small proposals are sometimes the best.’
‘I thought you would like it, it might encourage our customers to go with some of our more extravagant proposals.’
I smiled. After my moaning the day before about how many basic packages we had sold, Harry was trying to rectify it.
‘Oh, so this hundred proposals is all tactical then, it’s not about finding me the perfect proposal at all, it’s just a business stunt?’
Harry completely missed the tone of my voice. I was joking, but his face fell and the look of hurt on his face was like a punch to the gut.
‘Is that what you think?’
‘I was joking, I’m sorry – I didn’t mean it.’
‘This wasn’t about the business at all, I thought you knew that.’
‘I honestly don’t know why you’re doing all this. No one has ever gone to this much effort for me before and I don’t understand why you are?’
He stared at me and it was clear that he didn’t want to say why. I waited, watching him.
‘I wanted to cheer you up. You’ve been so down since Jack died, I wanted you to have something to look forward to every day.’
I felt like I’d just been hit by a bus. My lip wobbled, an actual wobble, and I looked away as tears filled my eyes. Harry quickly moved to hold me. Again. It was not actually possible to love this man more than I loved him right now.
‘Oh God, Harry,’ I whispered into his shirt, as he held me tight against him.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.’
‘They’re happy tears, I promise.’ I pushed him gently away and he stepped back to look at me with concern. ‘I’m just lucky to have you.’
He smiled, with relief, then moved to look at his computer, clearly embarrassed.
‘Sixty-one followers on our blog so far. That’s amazing.’
I smiled at the change of subject.
‘That’s fantastic.’
‘Yes. And after mentioning Nadia’s Bakery in yesterday’s blog, I’ve had emails from quite a few places begging us to use them in my next proposal.’
I moved closer as he scrolled through his emails.
‘Anything interesting?’
He quickly minimised his email screen. ‘Nosy aren’t you. I don’t want to spoil the surprise.’
He logged off his computer and any hints at what was to come vanished into a screen of blue. He checked his watch and pulled on his jacket.
‘Hot date with Sexy Samantha tonight?’
‘No, I’m meeting Badger for drinks and a few games of pool. Any hot plans for you?’
‘Dinner with my lovely sister-in-law.’
‘Excellent, have fun.’ He planted a quick kiss on my cheek and left. If this goodbye kiss was going to become a regular feature, I could get used to it.
*
A splat of something green and foul-smelling hit the side of my cheek.
Bella giggled and laughed as the green mush slid down her face too.
‘Is your niece causing a mess again?’ shouted Jules from the kitchen.
I scooped Bella up out of the chair and plonked her on my lap, hoping to minimise the splatter damage if I was behind her. ‘No she’s just perfect, aren’t you, pumpkin.’
Bella chuckled and wiggled her legs as I wiped her face and firmly took the spoon from her sticky grasp. I leaned into her soft, warm head as I spooned up some more of what Jules had told me was pureed broccoli and cauliflower. She smelt amazing, like milk, talcum powder and baby lotion. Her hair was dark just like Jack’s, the same nose, the same eyes, the same chin – there was no getting away from the fact that she was his daughter.
Jules walked in carrying two glasses of wine and passed one to me. She was wearing a bright yellow top today, one that I hadn’t seen on her before. Her hair was freshly dyed with warm honey coloured highlights and she was actually smiling. It had been a long time since I’d seen her smile. Maybe she’d been given a proverbial kick up the bum as well as me. I liked it, life was for living.
‘You look good.’
‘I feel good. Bella’s sleeping properly at night now and she is such a
A D Holland
Grif Stockley
D. W. Collins
Jane Rusbridge
Christine Warren
Lily Evans
Selene Chardou
Samantha Young
Gary D. Svee
Unknown