Page 103 of Just Do It
‘I’m not defending him!’ I said, defensive now of myself.
‘You are! Yes, I’m sure these things do have to go through the proper channels as you say, something Friedrich would have known too! And yet he still chose to romance Bella and lead her down the golden path.’
‘Garden.’
‘What?’
‘Garden path.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh. Neither of them make sense to me but…’ She waved her hands. ‘Whatever path it was, he led her down it, knowing that he didn’t have the authority to grant her a place on the team there and then anyway.’
‘He’s got a fairly large say.’
Colette let out a string of words in rapid fire, some of which I guessed were expletives but although I’d got fairly fluent, when she spoke at the same speed as a machine gun, I was lost.
‘Tu peux répéter plus lentement, s’il te plait?’
Colette looked at me. I looked back at her. Tension vibrated in the air until it was burst like a balloon with the pin of her laughter. She stepped towards me and hugged me tight and I returned the embrace. Pulling back a little she took my face between her hands.
‘I just don’t want you being used,ma chérie. You’ve worked too hard in your career to be a stepping stone for someone else.’
‘I really don’t think that’s what this is about.’
Colette tipped her head one way then the other. ‘Only he knows that for sure. Just be careful. You’ve too much to offer to get caught up with him again.’
‘I told you, that’s definitely not my plan.’
‘Plans change.’
My friend clearly wasn’t convinced but, reluctant to reignite the tension, wisely let it go.
‘Just be sure to check the small print. Don’t take what he says at face value.’
‘I promise.’
She smiled, kissed me on both cheeks and released me. I wandered over to the window that looked over the garden. I knew that the greenhouse was currently full of seedlings and cuttings, and by the looks of the pile of seed catalogues on the side, she wasn’t done yet. I really needed to take a leaf out of her book – no pun intended – and do something with my own garden. My grandmother had been an avid, enthusiastic and bold gardener. I felt a wash of guilt as I thought of how it now looked.
‘She wouldn’t mind.’
I turned to find Colette standing beside me.
‘Your grandmother. That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? That your garden isn’t as manicured as it once was.’
‘I’ve let it get into a state. It was so beautiful when she had it.’
‘And it will be again, if you want it to be.’
‘I’ve literally no idea where to start.’
‘Nobody does at the beginning. Perhaps I can come round some time and we can do a bit together?’
I reached for her hand. ‘I’d love that, thank you.’
She squeezed my hand. ‘Moi aussi.’
