A Promise For Tomorrow

by Barnes, Miranda

  She wondered what the children were like, and how they were coping. Quite well, she guessed, or Robert surely wouldn't have been there last night. All the same, he had a heavy load to carry. And if his job was also in jeopardy that was doubly worrying. No wonder India had said he was a man with problems.

  Inevitably, though, her thoughts turned to her own problems, and especially to the need to find a job. Time was slipping away. She had already used a significant part of the six months she had allowed herself. The trouble was, as she had told them all last night, she had seen nothing for which she could apply, never mind actually have a chance of getting.

  Something like her old job would be perfect but she was unlikely to find such a job in Alnwick. She had no formal qualifications either. In her old job she hadn't needed them. She had simply grown up in the business. The Jacksons had wanted loyalty and long service. She had given them that, and in return had been well rewarded. What an old-fashioned arrangement that seemed now.

  She smiled as she recalled her introduction to the firm all those years ago. Then, old Mr. Jackson had still been alive. He had looked at her at the interview, studied her, and said, 'You must have your hair cut shorter, Miss Hodgkin. Our customers don't expect to see long hair in this store.'

  That had been the memorable highlight of the interview. Young Mr. Jackson's contribution had been to ask about her previous experience, which at the time had been almost non-existent. But she had got the job. They must have seen something they had liked. Either that or they were desperate.

  But she knew that wasn't the case at all. Jacksons was never short of applicants for their jobs. They were known to be a good employer, and they were a well-respected, long-standing firm that had been part of Newcastle longer than anyone could remember.

  The hair-length comment had shocked her at the time, and infuriated her later when she thought about it, but she had said nothing. She had wanted the job. So she had put up with it, and had her hair re-styled.

  Now, of course, she could have taken the Jacksons to some sort of tribunal and claimed damages for something – sexual discrimination or equal opportunities, or whatever. She might not have got the job, but she would have won a victory of sorts.

  She was glad that it, and she, hadn't been like that then, though. Old Mr. Jackson had turned out to be a wonderful employer. Kind, generous, appreciative, he had soon become her biggest supporter, and seen to it that she prospered within the company. And young Mr. Jackson, Clive as she had come to know him, had been just as good to work for when he took over. Not as astute a businessman, perhaps, as his father, but more in tune with the modern world, he had ensured that the company had kept going when many old firms had not.

  Her own role in the family-owned furniture store had been behind the scenes. She had risen eventually to the dizzy heights of office manager, along the way doing everything required. When she left, she knew Clive had spoken the truth when he told her she would be hard to replace. But he had not attempted to stand in her way or bribe her into staying. He had understood that it was time for her to move on, and had wished her well.

  She sighed. She quite missed the old place. She missed the stability and the security of it. Maybe she should go back and see them all. Who could tell? There might even be some sort of job for her there still if she couldn't find one here. It was worth thinking about. She couldn't go on being unemployed indefinitely.

  *

  The sound of the door buzzer brought her out of her reverie. She leapt up with guilt. What was she doing, sitting here daydreaming like this?

  'You're not still in bed, are you?' India's tinny voice warbled through the intercom. 'I just bet you are!'

  Sarah laughed and pressed the button to open the front door. 'Come on up, India!'

  Then she opened the door of the flat and stood waiting as India clattered up the stairs.

  'Not far now!' she called even before India came into sight.

  Her friend appeared and sagged against the wall for a moment, mouth wide open to suck in oxygen. 'These stairs!' she gasped. 'They've made them even steeper since I was last here.'

  'You poor thing! Come on in.'

  India sat down at the kitchen table and allowed Sarah to make her a cup of coffee. 'I didn't wake you, did I?' she said. 'At least you're dressed. That's something.'

  'Of course I am. Don't tell me! You've been up for hours. I know.'

  *

  India grimaced. 'Indeed I have. My house is full of people with absolutely no consideration at all.'

  'No, it's not, India. You have a lovely family. Harry's wonderful, and the children are charming.'

  'Huh,' India grunted. 'Harry wonderful? Now I know you're joking.'

