Your false alarm gave me that. I’ll give the agency a call later and explain.’

‘Are you missing working at Browns?’

‘In some ways. I miss the people, Matt, our lovely customers, but I was well overdue a change. Besides, I’m committed now to getting my own business off the ground, it’s given me something else to focus on and I’m really enjoying having different projects on the go. My social media presence is growing all the time, I’ve been asked to write some gardening features for an in-house magazine and there’s a possibility of me running a few workshops down at the local arts centre too.’

‘Blimey, Jen, you sound busier than ever. I’m really proud of you.’ She grimaced, as she fought with the cushion on her chair, attempting to make herself more comfortable. She took a sip of her chamomile tea and looked across at me. ‘Tom mentioned he ran into you and Alex the other night. What’s going on between you two?’

‘Me and Tom? Nothing.’ I cringed inwardly, wondering what exactly he’d told her. ‘We didn’t really chat for long, just said hello and then we were on our way.’

‘Honestly, Jen, anyone would think it was you who was pregnant. Your head is all over the place. No, not Tom. I meant you and Alex. What’s happening with you two?’

‘Oh,’ I smiled with relief. From her reaction I was guessing Tom hadn’t mentioned our little disagreement which was probably a good thing. I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between us the next time we all got together.

‘We’ve been out a few times that’s all.’ I realised a big smile had spread involuntarily across my face and, I suspected, a dreamy expression too, so I quickly rearranged my features into something more perfunctory, but Angie wasn’t being fooled.

‘Oh God, you like him, don’t you? You really like him. I can tell.’

‘Yes, he seems like a decent guy actually.’ I wasn’t going tomake any apologies to Angie. Not now I knew her little secret. The one she hadn’t chosen to share with me. The one about her having her own particular soft spot for Alex. ‘He’s lovely. Perfect date material, and he certainly knows how to treat a woman. We’re enjoying each other’s company and having a good time. That’s all. He’s got me back into that whole dating scene. I was so out of practice before.’

Despite sounding in control, I knew I was in much deeper than I’d ever intended to be. Alex occupied my every waking thought. Seeing his name on my phone, hearing his voice, spending time with him over a drink sent butterflies flittering the length of my body, stirring a craving within me for more, much more of Alex. I loved his worldliness, the fact that he seemed to know something about everything and I loved the way he didn’t take himself or life too seriously either. The fact that he was probably the most gorgeous man I’d ever set eyes on was just an added bonus.

I gulped, realising I loved pretty much everything about him, but most of all I loved the way he seemed infinitely charmed and amused by me; those deep intense eyes, full of warmth and kindness, were forever appraising me, and the acceptance I recognised in those eyes melted my heart.

I shook my head to rid myself of the soppy thoughts. It was as if I’d been struck by some virulent disease and my immunity was at an all-time low. Was it time to extract myself from this fledgling relationship? I suspected I would probably be going the same way as a dozen other girls before me. I needed to leave with some dignity intact before Alex crushed my heart into a tiny dozen pieces.

‘Yes, I admit he’s perfect date material, but I’m not so sure he’s perfect boyfriend material,’ said Angie. ‘But don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

‘You did warn me, Angie, but do you know something, apart from you saying he’s a bit of a ladies’ man, I can’t really see why you were quite so anti us getting together. I know I’m out of practice when it comes to men, but I’m a grown woman. I’m quite capable of looking after myself, you know.’

She glanced across at me and I could see she was taken aback by the sharpness of my unexpected reply.

‘It wasn’t that I was anti you two getting together, I just didn’t want you to get hurt, that’s all,’ she said, dropping her gaze to twiddle her thumbs in her lap. ‘You have to remember I know what he’s like, I’ve seen the way he treats women.’

I raised my eyebrows at her, chewing on the inside of my cheek, wondering whether I shouldn’t just let it go. But I’d heard Alex’s side of the story. I needed to hear Angie’s now. ‘Not so badly that you weren’t interested in him yourself at one time?’

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