Page 5 of It's Now or Never

‘Well, I can’t say that I’m not disappointed. What will you do?’

‘I’ve got lots of plans, although none of them are fully formed yet,’ I said with a grimace. ‘I’ll take on some part-time work so that I can still pay the bills, but I’d like to write more articles for the gardening magazines. I’ve had a little bit of success there, but I’d like to devote more time to my writing and growing my online presence so that I can pass on my own gardening hints and ideas to a wider audience. Young single people or elderly people living alone, newly married couples, people who don’t have much outdoor space, but who still want to find a way to bring some greenery, a touch of the outdoors, into their lives.’

‘Sounds very inspiring.’

‘I’ve also been thinking about developing a range of savoury jams and chutneys. Similar to those we’re already selling in the food store, but maybe experimenting with some different variations.’

‘Really? I didn’t know you were a cook.’

‘I’m not. But I love pickles and chutneys, or anything in a pretty jar come to that, so I thought I could learn how to make them. How difficult can it be?’

Matt raised his eyebrows and smiled at me, as though he thought I might be mad. The same thought had actually occurred to me.

‘I’ll probably have to sign up to a temp agency to see me overfor a few months while I settle on what to do, but I think it will be good for me. You have to remember, I’ve only ever worked here. I don’t know what it’s like to work for another company.’

‘Not as good as working for Browns, that’s for sure,’ said Matt, a rueful smile on his lips.

I wondered if that might be true; that I might never find such a friendly and interesting company to work for, but it was too late for those kind of worries now. I’d done it! After all the prevaricating, I’d finally handed my notice in and taken the first small step on my way to a brand new exciting chapter in my life.

3

Ms Angela Peters

and

Mr Tom Sidney Cooper

request the pleasure of your company

at their marriage

on Saturday 19th April

at 1.30 p.m.

at Casterton Registry Office, Bucks

followed by lunch at Chez Michel

‘Jen, over here!’

I walked up the stone steps of the town hall – one arm held against my forehead blocking out the warm rays of the sun – just managing to make out the small huddle of people congregating outside the doors.

‘Look at you,’ I said, my gaze alighting on Angie when I reached the top of the steps. She was wearing a simple cream linen shift dress with a scalloped collar and hemline, and a matching pashmina wrapped around her shoulders.Her strawberry blonde hair was tied in a French plaint at the back of her head. ‘You look absolutely stunning,’ I whispered in her ear as she grabbed me for a hug. Beautiful, radiant and utterly feminine too. Almost unrecognisable from the Angie I knew and loved, who spent most of her time in cargo trousers, crop tops and Doc Martens.

‘Hi Tom, lovely to see you!’ I said, turning to the groom, trying to sound as though I meant it while the words ‘scumbag, grotbag’ played over in my head. ‘Congratulations!’

‘Thanks, Jen. Yeah, who’d have thought it, eh? It’s been a while.’

Maybe I imagined the awkwardness as he leant in to give me a chaste kiss on the cheek or perhaps it was just because I hadn’t seen him since they’d got back together again. He looked much more handsome in his sleek grey suit than I remembered him to be. Clutching Angie’s hand, looking fondly into her eyes, he looked every inch the devoted husband-to-be. Perhaps he really had changed after all, and if Angie had found it in her heart to forgive Tom, then maybe I should do the same too.

Be gone with you, scumbag, grotbag and all the other uncharitable names I had for Tom. I allowed my remaining reservations about him and this whirlwind marriage to flutter off in the light spring breeze. This was their special day and, as Angie’s best friend, I was determined to celebrate it with them.

Putting all negative thoughts out of my head I wandered off and said my hellos to some of the other guests and chatted briefly with Angie’s mum and dad, before Angie grabbed me by the arm and led me away.

‘Let me introduce you to Alex. I don’t think you two have met before, have you? Alex and Tom used to work in the city together. Alex, this is my very best friend in the whole wide world, Jen.’

She’d brought me to a standstill in front of the man who wasclearly auditioning for the part of most gorgeous wedding guest. In my opinion, without even seeing all the other guests, he’d won the part hands down. I looked up at him and smiled.

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