  'I had a lovely evening, India. Thank you for inviting me. It was great.'

  India smiled and relented. 'Good! It was nice, wasn't it?'

  'Perfect.'

  'What did you think of Robert?'

  Ah! Sarah thought with amusement. Is that why you're here so early? I might have known.

  'He seemed a very nice man. I liked him.'

  'He's a widower, you know.'

  'Yes. He told me.'

  'He has two children, a bit younger than our two.'

  'Oh? Coffee or tea?'

  'Coffee, please. Did he come in?'

  Sarah laughed. 'India! You're terrible. No, he did not come in. He drove me home, and dropped me off outside the flats. That's all.'

  'Pity,' India said with a shrug.

  'I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that remark.'

  'Yes, that's probably best.' India grinned. 'Listen! Why I've come round at this unearthly hour ….'

  'Is to find out how Robert and I got on after we left your house last night?'

  'Well, that too. But mainly because I wondered if you would like to come and see my new premises.'

  'For the shop?'

  'Of course.'

  'Oh, I'd love to!'

  India smiled with satisfaction.

  'I was just wondering what to do this morning,' Sarah said. 'I'm sick of looking for a job. I'm sick of shopping, as well.'

  India laughed. 'And sick of housework?'

  'That, too, not that there's much here to do.'

  'You really do need a job, my girl. You need to get out and meet people, as well.'

  'Now you're talking. I'm missing that. 'You like it black, don't you?'

  Sarah set coffee mugs on the table.

  'Yes, and with lots of sugar.'

  Sarah grimaced. 'I'll see if I can find some.'

  'I can always make do with chocolate.'

  'Don't start! I don't need a friend that likes chocolate, India. I would be better off with someone who has to think more about what they eat – someone who needs to diet even more than I do.'

  'I think about chocolate a lot,' India said with a sigh.

  'Tough! I don't have any, and I don't keep it.'

  'Neither do I, not with teenagers in the house.'

  'Teenagers, huh?'

  'Teenagers.'

  'I bet they're no worse than you!'

  Chapter Nine

  Afterwards they went to see India's new shop.

  'You've rented it?' Sarah asked. 'Already, I mean?'

  'Yes, I have. And paid the rent for six months. I used Harry's redundancy money. No turning back now.'

  Sarah smiled. She admired her friend's energy and adventurous spirit. India was really going for it.

  India had found an empty shop in Curiosity Lane, just off Bondgate Within, one of the main shopping streets in Alnwick. It was small, with a single bow window that had pebbled glass panes set in a wooden frame. The adjacent premises, also with a bow window, seemed to be empty, too.

  'Nothing to do with me,' India said when Sarah asked about it. 'That's separate. It used to be a café.'

  'Pity it closed. It might have brought you more walk-by customers.'

  India shrugged and unlocked the door of her own shop.

  'Bet I know what
you're going to call it,' Sarah said.

  'You do?'

  'I do.'

  India laughed, opened the door and led the way inside. 'I'm way ahead of you,' she said, pointing to a signboard waiting to be hung up. 'I've named it already.'

  ' "The Old Curiosity Shop",' Sarah read out aloud. 'It had to be, didn't it?'

  'Ever since I first spotted it. So?' India added, waving Sarah forward. 'What do you think?'

  The shop was entirely empty. It was long and thin, stretching away into the distance. The walls were well-marked from previous shelves and other fittings, but they looked sound.

  'It's lovely,' Sarah said, looking around admiringly. 'All it needs is a coat of paint. And some decent lighting, perhaps. Can you afford to do things like that?'

  'Yes, I think so. I've got a start-up fund, a loan from the bank.'

  'My! You've certainly got a move on.'

  They walked the length of the shop, with India pointing out things on the way. 'Maybe I'll make the far end into a storage area,' she said. 'And put up a partition wall to shield it.'

  'Yes, you'll need somewhere to keep your stock.'

  'There is a cupboard at the back, where the toilet is, but it's not big enough for much stock.'

