Page 51 of A Wish for Jinnie
The bigger shock was seeing Ken, as if she’d conjured him up with her thoughts. Jo’s errant heart did a little skip, and she prayed her face didn’t give away the feelings that still ran deep.
‘It is indeed,’ she replied. ‘You’re my second customer so far. Assuming you’re after something to eat or drink?’ She couldn’t help her snarky tone, or fail to notice Ken’s wounded reaction.
‘I could lie and say I’m here for one of your legendary chocolate éclairs and a strong coffee, but I really just wanted to see you.’
‘Oh.’ Jo snatched up a set of tongs and levered an éclair onto a plate. ‘That’s nice…’
Please, please don’t say anything that gives me false hope, because I don’t think I can take it.
‘Jo, Mags is my wife, and I love her as much now as the day we met. But you are one special lady who will always own a piece of my heart.’
Jo turned away under the pretence of filling a mug. She dug her teeth into her bottom lip, determined not to cry.
‘I’m not a particularly brave man, and every day Mags deteriorates a little more I want to scream at the unfairness of it all. But as long as she’s with me and needs me, I’ll be there for her.’
As long as she’s with me. Was Ken hinting that if the unthinkable happened, he’d want to be with Jo? No, he wasn’t a callous man; he wouldn’t hint. He possessed all the qualities Jo hoped she'd find in a partner one day. That day might not be this year, or the next, but The One was out there.
‘Hey Dad, Jo, how’s it going?’ Ed was next through the door, his coat draped over his and Angela’s heads. ‘We’re in dire need of warmth, sugar and a truckload of carbs.’
‘Hey, business partner-to-be.’ Jo hugged Angela.
She flinched. ’Sorry, my shoulder’s a bit tender,’ she said, by way of explanation.
‘This girl is officially the coolest kid on the block,’ added Ed, with a proud grin. ‘Show ’em, Angela.’
With a roll of the eyes, Angela removed her coat, slid her jumper down and revealed a small tattoo on the back of her shoulder. A looping figure-of-eight with the words ‘Be Brave’ on one side and a trio of colourful birds in flight on the other.
‘Very nice,’ said Jo.
‘Tasteful,’ said Ken.
‘He made me do it.’ Angela pulled a mock put-upon face, and Ed responded with a peck on her cheek.
‘Did not! Anyway, we’ve a few things to celebrate, haven’t we, Angela? Jo, can we get two hot chocolates and a couple of slices of the cake with the most calories?’
As Jo fixed their order, Ed explained that he’d set things in motion as a freelance designer. Several loyal clients had already pledged their support, and his strong network meant he was confident of building a solid base quickly. ‘And now that you two are combining your undoubted talents, A Bit of Crumpet is going to blow all the competition out of the water.’ Jo doubted the handful of cafés and self-catering businesses in the immediate area would be quaking just yet, but Ed’s optimism was reassuring.
‘I need to take Jinnie out for a fab meal soon, to thank her for the winning card,’ said Angela. ‘But tonight I’m treating this one’ — she grinned at Ed — ‘to a night on the town.’
Watching the two of them chatting eagerly, Angela deftly wiping away Ed’s whipped-cream moustache, Jo smiled. Life was a strange thing. She wouldn’t have matched up Ed and Angela, but they appeared completely at ease with one another. Whereas Jinnie and Sam… Then again, Jo had no idea if that was just a product of her overactive imagination. And it was none of her business, either way.
‘Right, we’re off, see you later.’ Ed plonked down a tenner and waved away the change. ‘Here’s to new beginnings, eh?’
Left alone, an awkward silence descended between Jo and Ken. To lighten the mood Jo switched the radio on, and the excitable chatter of Zoë Ball filled the air.
‘I’d best be off too,’ said Ken, finishing his tea. ‘I meant what I said before, Jo. About needing you in my life. I have a wife and a son, but I don’t have a lot of real friends. And they don’t get any better than the beautiful person standing in front of me.’
Refusing his money — Ed’s generosity just about covered the combined bill — Jo walked Ken to the door. ‘Of course we’re friends,’ she said. ‘I’ve barely enough myself to fill a phone box!’
Ken laughed, and tapped the end of her nose lightly. ‘A woman as wonderful as you deserves lots of friends, and an amazing man to take care of her. Not that youneedtaking care of. But I know you’ll meet someone special one day.’
Once he’d left, Jo leaned against the closed door and drew a deep breath. ‘I already have,’ she whispered. ‘Shame he’s taken.’
Chapter 46
‘Hello, I’m back!’
For a terrible moment Jinnie feared Sam had left, but the door was unlocked. She tiptoed inside, aware of how insane her departure had been. Perhaps she’d totally blown it. Sam was probably browsing the internet, looking up mental illness symptoms including fictitious relatives and fleeing buildings without footwear. Then she heard Sam’s voice coming from the back room. He was talking to someone. On the phone? No, Jinnie could make out another voice, so unless the call was on loudspeaker —
