Japonica Secrets by James Taylor

Author:James Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic story;London setting;Canterbury setting;porn star
Publisher: The Conrad Press
Published: 2019-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

34

I don’t know whether it was because Bernadette was wearing a light red taffeta summer dress, rather than the business suit I’d have expected to see her wearing early on a Friday evening; because she was smiling broadly, rather than wearing the kind of world-weary expression she always used to have after a typical working day when we were still together; or because I simply hadn’t seen her for well over a year.

All I know is that, in that moment, which can’t have lasted more than a few seconds but felt much longer, I thought she looked happier and more radiant than in all the time we were together. Most of all, I was surprised by how pleased I was to see her.

‘Bernadette! I… wow. Just… wow.’

That was the cool, urbane way in which I actually expressed those thoughts and feelings to the woman I’d been with for four years, and whom I had once thought was the love of my life. I quickly added, ‘Sorry, I’m lost for words.’

Bernadette gave a sunny laugh, which only made her appear more beautiful to me. ‘So it would seem.’ She glanced down at my guitar case. ‘Gig or lesson?’

I gave her a world-weary smile. ‘Lesson. I don’t have much time for gigging these days, I’m afraid.’

As soon as I’d uttered these words, I was gripped by a strange anxiety. Why did I tell Bernadette that? What if she asked me to explain exactly why I no longer had time to do gigs? After all, I’d never had that problem when she and I were still together. The last thing I wanted to do in that moment was tell Bernadette about Japonica Secrets.

She gave me a sympathetic look. ‘That’s a shame.’

‘Yes, it is. Still, can’t be helped.’

We just stood smiling at each other for a few moments. Then I asked, ‘So how are things with you? You’re looking very well.’

Bernadette’s cornflower blue eyes positively shone with cheerfulness. ‘Thanks. That’s probably because I quit my job last year.’

I felt my eyes widen with astonishment. ‘Seriously? Why?’

Without hesitating, she said, ‘I’d just had enough, really. Do you remember Michael?’

‘You mean your old boss? The one who was obsessed with vintage Ferraris?’

She laughed. ‘I’d almost forgotten how good your memory is. Yes, that’s him. Well, he told me I was going to be promoted, but I wasn’t. Instead, they gave the job to a guy who really didn’t have a clue what he was doing half the time – only no one noticed because people like me kept working overtime to make sure everything was done properly. Still, on the plus side, he is the godfather of one of the chairman’s grandchildren, so that’s OK.’

‘That’s disgusting,’ I remarked.

‘Yes, that’s what I thought,’ said Bernadette. ‘So the very next day, I handed in my notice. Just like that.’

The eager way Bernadette was looking at me made me wonder whether she hoped for my approval. I had to admit I was impressed: the Bernadette I knew would never have done something so rebellious.

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