‘Talent cannot be suppressed; it will always rise to the surface given the right opportunity,’ her old teacher once told her, and she had never forgotten it. In fact, her comment had inspired one of her old classmates, who she had run into recently, a bloke with an exceptional gift for painting who married young and had a family. His interest resurfaced years later, when his kids were a bit older, so he enrolled on an art course and was now selling his paintings.
‘Well, here’s to fulfilling our ambitions,’ said Declan, raising his glass of beer, and Jess tapped hers against it.
‘I’ll drink to that,’ she said, and blushed as he smiled.
An hour later, having strolled in the direction of the train station along the city streets, they were seated in a cool cocktail bar, with jazz music gently playing in the background, sipping espresso martinis.
‘I’ve had a really lovely evening, Declan. Thank you,’ said Jess, her shoulders relaxing more and more.
‘It isn’t over yet.’ He looked into her eyes, and as he moved in closer his heart began to race. He leant over and kissed her on the lips that thrilled him even more than he expected it to, every nerve in his body tingling.
‘I hope that was okay,’ he said, as Jess looked around a little self-consciously.
‘It was fine. Lovely, in fact. I am just not one for public displays of affection.’ She tucked a strand of her softly curled hair behind her ear.
‘Me neither,’ said Declan, taking hold of her hand. ‘But I couldn’t help myself, I’ve been dying to do that all evening. If not longer.’
THIRTY-SEVEN
JESS
After finishing their cocktails, they strolled hand in hand to the train station and during the journey home, Jess found herself wondering if Declan might invite her into his apartment. And what would she do if he did? She didn’t want to arrive home too late, despite her mum telling her not to rush back and that she should go and enjoy herself.
She found herself thinking about the last time she had been to bed with a man and realised it was over three years ago. It had been a disastrous encounter that Jess preferred not to think about, after she had spent the evening in Chester at a hen party. She had never been into casual encounters, especially as she always had Maisie to consider.
Departing the train, they walked along the familiar tree-lined road beneath a bright moon, with white stars studded against an indigo sky. Every now and then, Declan would squeeze her hand and smile at her, and her stomach would do a little somersault.
As they turned a corner close to the apartment, two blokes walked past, and Jess could not help noticing that Declan visibly jumped.
‘You okay?’ asked Jess as they walked on.
‘What? Yeah, fine, I just wasn’t expecting them to be there, that’s all. The streets are usually so quiet at this time,’ he explained, but she noticed him turn around and glance at the blokes, and that one of them had turned around too.
It was dark so maybe he’d just seen movement out of the corner of his eye. And he wasn’t from around these parts. By the time they had arrived back at the apartments, Jess could not help noticing that Declan’s earlier mood had shifted.
‘Thanks for tonight, Declan; I had a really great time,’ she told him.
‘Me too.’ He smiled, but he seemed distracted.
They were standing on the landing outside her apartment and if Jess was expecting a passionate kiss or an invitation into Declan’s place, she was about to be disappointed on both counts. Instead, Declan kissed her lightly on the lips and said goodnight before heading to his own flat.
As Jess undressed for bed, her mum and Maisie fast asleep, she felt deflated. Was Declan regretting kissing her like that at the cocktail bar? Or maybe it was something she said? And why did he seem so jumpy when the two blokes emerged from around the corner earlier? One thing was for sure, for some reason, he had turned cold on her, and she had no idea why.
She tried not to dwell on things as she wanted to spend a nice morning with her mum tomorrow before she headed home. Sleep never came easily but eventually her tiredness gave way to a fitful slumber. Tomorrow was another day that she hoped would turn out well.
THIRTY-EIGHT
JESS
‘Morning, love.’
Jess opened a bleary eye to her mum placing a cup of coffee on to the bedside table. She glanced at her phone, which showed a time of just after eight thirty.
‘Thanks, Mum. Why didn’t you wake me? I bet Maisie has been awake for ages.’ She stretched out her arms before gratefully taking a sip of her drink.
‘Oh, don’t worry, she woke at seven and is currently watching a cartoon. I thought you deserved a bit of a lie-in. So, how did the date go?’ her mum asked, plonking herself on the end of the bed, ready to hear all about it.
‘It was great,’ said Jess, painting on her best smile.
