Page 86 of The In-Laws

‘Yes, I’m fine. Only seven and a bit weeks to go now so the end is nigh.’

In more ways than one.

Behind Ruby, Melanie saw Katie running up the street.

‘Hi!’ she panted. ‘Oh, God, I got stuck in work! I was worried I’d miss … well … hi.’ Katie beamed at Ruby.

‘This is my sister-in-law,’ Melanie said.

‘What?’ Ruby gasped.

Melanie realized that Ruby thought Katie was Ross’s wife.

‘My sister-in-law Katie who is married to Jamie,’ she quickly explained. ‘He’s in charge of foreign rights.’

Ruby’s face relaxed. ‘Oh, hi.’ She smiled. She was more attractive in real life: there was a cute pixie vibe to her and she looked younger than twenty-nine. ‘Do you work at the agency too?’ she asked Katie.

‘God, no, I hate books. I’m rubbish at reading. I’m just popping in to give Jamie his phone,’ Katie explained – the phone Katie had told Melanie she would hide so she had a good excuse to call into the agency.

Ruby laughed. ‘A woman who hates books married to a man who sells them for a living. I love it.’

‘We’re like the odd couple,’ Katie said, grinning, ‘but it works for us.’

‘You’re lucky,’ Ruby said. ‘It must be wonderful to find your soulmate and get to make a life with them.’

Melanie shot Katie a look.

‘It is,’ Katie said, nodding, ‘and, yes, I am lucky.’

‘Let’s go inside out of the cold. Would you like some water? Tea? Coffee?’ Melanie opened the door and ushered Ruby inside. Katie followed and winked at her.

‘Water is fine. How many agents do you have working here?’ Ruby asked, as they walked up the single flight of stairs to the first floor.

‘There’s Nancy Fitzroy, who founded the agency, me, and then Jamie. Frank does non-fiction, mostly music bios, and Ross has just moved back from the UK. He’s looking at heading up a TV and film rights department and maybe doing some agenting too.’ Melanie paused, then added, ‘You may have come across Ross. He worked in publishing in London for years – he actually worked for your publishers, Jackson Mayhew?’

‘His name definitely rings a bell,’ Ruby said, as cool as you like.

Katie mouthed, ‘OMG,’ behind Ruby’s back.

They walked through Reception. Katie went to Jamie’s office to give him his phone and Melanie directed Ruby towards her room. Everyone was busy working, but Frank was making tea. Melanie introduced them.

‘How lovely to meet you. I think children’s authors are the most important of all writers. If you can get a child to disappear into a world outside their own, well, that’s magic,’ Frank said.

Ruby beamed at him. ‘Sorry, Melanie, but I think I want Frank to represent me now.’

Frank laughed. ‘Unfortunately I only do non-fiction, and Melanie is the best agent in the world so I’ll leave you in her very capable hands.’

Frank left and Melanie poured Ruby a glass of water. ‘He’s amazing,’ Ruby gushed. ‘I bet all the authors drool over him.’

Melanie smiled. ‘Full disclosure, he’s my husband.’

Ruby put her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry!’

Melanie laughed. ‘Not at all. It’s a compliment.’ And it was. Frank was amazing with people, always putting them at ease and making them feel good about themselves. But, sadly, he had lost his shine for her.

Melanie showed Ruby into her office and noticed her looking around, her eyes darting from door to door.

‘Seems quiet. Is everyone in today? I did ask to meet the whole team,’ she reminded Melanie.

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