Dreams to Sell by Anne Douglas Page B

know – about you being envious. I know you’ve got your own ambitions. You’re not worried about not having a young man.’
    â€˜That’s right, Ma,’ said Roz, relieved. ‘I’m not worried at all.’

Twenty
    When Jamie arrived back at the property department on Monday morning, he brought Roz a present.
    â€˜For you,’ he said, bowing low and putting into her hands a large paper bag containing something that felt soft – even crumbly. She was very intrigued.
    â€˜Why, Jamie, whatever is it?’ Roz was blushing deeply as she continued to hold the bag.
    â€˜Come on, it’s just something to eat. Why don’t you have a look at it?’
    Rather gingerly, she drew the soft lump out of the bag and unwrapped it, then raised her wide eyes to Jamie’s. ‘It’s a cheese?’
    â€˜Yes, a cheese. It’s called Kelder White.’ He laughed at her look. ‘Why so astonished? Cheeses are still made locally today and some of ’em are a damn sight better than that dreary stuff you told me you had at lunchtime. So, I thought you’d like to try one from my home town.’
    â€˜Why, Jamie, I don’t know what to say! It’s such a kind thought, to bring me this, and it really is just what I wanted!’ Her blush fading, her grey eyes were sparkling as she looked up at him. ‘Thank you very much. I’ll put it in the staffroom, eh? There’s a little larder cupboard there.’
    â€˜Fine. And let me know what you think of it this afternoon.’
    As she moved to the door, holding the cheese, she looked back, aware that he was still watching. ‘But how was your weekend? I never asked.’
    â€˜Very pleasant. I really enjoyed being home, but now I’m glad to be back here.’
    â€˜And your mother was well?’
    â€˜Very well. Cooking as though there was an army in the house, instead of just me. She always thinks men need hot food on the hour, or they’ll collapse!’
    â€˜My mother’s a bit the same.’
    They stood for a moment or two, exchanging glances, then Roz hurried away to the staffroom and Jamie, sighing deeply, sat down at his desk and looked at the letters she’d opened for him.
    Their work that day was confined to the department, with Jamie busy meeting more clients than usual, most encouraged by the summer weather to rush into moving, one way or another, while Roz had an extra load of particulars to type and post out, as well as continually answering the phone. Even so, lunchtimes were still lunchtimes and when Jamie came back from his, Roz was able to tell him how much she and Norma had enjoyed his Kelder White cheese.
    â€˜Oh, such a treat!’ she told him. ‘To have something different and with such a lovely taste! Can’t thank you enough.’
    â€˜What’s a piece of cheese?’ he asked, smiling. ‘Not exactly a luxury item.’
    â€˜Why that’s just what it is! It’s real luxury, to have something nice to eat.’
    She didn’t add that she’d had to put up with a lot of conjecture from Norma on why Mr Shield had brought Roz a cheese from the Borders, which she’d managed to dampen down by being non-commital until Norma’s questions had dried up. Pity she’d had to eat the cheese at lunchtime, but if she hadn’t, the whole point of the gift would have been lost, and she didn’t want that – not when she’d been so touched by Jamie’s thought.
    It seemed he’d had another, though whether it was anything to do with Roz or not she didn’t know, for after he’d begun with the words, ‘I was thinking,’ the telephone rang, and he stopped.
    Someone wanted to make an appointment for a valuation, Roz told him, before moving to her own office where she thought he’d follow. When he didn’t, she shrugged as she rolled paper into her machine. What had he been thinking, then? She