Forty Things to Do Before You're Forty

by Alice Ross

  A wave of horror settled over Sophie’s face. ‘But I don’t want to live in Japan.’

  Annie glowered at Lance before turning her attention to her daughter. ‘Don’t worry, sweetheart. We will not be going to Japan. Now, why don’t you go and play in the garden for a few minutes. There are a few things I’d like to say to Daddy in private.’

  The moment Lance left – bearing strict instructions never to return – Annie sat Sophie down and had The Talk, the outcome being that they were both much happier without Lance. No amount of cutting comments from Thomas Mullen, or trips to Disneyland were worth having their private space invaded.

  Annie was only glad she’d ferretted out the real reason for his visit so quickly. She had suspected an ulterior motive the moment she set eyes on him. Lance might think he was one step ahead, but he was as transparent as a newly-cleaned window. And while the notion of him conspiring to use his daughter for his own career ends incensed her, she wasn’t surprised. Lance hadn’t changed one jot. Although no, actually he had changed. He was even more selfish and up his own backside than ever.

  Despite her raging fury though, Annie hadn’t voiced any of the above to Sophie. Whatever his faults – and the list multiplied daily – Lance was still the child’s father and Annie didn’t intend cutting him out altogether. When Sophie was ready which, she anticipated, might not be for a long while yet, she would arrange a meeting with Lance in another place crammed with people and distractions.

  *

  Since agreeing to the film deal, Jake had been swept along in a whirlwind of activity. The stream of interviews, meetings and photo shoots Tanya had set up seemed never-ending. Indeed, when the first cogs of the well-oiled marketing machine creaked into action, Jake had almost changed his mind. It had all seemed so terrifyingly daunting, not to mention unnecessary. Gradually, though, he was conquering his nerves, beginning to relax and, although he could never imagine enjoying the attention, at least he’d stopped waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. The thing that really kept him focused though, was the contract he’d signed – the contract for an obscene amount of money – which stated that all payments, profits and royalties were to be paid directly to the Sri Lankan foundation. With the exception of Nina’s delighted parents, there was only one other person with whom Jake would have liked to have shared his news. But that person was miles away in Yorkshire and probably wouldn’t be one bit interested.

  Arriving back from London a couple of days later, Jake was exhausted. Another thirty-six hours in the capital had taken its toll. He must be getting old. Goodness only knew how he was going to feel when all the publicity went live next week. He was too tired to think about that right now. All he wanted to do was hide away in his cottage for a few days. Pretend none of this madness was happening.

  He’d been in the house a couple of hours and was halfway down the stairs after taking a shower, when the post landed with a thud on the mat. Not in the mood for bills or flyers, Jake was about to ignore it, when something caught his eye. An envelope addressed in a child’s handwriting. His heart skipped a beat. The only child he knew was Sophie Richards, but surely it couldn’t be from her. He picked up the envelope. It was postmarked Buttersley. A wave of nausea washed over him. It must be bad news. It had to be. Why else would Sophie Richards be writing to him?

  He carried the envelope through to the lounge and sank down on the sofa, his heart now thundering. If it was bad news … if something had happened to Annie … he wouldn’t be able to bear it. He’d already lost one woman he loved. He certainly didn’t want to lose another. He sank back against the cushions, his head whirring. He loved Annie Richards. And, now that he came to think of it, he had done for some time. Perhaps even from the first day he’d seen her, when she’d been wearing that ridiculous armour helmet. Of course he’d known he’d had feelings for her, knew she encroached on his thoughts at all hours of the day and night. But it had taken the possibility that something awful might have happened to her for him to realise the true extent of his feelings.

  He held his breath as he tore open the envelope, praying his instincts were wrong.

  Annie added the final finishing touch to the wedding cake, before stepping back and running a critical eye over it. Not that she could see anything to criticise. Even if she said so herself, it looked stunning – a four foot cascade of sugar-paste wildflowers, exactly how she’d imagined it. It had been every bit as challenging as she’d imagined too. But she wasn’t complaining. She’d learned heaps as she’d gone along, was set to make a healthy profit and, given the cake’s originality, was virtually assured of several spin-off orders. Orders from other brides-to-be, wanting her cakes to form part of their Special Day. Did that put her in the same category as ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’? She heaved a heavy sigh and suspected it might.

