Page 68 of Six Steps to Happiness
Ronnie laughed. “She most certainly isn’t.”
Bea folded her arms tight across her chest. “I’ll never get on with her.”
“You might surprise yourself.”
“Youaredifferent,” Bea said with a sulk. “Now I wish we’d never come up with that six-step plan.”
Ronnie shook her head, letting out another laugh. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere, Bea. I’ll always be here. You don’t have to choose between Gaye and me, it isn’t necessary. But you do have to choose your son.”
Bea seemed to contemplate for a moment. “Say I take your advice, would you do something for me in return?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Promise?”
Ronnie crossed her heart. “Promise.”
“Would you thank Jack for what he did yesterday? You know, for getting me here?”
Ronnie nodded. “I will.”
“And then be honest with the man about how you feel?”
Ronnie closed her eyes for a second, letting her head drop as she realised she’d walked straight into that.
“Like you said, yesterday could have been it for me and I don’t ever want to die thinking you’re alone when you needn’t be.”
Ronnie lifted her head back up.
“Believe me, I know what it’s like to have no-one and it’s hard. Jack’s a good man, who feels the same for you as you do him. You’re just both too stubborn or too scared to tell one another.”
Ronnie knew in her case it was the latter. Jack had rejected her once already thanks toOperation Poltergeistand she didn’t want to give him the chance to do it again.
As if reading Ronnie’s mind, Bea squeezed Ronnie’s hand in reassurance. “No matter what happens in life, no matter how many times that heart of yours gets broken, you still deserve your happy ever after.” She smiled. “So, are we agreed? I’ll give things with Gaye a go, and you’ll do the same with Jack?” She held out her other hand, ready to seal the deal.
49
Ronnie sat at the dining table, her mobile and Jack’s handwritten phone number in front of her. Having promised Bea, she knew she had to ring him, but plucking up the courage proved difficult. Having been rejected by Nick in the most spectacular fashion, and then by Jack after an equally spectacular event, she wasn’t sure she could suffer the humiliation for a third time.
But you gave your word, a little voice in the back of her head said.
Ronnie picked up the piece of paper and stared at it. She told herself not to be so soft; it was a phone call, a conversation, nothing more and nothing less. “And it is the twenty-first century,” she insisted. “A time when women ask men out as much as men do women.” At least that’s what her daughter claimed, and she would know. After all, Willow approached members of the opposite sex all the time. She didn’t care about getting rebuffed, she simply moved on to the next one.
Feeling Charlie’s eyes boring into the back of her head, Ronnie turned to look at him.
The dog sat there upright, as if to attention, while at the same time willing her on. He let out a short sharp bark.
“All right, all right,” Ronnie said. “I need another minute.” She took a couple of deep breaths in readiness, before snatching up her phone. In a now-or-never moment, she dialled the number and waited, her heart racing in anticipation.
“Jack,” she finally said. “It’s me. Ronnie. I’m ringing because I promised Bea I would. She says thank you for getting her to the hospital the other day. Anyway, there’s something I want to say and I’m just going to come out with it. I like you. A lot. You’re gorgeous and funny and kind and a great kisser… The greatest of kissers, in fact. And I know you have your principles too and that on paper, well not on paper because I didn’t get arrested, I’m probably a criminal. But I’ve learnt my lesson. I should never have sneaked into next door once, let alone three times. But that’s over with now. I don’t care where Nick and Gaye live, I don’t care about them at all. And because of that, I was hoping you’d maybe want to go on a date sometime? To see how things go between us? But only if you think the same about me as I do you. Yes, I know I’m waffling, but I know if I don’t tell you how I feel now, I probably won’t ever–”
The line went dead.
Ronnie fell silent. She couldn’t believe she’d been cut off before she had the chance to finish. She looked at her phone screen and then at Charlie. “I left him a message.”
The dog stared back at her.
“What?” Ronnie asked. “You think that was a bad idea?”
