It's Now Or Never - Jill Steeples

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was my first job after finishing my A-levels, a way to earn some extra cash before going off to university in the September, but when Mum fell ill everything changed. There was no way I was going to leave her and move three hundred miles to the other end of country. A gap year spent working at the garden centre and nursing Mum back to health would have been the perfect compromise, but it wasn’t as straightforward as that. Mum’s illness was long and drawn-out and when she died two years’ later my desire to go to uni died with her. In the long and dark days following her death, my job had been a lifeline; it gave me something to wake up for in the mornings, a comforting routine that brought an element of normality to my life. Matt had been instrumental in offering me that small sense of hope.

      Since then I’d worked in every department there was; from serving in the restaurant, to working outside caring for the plants, to sourcing items for the gift store, which had become my permanent role over the last couple of years.

      ‘But if I don’t leave now, I might never leave. I might spend the rest of my life here, picking up my pension when I’m a very old lady.’

      Matt grunted.

      ‘And would that be such a bad thing?’

      I laughed. Obviously it wouldn’t seem that way to Matt. This was his life. He’d been brought up in the business, it was all he’d ever known. The success of the store today was down hugely to Matt’s hard work and commitment and he could be proud of that, but to me it was ultimately just a job.

      ‘I’m sorry, Matt. I promise you it’s nothing personal. It’s just something I feel I need to do right now.

      ‘Well, I can’t say I’m not saddened by this news. Is there nothing I can do to make you change your mind? If it’s a case of more money then you know that wouldn’t be a problem.’

      ‘No, it’s not about the money or even the job. I’ve loved working here, you know that, and I’ve made so many good friends. It’s just the right time for me to move on.’

      ‘What will you do?’

      ‘I’ve got lots of plans. I’ve been writing some articles for the gardening magazines. I’d like to devote more time to that if I can. I was also thinking about setting up my own blog, gardening hints and ideas for a new generation. Young single people or elderly people living alone, newly married couples, people who don’t have much outdoor space, but who still want to find a way to bring some greenery, a touch of the outdoors, into their lives.’

      ‘Sounds great.’

      ‘I’ve also been thinking about developing a range of savoury jams and chutneys. Similar to those we’re already selling in the food store, but maybe experimenting with some different variations.’

      ‘Really? I didn’t know you were a cook.’

      ‘I’m not. I might need to learn.’

      Matt raised his eyebrows and smiled at me, as though he thought I might be mad. The same thought had actually occurred to me.

      ‘I’ll have to sign up to a temp agency to see me over for a few months while I settle on what to do, but I think it will be good for me. You have to remember, I’ve only ever worked here. I don’t know what’s it like to work for another company.’

      ‘Not as good as working for Browns, that’s for sure,’ said Matt, a rueful smile on his lips.

      I wondered if that might be true; that I might never find such a friendly and interesting company to work for, but it was too late for those kind of worries now. I’d done it! After all the prevaricating, I’d finally handed my notice in and taken the first small step on my way to a brand new exciting chapter in my life.

       Chapter Three

       Ms Angela Peters

       and

       Mr Tom Sidney Cooper

       request the pleasure of your company

       at their marriage

       on Saturday 19th April

       at 1.30 pm

       at Casterton Registry Office, Bucks

       followed by lunch at Chez Michel

      ‘Jen, over here!’

      I walked up the stone steps of the town hall – one arm held against my forehead blocking out the warm rays of the sun – just managing to make out the small huddle of people congregating outside the doors.

      ‘Look at you,’ I said, my gaze alighting on Angie when I reached the top of the steps. She was wearing a simple cream linen shift dress with a scalloped collar and hemline, and a matching pashmina wrapped around her shoulders. Her strawberry blonde hair was tied in a French plaint at the back of the head. ‘You look absolutely stunning,’ I whispered in her ear as she grabbed me for a hug. Beautiful, radiant and utterly feminine too. Almost unrecognisable from the Angie I knew and loved, who spent most of her time in cargo trousers, crop tops and Doc Martens.

      ‘Hi Tom, lovely to see you!’ I said, turning to the groom, trying to sound as though I meant it while the words ‘scumbag, grotbag’ played over in my head. ‘Congratulations!’

      ‘Thanks, Jen. Yeah, who’d have thought it, eh? It’s been a while.’

      Maybe I imagined the awkwardness as he leant in to give me a chaste kiss on the cheek or perhaps it was just because I hadn’t seen him since they’d got back together again. He looked much more handsome in his sleek grey suit than I remembered him to be. Clutching Angie’s hand, looking fondly into her eyes, he looked every inch the devoted husband-to-be. If Angie had found it in her heart to forgive Tom, then maybe I should do the same too.

      Be gone with you, scumbag, grotbag and all the other uncharitable names I had for Tom. I allowed my remaining reservations about him and this whirlwind marriage to flutter off in the light spring breeze. This was their special day and, as Angie’s best friend, I was determined to celebrate it with them.

      Putting all negative thoughts out of my head I wandered off and said my hellos to some of the other guests and chatted briefly with Angie’s mum and dad, before Angie grabbed me by the arm and led me away.

      ‘Let me introduce you to Alex. I don’t think you two have met before, have you? Alex and Tom used to work in the city together. Alex, this is my very best friend in the whole wide world, Jen.’

      She’d brought me to a standstill in front of the man who was clearly auditioning for the part of most gorgeous wedding guest. In my opinion, without even seeing all the other guests, he’d won the part hands down. I looked up at him and smiled.

      ‘Delighted to meet you, Jen,’ he said, lifting up my hand and depositing the lightest of kisses on my fingertips in a gesture so gallant and ridiculously over-the-top it made my toes curl.

      There’s something about a man in a navy blue suit and a crisp double cuffed white shirt that does funny things to my insides. Don’t ask me why, but it’s always been that way. Added to that the fact that this particular man was over six foot tall with dark hair and warm sparkling eyes and it made for an intriguing combination. As his lips met my fingers I caught the faintest smell of sun-drenched orange groves and I tried to ignore the flip of anticipation that turned in my stomach.

      ‘I understand you’ll be my partner in crime today?’

      ‘Excuse me?’ I hadn’t been listening to his words, I’d been too busy taking a surreptitious inhalation trying to recapture the essence of that delicious scent.

      ‘You’re the other witness, right? Is it your first time too?’

      ‘Oh yes, my first time,’ I said, concentrating now on his lips, which on close inspection

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