Picking Up the Pieces by Mary Sheepshanks

Author:Mary Sheepshanks
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250098184
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

EIGHTEEN

Kate was late for her date with Jack at Scott’s. She had pondered whether to leave the car at Mike’s house and fetch it later, but as she intended to drive north immediately after lunch, it seemed silly to have to go so far back on her tracks, and she felt confident of finding a Pay and Display space in Grosvenor Square, which would allow her all the time Jack had free between meetings. She thought she had allowed plenty of leeway, but everything conspired against her. When she tried to start her car, the battery was flat, and she realised that she had not only left her car unlocked all night, but left it with the lights switched on. She supposed she was incredibly lucky the car was still there at all. She kept a set of jump leads in the boot, and eventually the driver of a passing delivery van took pity on her, resulting in a queue of angrily hooting cars trying to get past, while her own car and the van were joined together as though they were mating in the middle of the road. Precious time had ticked away by the time she was en route for her assignation.

What is the matter with me? she thought. She tried to blame her scattiness on her anxieties about the Maitlands, but in her heart she knew it wasn’t due to that at all. Every set of lights was against her, and the traffic seemed even heavier than usual. When she got to Grosvenor Square, it was already five to one, and all the spaces were occupied. Kate drove round and round, feeling more and more desperate, and had just decided to cut her losses and make for the nearest multistorey car park, when she saw a large Volvo preparing to leave. Her heart was thumping as she drove into the newly vacated space, blowing a heartfelt kiss of gratitude at the surprised driver of the departing car. She almost forgot to get a ticket, and her hands were shaking as she pushed the coins in the machine. She had thought very carefully about what to wear that morning, wishing to present a more sophisticated version of herself to Jack, but as she ran down South Audley Street towards Mount Street she realised with mortification that she had neither changed into her tidy shoes nor put on the jacket that went with her dress; to make matters worse it started to spit with rain. It was a wild and dishevelled-looking Kate that burst into Scott’s, breathlessly asking for Mr. Morley.

One look at her appearance told Jack the tale. He roared with laughter. “What, no tights tied round your waist?” he asked, as he kissed her. “I am disappointed.” He looked extremely smooth himself, not at all the caretaker figure of their first meeting.

“Oh, Jack! I’m so sorry.” Kate was almost in tears, and she felt weak with relief that he seemed so unfazed: memories of how Oliver would have reacted in similar circumstances made her wince.

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