  Sarah stopped and wheeled round. She laughed and shook her head. 'It's wonderful, India! You've done really well to find it. I'm so happy for you.'

  'Yes, well,' India said dubiously. 'All I have to do now is find something to sell.' She relented, smiled and added, 'I'm so glad you approve, Sarah.'

  'Oh, I do!'

  She managed not to add a word of warning or caution, still less a negative comment. It was too late for that. India was embarked. What she needed now was support.

  But Sarah did have her doubts still about how well the project would go. Was a shop like this really what a town like Alnwick needed right now? On the other hand, how could you ever know until someone tried it?

  'I'm going to start painting this afternoon,' India said.

  'The walls?'

  'All of them.'

  'I'll help.'

  'Oh, thank you, Sarah!' India beamed and added, 'That would be wonderful. Are you sure you've got the time?'

  'At this moment in time, my dear, any distraction is most welcome,' Sarah said with feeling. She meant it, too. 'Job hunting's not all it's cracked up to be.

  'Anyway, it will put me in mind for the party tonight.'

  'Party? What party?'

  'Didn't I tell you? The other residents are having a sort of welcome party for me. At least, I think that's what it is.'

  'What a wonderful life you single girls lead.'

  'Don't we?' Sarah said, smiling happily.

  *

  The party had already started when Sarah arrived to a round of applause.

  'Here she is!' John cried. 'We thought you were going to stand us up.'

  'Am I late?'

  'No, of course not!' Linda assured her. 'Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone.'

  There were a couple of dozen people present, far more than Sarah had anticipated. It was a little daunting to meet so many new faces, let alone to try to remember their names. One or two were residents of the flats, but the rest were friends of either Linda or John.

  'Isn't this fun!' Linda cried, ushering Sarah towards a drinks table.

  'So many people!' Sarah said, laughing. 'Where have they all come from?'

  'All over! Meet my friend, Jason.'

  'Hello, Jason.'

  'Sarah! So good of you to allow us to hold a party in your name.'

  'Not much to do with me, I'm afraid!'

  'I'm Jessie,' a tall, blonde girl said.

  'Hello!'

  'This music!' Jessie winced. 'It's John's choice, isn't it?'

  'I think so.' Sarah winced with her and added, 'It's a bit loud, isn't it?'

  'I'll get him to turn it down a bit.'

  Jessie disappeared, giving Sarah time to take stock. She looked around and decided John wasn't into interior décor, or even into tidying up very much. Books and clothes seemed to be everywhere, interspersed with ornaments and pictures that looked as if they came from a variety of foreign holidays.

  'What do you think?' Linda asked. 'Of the flat, I mean.'

  Sarah laughed. 'Lovely? Homely?'

  'For a grown man, you mean?'

  'No, of course not!'

  But somehow the comments seemed appropriate.

  'Even so,' Sarah added, 'I'm going to enjoy myself.'

  'Quite right, too.'

  Linda turned and disappeared, soon to be seen again dancing with their host. Sarah smiled. It was good to see people enjoying themselves. She seemed to have spent an awful lot of time alone lately. Too much time. She moved on, meeting people, talking – shouting!

  Later, John joined her.

  'Do you have a drink, Sarah?'

  'Yes, thanks.' She smiled and added, 'And thank you for the party. I'm having a lovely time.'

  He smiled back. 'What else could we do for a new arrival? Dance?'

  She nodded.

  They danced. And they laughed. For quite a long time. John had a way of turning everything into fun.

  'I'm sorry the flat is such a tip,' he said suddenly, when they paused to catch their breath.

  'Of course it isn't. It's lovely. I like it.'

  'Really?' he asked almost anxiously.

  She brushed his cheek with her lips. 'Really!'

  He gave her a hug. 'That's a relief,' he admitted, almost as if he had been worried it had made a bad impression on her.

  'It looks well-lived in, unlike mine,' she added. 'I've hardly got my boxes un-packed yet.'

  'I could help with that.'

  'Open them and turn them upside down, you mean?'

  'Something like that.'

  'Come on,' she said. 'Let's dance.'

  They did. They danced.

