‘What?’ I asked. ‘What’s happened?’
‘You got the job! You got the job.’
‘The cartooning? How? When?’
‘Mr Williams called an hour ago. He said that he was sorry he didn’t get back to you sooner but he didn’t want to get your hopes up as the cartoons had to go round the building as these things do. Never up to one man or something. But anyway, they were all in agreement. Yours were by far the best so congratulations, Mac. You’ve got the job. He said to give him a call when you get in. Oh, Mac, I’m so proud of you. You didn’t even tell me that you’d sent the cartoons off.’
I felt like someone had blasted a rocket of adrenaline through me. Unbelievable. Me. I’d got the job. I’d got the job.
‘I’ve got the job!’ I said as I gave Mum a huge hug and we danced round the hall like lunatics.
But that wasn’t all. Upstairs on my computer was an e-mail from Emily.
Mac. So sorry about London. Unfinished business, I guess. Michael and I got back together and I realised that actually, it was finished. I want to move forward in my life not backwards so I don’t want to go back to him and how we were. I probably need a bit of time on my own for a while – feel what it’s like being a singleton and think about what I really want, not charging ahead before I’m ready. But I think I’d like to stay in touch. London’s only three hours away so who knows what the future may bring? Love, Emily.
I turned off the computer and went to the window. I’d make my call to Mr Williams then I’d reply to Emily. Or maybe I’d reply to her tomorrow. No hurry.
A feeling of utter contentment came over me. Outside the light was fading and everywhere was still. So quiet. This place is all right, I thought. Another year or two down here will be just fine. Now that I’ve stopped beating myself up about not being in London, I can start to really enjoy life in Cornwall. Good mates, a summer to look forward to. I’d have some fun. Maybe date a few girls down for their holidays. Already one of the girls we’d met earlier on the beach had given me her number and asked me to call. Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn’t.
I felt at peace with my world. For the present, I was happy to be where I was. And then as Emily said, who knows what the future may bring?
After I’d made my call to Mr Williams, I went down to supper. Upstairs on my computer, unbeknown to me until the next day, came another e-mail:
Dearest Mac. Thanks for all your text messages. Congratulations on getting the job. You owe me one! I’ve been thinking about you a lot these last few days. We’ve both been too hasty but I know that we have something very special. Call me or I’ll call you. Yours, Roz.
Double Dare Page 13