finally had the perfect combination of words. Brad would implore her not to let the trivial laws of the Internet keep them apart. He’d suggest a meeting in London in two weeks. Plenty of time to get the house ready.
*
Jools moped about the basement squat, feeling restless. She picked up the phone to call Mel, then put it down again. Mel might be living a lie, but Jools’ truth wasn’t exactly worth boasting about. Okay, Skuttle was entertaining and mysterious, but he wasn’t interested in her, so pining after him was pointless and pathetic. And living down a chute at a bus garage wasn’t adult behaviour either, was it?
Maybe some hunting and gathering would lift her spirits.
Scooting out of the basement and up the chute, she launched herself into surprisingly bright sunshine.
The skip behind the bread shop around the corner was loaded with goodies that morning and Jools took her time seeking out a nice loaf. Digging about, she came across an olive ciabatta, a rare find. Sniffing it and poking her finger inside to make sure it was only from yesterday, she then took a big bite out of the top.
Accidentally inhaling some of the flour that was heavily sprinkled on the surface, she started coughing uncontrollably.
God, she needed some water. She was just about to drink from a kerb-side tap when she turned and found herself face-to-face with a tall man in dark shades and a well-tailored grey suit.
‘ Ah!’ Jools shrieked in surprise, inhaling even more flour and coughing harder.
Rodney Wetherspone took a couple of steps backwards, holding up his arms in surrender.
‘ It’s me, Rodney, remember? From the miSell auction? Terribly sorry to startle you.’
Jools swallowed a couple of times. ’It’s, um, okay. How did you find me?’
‘ Well, the café we met in is two doors down from here.’ Rodney took in Jools’ appearance. ’I’m sorry, but may I ask, what on earth are you doing? Had I known you were so hungry, I’d have asked you to accompany me to dinner.’
‘ That’s um, nice of you.’ Jools was horrified. What a sight she must look. ’You’re probably relieved that miSell didn’t let you spend all that money on me!’
Taking her arm, Rodney led her towards the street. ‘On the contrary, my dear, I am truly delighted to have found you.’
‘ Really?’
Maybe she had got it all wrong. Maybe Rodney, not Niles, was the nutjob.
Rodney turned to face her. ‘Would you be prepared to go through with the original deal, for the top bid of £76,000?’
For once rendered speechless, Jools opened and shut her mouth like a fish heading for a plughole.
‘ The plan would be to marry, and then live separate lives. Of course, I would fund a reasonable lifestyle, including food and accommodation.’
Jools was still doing a good impression of a breathless marine creature.
‘ Tell me, do you like Percys?’
The most expensive department store in London? Silly question. She found her voice. ‘I, ah, I guess. Who doesn’t?’
‘ Let’s see.’ Rodney glanced at his watch. ‘Why don’t we take you there and have your hair and nails and er, bits and pieces done. Maybe a few new clothes? Then you can come home with me – the guest room of course – and tomorrow morning the instant the bank opens I’ll deposit the lump sum in your chequing account. What do you say?’
Jools opened her mouth to scream ‘YES!’ but all she managed was another feeble cough. So, she nodded vigorously.
‘ Well, gather your things, and let’s get going. Do you have to give notice at your flat?’
Jools couldn‘t quite work up the courage to tell him she was a homeless squatter. ‘Why don’t you wait in your car and I will be just, ah, just a second.’
Back in the basement she looked around. As usual, Skuttle was absent, which was probably a good thing. Jools might cry if she had to say goodbye to him right now. There wasn’t much of her current life she needed or wanted, but there was the rock
*
Jools moped about the basement squat, feeling restless. She picked up the phone to call Mel, then put it down again. Mel might be living a lie, but Jools’ truth wasn’t exactly worth boasting about. Okay, Skuttle was entertaining and mysterious, but he wasn’t interested in her, so pining after him was pointless and pathetic. And living down a chute at a bus garage wasn’t adult behaviour either, was it?
Maybe some hunting and gathering would lift her spirits.
Scooting out of the basement and up the chute, she launched herself into surprisingly bright sunshine.
The skip behind the bread shop around the corner was loaded with goodies that morning and Jools took her time seeking out a nice loaf. Digging about, she came across an olive ciabatta, a rare find. Sniffing it and poking her finger inside to make sure it was only from yesterday, she then took a big bite out of the top.
Accidentally inhaling some of the flour that was heavily sprinkled on the surface, she started coughing uncontrollably.
God, she needed some water. She was just about to drink from a kerb-side tap when she turned and found herself face-to-face with a tall man in dark shades and a well-tailored grey suit.
‘ Ah!’ Jools shrieked in surprise, inhaling even more flour and coughing harder.
Rodney Wetherspone took a couple of steps backwards, holding up his arms in surrender.
‘ It’s me, Rodney, remember? From the miSell auction? Terribly sorry to startle you.’
Jools swallowed a couple of times. ’It’s, um, okay. How did you find me?’
‘ Well, the café we met in is two doors down from here.’ Rodney took in Jools’ appearance. ’I’m sorry, but may I ask, what on earth are you doing? Had I known you were so hungry, I’d have asked you to accompany me to dinner.’
‘ That’s um, nice of you.’ Jools was horrified. What a sight she must look. ’You’re probably relieved that miSell didn’t let you spend all that money on me!’
Taking her arm, Rodney led her towards the street. ‘On the contrary, my dear, I am truly delighted to have found you.’
‘ Really?’
Maybe she had got it all wrong. Maybe Rodney, not Niles, was the nutjob.
Rodney turned to face her. ‘Would you be prepared to go through with the original deal, for the top bid of £76,000?’
For once rendered speechless, Jools opened and shut her mouth like a fish heading for a plughole.
‘ The plan would be to marry, and then live separate lives. Of course, I would fund a reasonable lifestyle, including food and accommodation.’
Jools was still doing a good impression of a breathless marine creature.
‘ Tell me, do you like Percys?’
The most expensive department store in London? Silly question. She found her voice. ‘I, ah, I guess. Who doesn’t?’
‘ Let’s see.’ Rodney glanced at his watch. ‘Why don’t we take you there and have your hair and nails and er, bits and pieces done. Maybe a few new clothes? Then you can come home with me – the guest room of course – and tomorrow morning the instant the bank opens I’ll deposit the lump sum in your chequing account. What do you say?’
Jools opened her mouth to scream ‘YES!’ but all she managed was another feeble cough. So, she nodded vigorously.
‘ Well, gather your things, and let’s get going. Do you have to give notice at your flat?’
Jools couldn‘t quite work up the courage to tell him she was a homeless squatter. ‘Why don’t you wait in your car and I will be just, ah, just a second.’
Back in the basement she looked around. As usual, Skuttle was absent, which was probably a good thing. Jools might cry if she had to say goodbye to him right now. There wasn’t much of her current life she needed or wanted, but there was the rock
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