Loving Susie: The Heartlands series by Harper Jenny

Author:Harper, Jenny [Harper, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781783753345
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2014-08-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Mannie spends a week fighting the impulse to call Brian Henderson. His business card becomes grubby from frequent handling. Finally, she succumbs and dials his number.

‘Is Mr Henderson there please?’

‘May I ask who’s calling?’

‘My name is Margaret-Anne Wallace.’

‘From—?’

The secretary sounds protective. Her job is to shield her boss from nuisance callers and she’s determined to fulfil her duties. Mannie hesitates. ‘It’s personal,’ she says shortly.

‘Hold on please, I’ll see if he’s available.’

Mannie rolls her eyes and tries very hard not to make her tut of impatience audible, but it takes only a few seconds for the call to be put through and once again she hears the voice she’s been imagining in her head for the past eight days.

‘Ms Wallace. Hello. How nice to hear from you again. What can I do for you?’

The formality of his greeting shocks her. What did she expect? In her head she’s been creating a much more intimate scenario and now that she’s on the phone, she realises that she hasn’t thought this through. She doesn’t want to talk about Jonno, that must take its course. In truth, she only wants one thing, which is to see him again, and as soon as possible.

Impulsive to the core, she blurts out, ‘I was wondering ... next time you’re in Edinburgh? I thought we might meet for dinner.’

God, what must he think of me?

She adds hastily, ‘I mean, there’s so much more I can tell you about what we can offer here at the hotel, I’d love to discuss it more informally than I was able to at Confex. Or I could come to Stirling?’

‘Well, I—’

Of course he’s taken aback. How idiotic she is!

Mannie is cringing at her ineptitude and still trying to work out her next line when Brian says, ‘Actually, I see I’m in Edinburgh next week for a meeting that should finish around six. Would Thursday be any use to you? I don’t have any reason to rush home, I dare say we could fit in a quick meal. If you’re free that day, that is?’

She feels her face flush. Am I free? ‘Thursday’s fine,’ she says neutrally, although inside she’s dancing a jig.

They arrange a venue. After he rings off, she checks her diary and discovers she has a prior engagement, a meeting with an important client. She’ll have to ask Sylvia to deputise. The client won’t be pleased, but needs must – seeing Brian Henderson has to take priority.

The week passes slowly. Work is a chore, she feels weighed down and heavy, drugged, almost. It’s as if she’s lacking some essential element in her life blood. She considers a doctor’s appointment (maybe she’s anaemic?) but decides to wait.

‘Meeting someone nice?’ Myra pokes her head round Mannie’s door and shouts above the noise of Mannie’s hairdryer.

‘Sorry?’ Mannie stops brushing, switches the dryer off and lifts her head.

‘I said, are you meeting someone nice, or just Callum?’ Dimples appearing in her plump cheeks as she roars with laughter. ‘Oops, sorry! I didn’t mean Callum wasn’t nice, I meant—’

‘It’s okay, I’ve got you,’ Mannie smiles.

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