  Annie had never really thought about being a bride before but, looking at the magnificent cake, she couldn’t help wonder how it must feel to have someone love you enough to want to spend the rest of their lives with you. And how amazing it must be to find someone you loved enough to want to share the rest of your life with. She’d thought that person might be Lance, once. Thankfully his true colours had shone through before she’d wasted too many years on him. But was there someone else out there for her? Waiting in the wings until fate ushered them centre stage? Her thoughts drifted to Jake. But before they could loiter there, Annie deftly reined them back in.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The following morning Annie awoke early to the sun peeping through the curtains and the birds exercising their vocal chords. It took just seconds for the significance of the day to hit her: today was the day of her race. Panic and excitement began coursing through her veins. Panic that she might be the slowest person in living history to complete a 10k, and excitement that she might not. She leaped out of bed, prepared to face the challenge ahead.

  The starting and finishing point for the race was the meadow where the village fair had been held. Annie decided to walk down in the hope it might calm her jangling nerves. It didn’t. By the time she arrived, the meadow was already swarming with activity – runners, in a rainbow of fluorescent Lycra performing warm-up stretches; legs of varying lengths and strengths jogging on the spot; green-bibbed volunteers scurrying around with bottles of water; plus a rabble of supporters, two of whom looked decidedly pleased with themselves as they marched over to her, each carrying what looked suspiciously like a homemade banner.

  ‘What do you think?’ They unfurled their efforts and held them up. Harriet’s said ‘Go Annie Go’. Jenny’s ‘Annie Get Your Gun’.

  Annie burst out laughing. ‘You’re not serious.’

  Jenny looked slightly affronted. ‘Of course we are. We thought they might spur you on.’

  ‘I’m sure they will,’ said Annie, with a twinge of guilt. ‘But you really didn’t have to go to all that trouble. A few words of encouragement as I passed would have been enough.’

  ‘There wouldn’t be time,’ pointed out Harriet. ‘You’ll be nothing but a streak of pink and black as you zip past us.’

  Annie laughed again. ‘I’m not sure about the “zipping” bit, but as long as I–’

  ‘Will all runners please proceed to the starting line,’ interjected a male voice over the loudspeaker.

  Annie grimaced. ‘Well, I guess that’s me.’

  ‘You go and show them what you’re made of,’ said Harriet.

  ‘At this particular moment it feels like blancmange. Remind me why I thought this was a good idea again.’

  ‘Character building.’

  ‘Does my character really need building that much?’

  ‘Yes. Now stop dithering and go.’

  The first mile was the worst but once she got into her stride, Annie loved the whole experience. Of course the atmosphere helped. Dozens of fervent, morale-boosting supporters lined the route, waving flags and banners. She passed Jenny and Harriet three times, as they darted around the rout
e, using various shortcuts.

  In what seemed like no time at all, Annie crossed the finish line. The realisation that not only had she completed the race, but she’d done so in well under her anticipated time, caused a massive surge of adrenalin to pulse through her. She almost felt like she was flying. Which, indeed, she was. Having somehow tripped over her own foot, she was about to land flat on the ground, when a pair of strong arms reached out and caught her. A pair of strong arms she had been in once before, under quite different circumstances.

  ‘Well,’ said Jake, setting her upright. ‘That wasn’t quite the reception I’d envisaged, but you were brilliant, Annie. Really brilliant. Even that little stumble was spectacular.’

  As she looked into his twinkling dark eyes, Annie thought she must be dreaming. Either that or she’d suffered a coronary and died on the spot. Sophie tugging on her arm brought her back to reality.

  ‘Well done, Mum. You were great.’

  Annie’s body might have stopped racing, but her brain had taken over – with a raft of questions. Namely, what was Sophie doing here when Annie had dropped her at Jessica’s house earlier? And what was Jake Sinclair doing here when he was supposed to be hundreds of miles away in Scotland?

  ‘I wrote to Mr Sinclair and asked if he was still taking me to the race,’ Sophie announced proudly.

  Annie gawped at her. ‘But how did you know where he –?’

  ‘I believe a certain Scottish lady had a hand in it.’ Jake’s diffident tone was replaced by one of anxiety as he gazed directly into her eyes. ‘Look, Annie, I know the way I left last time was … well, inexcusable. But I’d like to explain – if you’ll let me.’

  ‘What’s to explain,’ snapped Annie, anger overtaking all other emotions at breakneck speed. Following the Lance debacle, she’d had enough of men to last her a lifetime. ‘What happened was a stupid mistake.’

  ‘Not on my part, it wasn’t,’ countered Jake. ‘The only mistake I made was running off like I did. Please. Give me a chance to explain. Properly.’

  Annie blew out her breath in a huff and crossed her arms over her chest. ‘There’s no point.’

  ‘Oh but there is,’ he said, his firm tone causing Annie to snap up her head to him.

