Page 50 of It's Now or Never

‘I know this might seem a strange thing to ask, but I wondered if there was a letter for me behind the bar. My name’s Jen Faraday.’

He looked at me blankly. ‘What sort of letter? From the manager, you mean?’

‘No, nothing like that. It was a letter from a friend of mine, a customer. We were here this time last year and we had this funny little agreement, like a bet, and he left a letter for me, behind the bar, but with strict instructions that I couldn’t open it until about now. So, I’m here to collect it.’

Half a smile lifted one corner of his mouth.

‘Right, can’t say I’ve seen anything like that. Let me go and have a look.’

He went off to the main till station and I watched him all the way. He looked underneath the counter, pulled out a small black cash box and opened it up, before quickly closing it again and returning it to its spot. He pulled out an A4 reservations book and flicked through its pages. He spoke to another bartender, who shrugged a response and shook his head, and then he wandered back in my direction.

‘Sorry no. I’ve had a good look but can’t find anything. It’s quite a long time ago now and most of us wouldn’t have been here then. Was it very important?’

‘No, not really, it was just a fun thing,’ but as I heard my words trail away, I realised, suddenly, just how important it had been to me to find that letter and read what was inside. I masked my disappointment with a smile. ‘Thanks for looking though.’

I should have just asked Alex what he’d written in that damned note or we could have come back together to find it and laughed over what he’d written and been reminded of how we’d met and the lovely day we’d shared together at Angie and Tom’s wedding. Oh shit! I hurried back to Angie who was sitting waiting impatiently.

‘I’ve just had an awful thought. Did I miss your wedding anniversary?’

‘Yep,’ she said gleefully, raising her glass to me.

‘Oh God, I am so sorry! What kind of friend am I?’

‘A forgetful one? Nah, don’t worry. So much has happened in this last year I have trouble keeping up with it all myself. We had an Indian takeaway and a bottle of champagne to celebrate. It was lovely actually.’

‘Oh, you should have said something. I would have been more than happy to babysit.’

She laughed, looking radiantly happy.

‘We thought about it, but we decided we’d both actually prefer to stay in with Liberty. But give us another couple of months and you know we’re going to be making full use of all the offers of babysitting we’ve had from our friends. You know, Jen, I don’t know what I spent all that time worrying about. Everything seems to have fallen into place since Liberty arrived. We’re really happy, she’s such a little sweetheart and Tom is simply besotted with her.’ A dreamy expression spread over her features, before her familiar throaty laugh resonated around the wine bar. ‘Oh God, I’ve become one of those awfully smug mums who can bore for England on the marvellousness of her own baby.’

‘No you’re not. Besides, as godmother, I would have to agree with you that she is simply the best, most beautiful baby there has ever been. And that’s not an opinion. That’s fact. I’m just so happy for you all.’

‘Excuse me.’ We were interrupted by the bartender I’d spoken to earlier. ‘You’re in luck. It was in the main office at the back,’ he said, handing over the envelope as if it was a Golden Ticket giving me a pass to all sorts of wonderful delights.

‘Ooh, what’s that?’ said Angie, leaning across the table trying to sneak a look.

‘Oh, it’s just a letter,’ I said, glibly, trying to make out it was a normal everyday occurrence type of thing. ‘From Alex.’

‘From Alex?’ she repeated, her eyes growing wide as she snatched the envelope from my hands. ‘Why is Alex sending you a letter? And here of all places? What’s going on, Jen?’ she asked.

‘Oh, it’s nothing. Just a silly little thing we had going when we met. We came here the night of your wedding. Did I tell you?’

She shook her head, looking at me amazed, as though I’d committed a cardinal sin in not mentioning it.

‘It must have slipped my mind,’ I explained. ‘He wrote me this note and left it behind the bar. Apparently he’s predicted my whole future in here. It was just a bit of a giggle really, but he told me I couldn’t open it until at least one year after we met. I’d forgotten all about it until we got here.’

I ignored the doubtful look she was giving me and instead faffed around with the buckle on my handbag before putting the letter away in the side zipped pocket.

‘Oh, come on, aren’t you going to read it then? You’ve got me intrigued now. I’m dying to know what’s inside there.’

So was I, but I’d waited a year; a few more hours wouldn’t hurt. I felt fearful now, though of what I wasn’t sure. Half of me wanted to rip the paper apart and read the note and the otherhalf of me wanted to preserve it for when I got back to the sanctuary of my own place. When I was all alone. The only trouble was, Angie was looking at me expectantly, in between checking her watch for the time.

‘Look, I’m going to have to get back for Liberty soon. Are you going to read that thing or not? I’ll read it for you if you like.’

‘No! What if he’s said something rude, something he wanted to keep private.’

‘Ooh, the sly old dog. What do you mean, like an erotic ode listing all the filthy things he wants to do to you? Well, if that’s the case, then you definitely have to open it now.’

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