She opened her mouth but no words came out.
‘You’re a talented artist, your work deserves to be seen and enjoyed and you deserve the recognition for it. What do you think?’
‘If you were to display my work, some of yours would have to come down and it’s your gallery. It’s too much of a liberty taking display space away from you, or sales for that matter.’ She clapped her hand to her forehead. ‘Listen to me! As if anyone’s going to choose my work over yours. Thanks, Jed, but I couldn’t possibly. I’m not good enough.’
‘You are, you can and you should,’ I said. ‘Don’t let Calvin’s stupid comments stop you from fulfilling a dream.’
‘And don’t worry about the display space,’ Jed told her. ‘We’ll move things around and, as for choosing my work over yours, the reality is that art is very personal. People have different tastes so someone who loves your style wouldn’t necessarily buy my work and vice versa. Youaregood enough and I’m going to make it my personal mission to get you to believe that.’
‘Completely agree,’ I added. ‘Why don’t you take some time to think about it?’
‘But not too long,’ Jed joked, ‘because I’m already picturing where they’ll look best in the gallery. It’s the decade of not settling, remember? You could start it off in spectacular style on your birthday by backing yourself.’
Anastasia looked from Jed to me and back to Jed, then burst into tears again. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve spent over a decade thinking I’m a failure and now two of the most talented creatives I know are telling me they think I have some talent. It’s a lot.’
‘It is a lot,’ I agreed, ‘but it’s true.’
She wiped her cheeks and smiled. ‘Okay. I agree. Let’s give it a try.’
‘You won’tregret it,’ Jed said.
‘Thank you both for making this the best birthday ever.’
Seeing her eyes shining and that gorgeous smile made me feel like it was my birthday too. What a special day to be part of and how incredible was Jed for making this happen? I loved seeing dreams come true for people, especially when they didn’t believe in themselves.
18
TARA
I’d only just unlocked the door on Monday morning when one of my regulars arrived – forty-something Colin.
‘Good morning,’ I said. ‘The usual?’
‘Yes, please, Tara, but can I have my drink in here?’ He handed me a small flask. ‘I’m starting a new job today and this was a leaving gift from my colleagues.’
‘Congratulations! Where’s the new job?’ Colin had been a department manager at Shipleigh’s – the department store around which the town’s small indoor shopping centre had been built.
‘Still Shipleigh’s but I’ve been promoted to assistant store manager.’
‘That’s brilliant news,’ I said as I placed his pain au chocolat in a bag. ‘Here was me thinking you’d abandoned ship, excuse the pun.’
Colin laughed. ‘As long as they keep afloat…’ He grimaced and we both laughed at the second pun, ‘…and as long as they still want me, I’ll stay there till I retire. You know me, Tara – the ultimate creature of habit.’
As I made Colin’s hot chocolate, something clicked into place. When Anastasia had talked about being acreature of habiton Friday night, it had set some cogs whirring but I hadn’t been able to reach for exactly why until Colin said those same words just now – something he said any time I attempted to sway him from his usual order of a white hot chocolate and pain au chocolat for breakfast and a plain brownie for his break.
I handed Colin his flask and reached for a bag for his brownie. ‘Random question, Colin, but are you married?’
‘I was, but she left me five years ago and I’ve been single ever since. She said I was too boring.’ He gave a resigned shrug. ‘She was probably right. Can’t help it if I prefer a night at home after a hard day at work.’
I passed him his brownie. ‘I’m sure there are lots of women out there who love the same thing.’
‘If you find one, put in a good word for me.’
Colin smiled as he paid and I had to stop myself from sayingI’ve already found one.I couldn’t shake the idea that he and Anastasia would be a perfect match and I might have an idea around how to introduce them.
I was restocking the mugs and Molly was wiping down the counter after the lunchtime rush when the door opened and a couple came in. I recognised Billy immediately, helped by him wearing the same Christmas pudding beanie from Boxing Day.
‘Good afternoon, Billy,’ I said, smiling warmly at him. ‘I’m still loving that hat.’