  There was food, too, later. Sarah had no idea where it had come from, or how, but suddenly there were pizzas being carved into slices, the spicy scent of them filling the air. Paper plates bearing chicken drumsticks and chorito sausages were handed round. Glasses were re-filled. And, all the time, the music pounded and people danced. John shouted to her, and she nodded happily back to him.

  Chapter Ten

  John took her to a nearby Italian restaurant a couple of days later. She had assumed he would have forgotten his invitation, but not a bit of it. He turned up exactly on time.

  'Ready?' he asked.

  'Yes,' she said with some surprise. 'I think I am.'

  He looked at her, with head on what side.

  'What?' she said defensively.

  'You look wonderful.'

  'Thank you, John!'

  She smiled happily. It was a long time since anyone had said that to her.

  'Walk or drive?' John asked.

  'It's such a lovely evening. Let's walk.'

  'OK. We can have a drink then, as well as see Alnwick at its best. This is the time of year I like most.'

  'Have you lived here long, John?'

  'A couple of years.' He considered. 'More even. Four, I think.'

  'Like it?'

  'I do now you've arrived!'

  She laughed. 'I bet you say that to all the girls.'

  'No. Only to you – and perhaps to Linda, as well.'

  She laughed again and tucked her arm in his.

  *

  Vincente's was busy. Even early in the evening it was pretty well full.

  'Oh, dear,' Sarah said. 'Happy hour, is it? Two-for-one time?'

  'No. That's over. It doesn't matter anyway. I booked a table.'

  'Clever you!'

  Not only had he booked, but he seemed to be well known and could even exchange pleasantries in Italian with the waiter who attended to them.

  'How often do you come here?' Sarah asked when they were seated at last. 'A lot?'

  'Whenever there's no food in the flat, and the shops have just closed.'

  'Most nights
, then?'

  He grinned. 'You know me so well.'

  'Not really.' She smiled, knowing she was going to enjoy the evening.

  'John, I haven't thanked you properly yet for the party the other night. It was lovely. I really enjoyed it.'

  'That's good. Me, too.'

  A plate of garlic bread arrived, and a bowl of olives. They were soon followed by a bottle of wine, and another of water. Conversation started. Sarah laughed from time to time. In fact, she laughed a lot. John was a very amusing man. They entertained one another very well. The evening gathered pace. Time flew. Then coffee arrived.

  Sarah glanced at her watch. 'Goodness! I wondered why we were practically the only customers left.'

  'It's not that time already, is it?'

  'I'm afraid it is.'

  He yawned. 'Sorry! I had an early start today, and I've got another tomorrow.'

  'Come on, then. Let's go home. We've had a lovely time again.'

  He smiled his agreement.

  She offered to go halves with the bill but he wouldn't hear of it.

  'Next time, then,' she said, strangely sure there would be one.

  'Next time,' he agreed with a sideways grin.

  They walked home along nearly deserted streets. Alnwick in mid-week. Peaceful. Tranquil even. The boy racers who tended to invade weekends tucked up in bed. The scent of blossom in the air. Cherry. And apple. A warm breeze carrying it everywhere.

  They parted outside John's flat. Sarah gave him a kiss on the cheek. 'Thank you so much,' she said. 'It's been a lovely evening.'

  He smiled and watched her climb the stairs. She knew he was watching, and at the corner she glanced back and gave him a little wave. He disappeared into his flat. She smiled and continued on her own way, thinking how old-fashioned they were.

  *

  Over the weeks that came they saw more and more of each other. John would visit, sometimes to ask her out for a drink or a walk, sometimes to ask her advice. They dined out once a week, and a couple of times went to the Playhouse together. She cooked a couple of meals for him, and he even took to scouring the newspaper job adverts for her.

  They were good together. Sarah appreciated John's company. She appreciated his attention, too. He was charming and amusing. She liked him a lot, and her feelings were reciprocated. It was good to be no longer alone so much.

  Linda noticed, and commented with some amusement. 'Funny how you're the one John is always asking out these days. It used to be me.'