gain the reputation of a know-all busybody, so I left her well alone.
I’d already worked out what Sarah was going to say to Dan in her latest message, so it didn’t take long.
Thanks for the recommendation but I’ve decided to take your original advice . You’re right , why would I want to spoil things for them? (My parents , that is . )
I have to admit I don’t know all that much about music .
I had to make that clear from the start. I’d decided by now that my idea of turning myself into a knowledgeable music fan overnight was just too unrealistic. Besides which, I was afraid of being sussed as a phoney.
I’m just your average CD - buying customer who knows what she likes and what she likes keeps changing . The music magazines aren’t mine , I’m afraid . They belong to my flatmate —
I planned to keep my ‘flatmate’ fairly anonymous. It could get just too complicated if I had to make up too many new identities—
I just happen to pick them up occasionally .
I was aware that this was a risky admission. That I might lose his interest with comments like that, but on balance it seemed the less dangerous route.
Looks like your mother’s music had an effect on you whether you like it or not .
He’d never mentioned that he remembered a line from ‘Careless Whisper’ to me, and it seemed odd to have learned something new about Dan through a stranger—a stranger to him, anyway. But then that wasn’t all I’d learnt about Dan today, I thought, fuming again at his possible deceit.
And finally my trump card. Something to connect Dan with Sarah and make certain that he replied again.
And , talking of lines from songs ...
I quoted a lyric and cheekily asked if he had any idea where it came from.
Of course he’d know where it came from. He absolutely loved Coldplay—had been one of the first music writers to draw the public to their attention.
I sent the e-mail gleefully, and then wondered about spending the rest of my hour searching for jobs. However, because I am all too easily distracted from anything that seems remotely chore-like, I happened to glance at my elderly neighbour and saw that she was still laboriously copying stuff down from the screen. Because I didn’t feel quite so new anymore, I opened my mouth to explain about the printer when my attention was further drawn to something beyond her grey head.
Between my neighbour and the stairs that led up to the reference part of the library was a glass partition, and through the partition I could clearly see Dan, hurrying up the stairs. My heart did one of those flip things and I automatically ducked behind the old lady, pretending to get something out of my bag.
When I finally glanced up again the staircase was empty, but my heart was still in top gear and racing and I knew I would have to leave the old lady to her long-winded ways. I had to get out of the place, and I had to get out of there fast.
***
Libby hauled the cardboard box full of vinyl out of her wardrobe and carried it into the living room, ready for Dan to inspect at the weekend.
From the moment she’d learnt what he did for a living she’d felt a connection to him through the collection. It had felt like a sign, and despite the fact that he lived with Joanna she’d sensed it was only a matter of time. She’d heard their arguments and guessed—rightly, as it duly turned out—that their relationship was very much on the rocks.
She was trying to decide if she should call on him now or whether it might be better to leave it tonight. She was certain she was making good progress. Six weeks ago she had hardly spoken to him, and now they were sharing food and wine in his flat. Even so, he was proving to be harder work than she’d expected, which was why she had invented a new boyfriend for Jo. It was obvious Dan wasn’t completely over her yet, but if he believed that she had moved on then Libby very much hoped he would feel able to as well.
She made a sudden decision and
I’d already worked out what Sarah was going to say to Dan in her latest message, so it didn’t take long.
Thanks for the recommendation but I’ve decided to take your original advice . You’re right , why would I want to spoil things for them? (My parents , that is . )
I have to admit I don’t know all that much about music .
I had to make that clear from the start. I’d decided by now that my idea of turning myself into a knowledgeable music fan overnight was just too unrealistic. Besides which, I was afraid of being sussed as a phoney.
I’m just your average CD - buying customer who knows what she likes and what she likes keeps changing . The music magazines aren’t mine , I’m afraid . They belong to my flatmate —
I planned to keep my ‘flatmate’ fairly anonymous. It could get just too complicated if I had to make up too many new identities—
I just happen to pick them up occasionally .
I was aware that this was a risky admission. That I might lose his interest with comments like that, but on balance it seemed the less dangerous route.
Looks like your mother’s music had an effect on you whether you like it or not .
He’d never mentioned that he remembered a line from ‘Careless Whisper’ to me, and it seemed odd to have learned something new about Dan through a stranger—a stranger to him, anyway. But then that wasn’t all I’d learnt about Dan today, I thought, fuming again at his possible deceit.
And finally my trump card. Something to connect Dan with Sarah and make certain that he replied again.
And , talking of lines from songs ...
I quoted a lyric and cheekily asked if he had any idea where it came from.
Of course he’d know where it came from. He absolutely loved Coldplay—had been one of the first music writers to draw the public to their attention.
I sent the e-mail gleefully, and then wondered about spending the rest of my hour searching for jobs. However, because I am all too easily distracted from anything that seems remotely chore-like, I happened to glance at my elderly neighbour and saw that she was still laboriously copying stuff down from the screen. Because I didn’t feel quite so new anymore, I opened my mouth to explain about the printer when my attention was further drawn to something beyond her grey head.
Between my neighbour and the stairs that led up to the reference part of the library was a glass partition, and through the partition I could clearly see Dan, hurrying up the stairs. My heart did one of those flip things and I automatically ducked behind the old lady, pretending to get something out of my bag.
When I finally glanced up again the staircase was empty, but my heart was still in top gear and racing and I knew I would have to leave the old lady to her long-winded ways. I had to get out of the place, and I had to get out of there fast.
***
Libby hauled the cardboard box full of vinyl out of her wardrobe and carried it into the living room, ready for Dan to inspect at the weekend.
From the moment she’d learnt what he did for a living she’d felt a connection to him through the collection. It had felt like a sign, and despite the fact that he lived with Joanna she’d sensed it was only a matter of time. She’d heard their arguments and guessed—rightly, as it duly turned out—that their relationship was very much on the rocks.
She was trying to decide if she should call on him now or whether it might be better to leave it tonight. She was certain she was making good progress. Six weeks ago she had hardly spoken to him, and now they were sharing food and wine in his flat. Even so, he was proving to be harder work than she’d expected, which was why she had invented a new boyfriend for Jo. It was obvious Dan wasn’t completely over her yet, but if he believed that she had moved on then Libby very much hoped he would feel able to as well.
She made a sudden decision and
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