Page 67 of A Night with Damien Spur

Just as she’d imagined.

‘That’s wonderful, Mr Baird,’ she said.

‘Do call me Justin.’

‘Justin.’ She was keen to complete the scenario she’d written in her head. ‘I hope you won’t think me pushy, but may I suggest that if all goes well with the publishing deal, I might read my story onTell Me a Tale? It’s a children’s show at teatime on the BBC. Do you know it?’

‘Yes, I do. We’ve had a few writers on the programme. I think you would be very good. As soon as we get a publishing deal, I’ll phone the producers.’

‘Thank you.’ She gave him a sweet little kiss on the cheek. ‘I’m delighted to have found you. I’m sure that I will be in very good hands.’

‘So let’s celebrate. Champagne?’

‘Yes, please.’

‘A bottle of Krug,’ he said to the hovering waiter.

Krug, how sophisticated.‘Don’t jump the gun,’ she could hear her mother say, ‘until you’re absolutely sure you have him hook, line and sinker. And that means a ring on your finger.’

Anna laughed to herself. Her mother had lost the plot. Better to be naughty, now she was forty. Book first and then to bed. The ring on the finger came last.

Chapter 19

Claudia had rung Anna. ‘I’m helping Elizabeth Maitland plan a charity ball to raise money to build a new special-needs school in Guildford,’ she said.

‘Oh yes?’ said Anna.

‘And we would love you to join the committee. Sophie has already said yes. Are you free to have lunch on Saturday?’

Why was it that her sister was always first in line? Anna paused. ‘Give me a second and I will look at the diary.’

Anna stared out of the window and counted to five.

‘Saturday lunchtime is fine. What time?’

‘One.’

‘Great. See you then.’

***

Saturday was not going to plan. Anna was late. She’d taken the underground to Holland Park, but when she came out of the station her kitten heel had got stuck in a crack in the pavement.

She managed to yank it out, but it had come away from the rest of the shoe.

Luckily, she found a mender on her mobile who was just round the corner. However, she had to hop on one foot, which took her ten minutes to get to the shop.

‘Phew! Thank goodness I found you,’ Anna said to the man behind the counter. She took a tissue out of her bag and mopped her brow.

‘You look like you need to sit down,’ he replied.

‘Don’t have time,’ she panted. ‘Here’s the shoe. Please can you fix it quickly?’

He had thick black curly hair and gave her a toothy grin.

‘Lucky I have customers like you. Nowadays, so many women wear trainers. Not good for business.’

Anna wasn’t listening. She paid him and went.

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