It's Now or Never by Jill Steeples Page B

‘Tell you what. Let’s do it tomorrow night then. I’d like that.’
    â€˜No, I can’t. I’ve made other plans. I wanted to do it tonight, but it really doesn’t matter now.’ I felt as though it mattered much more than it should have done. ‘I should go. Leave you to your romantic dinner
a deux
.’
    â€˜Jen, I…’ Marcia started, but I didn’t want to hear anything she might have to say.
    I slammed the door shut behind me on the way out, biting on my lip to stop the tears that were threatening to fall. On my way to the car, I pulled out my phone from my pocket and tapped on Angie’s name.
    â€˜Hi darling!’ She answered almost immediately.
    â€˜That offer for wine, does it still stand? I’ve been blown out by my date tonight. He’s only gone and found himself another woman!’
    â€˜What? Bloody hell! Men, eh? You can’t rely on any one of them. Come on over, I’ll have a glass of chilled fizz ready and waiting for you.’

Chapter Twelve
    â€˜
Oh my goodness, look at all this.’
    I walked into the garden centre restaurant the next day at lunchtime expecting to pick up a sandwich and a cup of tea like I did most other days to find the rear of the restaurant cordoned off with pink ribbons. Chequered bunting and bows were festooned from the ceiling and brightly coloured balloons bobbed from the backs of chairs.
    A huge cheer went up as I walked in and I was quickly buried under a flurry of hugs and well wishes from all my friends and colleagues. Champagne corks popped as Frank, one of Browns’ longest-serving employees, broke into a spontaneous rendition of ‘For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ which everyone else quickly joined him in.
    I looked all around at the familiar faces gazing at me with affection, and felt overwhelmed by the warmth of their welcome. Someone handed me a glass of champagne and a tray of delicious canapés was wafted under my nose. I took a salmon mousse topped blini and stuffed it in my mouth in an attempt to stop the unexpected surge of emotion at the back of my throat from escaping.
    Matt greeted me with his customary wide smile and enveloped me in a huge bear hug, before stepping backwards to hold me at arms’ length.
    â€˜Well you didn’t really expect us not to mark your last day with Browns in some small way?’
    â€˜This is lovely, Matt. Thank you. Really, I’m going to miss this place so much and everyone in it.’
    â€˜Well you do know it’s not too late to change your mind. Your replacement is due to start Monday morning, but I could always ring her. Tell her not to bother coming in.’
    I laughed, but I suddenly felt overwhelmingly sad inside. This place had been such a huge part of my life for so long and now I was leaving it all behind. All the time I’d worked for Browns I’d felt safe and protected and now I was heading outside in the big wide world to a new adventure, and however much that inspired and thrilled me, it also terrified the life out of me.
    â€˜Great though that you’ve found someone for my role,’ I said brightly. At one time I would have been privy to everything Matt was doing, but I hadn’t even known he’d been interviewing people, let alone hired someone.
    â€˜Yep, she seems like a great girl. She reminds me a lot of you, actually. She’s only twenty, but she’s very ambitious, full of enthusiasm and she’s got a lot of great ideas for moving the department forward.’
    â€˜She sounds perfect,’ I said, feeling a stab of pain to my stomach. It was funny to think someone else would be stepping into my shoes, doing the job I’d loved doing for so long, forming a close bond with Matt.
    â€˜Well I don’t suppose she’ll be anywhere near as perfect as you are, but I’m sure we’ll muddle through without you somehow.’ He put an arm around my shoulder, genuine