Take a Chance on Me by Debbie Flint Page B

if she did blow it on those silly Jimmy Shoes … yes, Georgia, Jimmy Choos, whatever. Go away, I’m talking to your mother – well, her machine anyway – and it’ll cut me off in a minute if I’m not quick. So anyway, sweetheart,’ and here the voice got faster, ‘at least you don’t have to worry while you’re away and anyway if this deal comes off we won’t have to worry at all, right?
And Sadie – you know you can do it. Good luck tomorrow, love. Sleep well. Nighty-n—’
Beeeeeeep.
    Sadie threw herself backwards onto the bed and sighed a massive sigh. What would she do without her mother? And her sister, Helen. She wouldn’t have survived the last four years of Single Mothers R Us, that’s for sure. Long hours at her shop to make it a success, to keep paying the bills – just. And to keep the girls at the local village school, with its must-have school uniforms and must-go educational trips, in spite of what her stingy ex-husband had tried to make her do.
    Without her sister, who was to thank for Hawaii in the first place, ironically, but who was
persona non-grata
at the moment because of the way it had happened. Helen needed to learn not to take Sadie for granted, so was getting the silent treatment for a few weeks. That was in spite of Helen having forced Sadie into a life-changing situation in Tuscany a couple of months ago, one which she’d never have ventured into on her own – an amazing adventure involving two very hot Italians. But a bit of space would teach Helen not to take liberties next time.
    And, of course, without her mother Sadie definitely wouldn’t have been able to drop everything when the amazing offer had landed in her lap in Hawaii. To help pull off the deal of the century with a product that couldn’t be more up her street. It was truly fate.
    And if there was anything Sadie believed in, it was fate.
    Fate and destiny.
    She hauled herself off the bed and walked back into the bathroom to turn off the bath. Flicking on the wrong light, she got a reality check. In the harsh brightness of spotlights around the mirror, she found her mother looking back. Eurgh! Sadie flinched and turned away. Then looked back and tried pulling her cheeks back towards her ears, giving a slight lifting effect. Then she gave up, shook her head and picked up her sodden handbag.
    The whole soggy contents came tumbling out into the shower tray, and she sifted through, separating her precious documents and placing them onto a towel to dry. Then she held the bag up, pulled off a speck of seaweed and smiled, transported back to that moment on the deck. She closed her eyes as her fingers found her cheek, remembering that toe-tingling kiss, then her lips. Then she grimaced as she removed the piece of seaweed that had made its way onto her mouth, and sighed.
    â€˜
Why is it always me, indeed,’ she mused out loud.
    Careful Sadie, keep your feet on the ground. One night, remember – no Prince Charming, no white charger.
But, hey, the way she was feeling, a jester on a pony would have sufficed.
    Beats being at home making organic chilli con quinoa for three.
    She tested the water in the bath, nodded her head, then went to sort out her newly delivered luggage – covered with stickers and battered from its journey via Milan. Thank goodness she’d packed a suitable dress. It wasn’t expensive but it would do. She was just thankful to finally be out of the tight business suit, and into something more comfortable for the evening ahead.
    She also thanked her lucky stars that both her vital laptop, iPad – in need of charging – and backup USB stick had been safely packed in her suitcase not in her submarine-bag.
    She couldn’t resist. Opening the all-important presentation for the hundredth time in the last two days, she instantly got heart-stoppingly nervous once more, thinking about tomorrow’s meeting. Especially