  She examined his face. He looked totally gorgeous and completely exhausted. The lines fanning the corners of his eyes seemed more pronounced, there was a shadow of stubble over his chin and, for the first time, she noticed flecks of grey in the hair at his temples. And then, of course, there were those eyes, those startling navy-blue eyes gazing into hers, overflowing with something she couldn’t quite identify, something that made every ounce of her resolve melt.

  Just when she’d thought she couldn’t feel any more confused, up popped Mrs Mackenzie.

  ‘Now, didn’t you do well, dear,’ she said, patting Annie’s arm. ‘And I can see it’s all a bit much for you to take in here, so why don’t you and Mr Sinclair enjoy the rest of the afternoon and go out for a nice dinner this evening? I’ve already arranged to take young Sophie here back to my house.’

  ‘But I thought you were going to –’

  ‘Changed my plans. Some things are more important.’ Her knowing wink caused Annie’s already flushed cheeks to turn scarlet.

  ‘We’re going to cut up all of Mrs Mackenzie’s clothes and make a patchwork quilt,’ Sophie informed her excitedly. ‘Can we cut up your green flowery blouse, Mrs M? I don’t really like that one.’

  Mrs Mackenzie shook her head in horror. ‘Heavens, no, child. That’s one of my best. You’ll have to leave me something to wear. Now, come along. We’ve a lot to sort out. And –’ she turned her attention back to Annie, ‘as these quilts are very time consuming, you just give me a call when you’d like me to bring her back. I’ve nothing on tomorrow so she’ll keep me out of mischief.’

  Annie watched in something of a daze as Mrs Mackenzie led Sophie away. She couldn’t believe all this plotting and planning had been going on and she’d been completely oblivious to it.

  ‘So,’ said Jake softly. ‘Will you let me explain?’

  Annie met his gaze

  ‘Please, Annie.’

  His voice was so full of pleading that Annie found herself muttering. ‘Oh, all right then.’

  He gave a weak smile, his relief almost palpable. ‘Should we go for a walk? Down by the river?’

  It took a while before they completely left behind the sprawling crowd from the race and reached a bench on the riverbank. They both sat down, Jake leaning forward and resting his forearms on his thighs. He turned to look at her, and gave another fleeting smile. ‘Thanks for giving me the chance to do this. I know I don’t deserve it. ‘

  ‘No,’ said Annie, her anger simmering again. ‘You don’t. You made me feel like a discarded old shoe. Exactly how Lance had made me feel all those years ago. I thought you were better than that but obviously I was wrong.’

  Jake dropped his head. ‘I’m really sorry, Annie. You deserve better.’

  ‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘I do.’

  ‘What happened with Lance?’

  Annie shrugged. ‘He turned up, bleating on about how much he’d changed, how much he wanted to get back together. But, to cut a long story short, he hadn’t changed at all. I sent him packing.’

  ‘And Sophie?’

  ‘She was glad to see the back of him too.’

  Jake nodded pensively. ‘Between the two of us, it’s probably been enough to put you off men for life.’

  ‘It has.’

  He turned to look at her again. ‘I don’t regret what happened, Annie. I don’t regretting kissing you. God knows, I’d wanted to kiss you for ages.’ He gave a shaky smile. Annie’s expression remained steely.

  He turned back around and dropped his head again. ‘But I shouldn’t have left like that. It was an immature knee-jerk reaction. The truth is … and I know it sounds totally pathetic … but I … I freaked. I realised I was … I realised I had feelings for you.’

  Annie’s heart began to pound. ‘What feelings?’

  He turned back to her. ‘I love you, Annie. And I’d never expected to love anyone again. I was terrified of loving again. Because the last time I loved someone, I hurt them … ’

  Annie furrowed her brow.

  ‘Nina died because of me. The car accident. … it was all my fault. She died because I put my own selfish needs before anything else. I knew she hated driving but I didn’t give that a second thought when ploughing on with my plans. It was like I effectively pushed her into the car. Forced her onto that road. The road where …’

  As the words tumbled from Jake’s mouth, the pain of his confession was written all over his handsome face. By the time he’d finished, tears streaked down Annie’s cheek. She swiped them away, then reached across and slipped her hand between his.

  Four hours later, standing in Annie’s kitchen in his boxers, cracking eggs into a mixing bowl, Jake couldn’t believe how happy he felt. He’d had no idea how Annie would react to his reappearance and his ‘confession’. He’d been terrified she would condemn him; banish him from her home with orders never to return. But she hadn’t. She’d been wonderful. And her common-sense approach had helped him put things into perspective. He couldn’t imagine ever being totally guilt-free but a significant weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He hoped it might ease still further with time, freeing up room for another emotion: his love for Annie.

  He’d known from the moment she’d reached for his hand that she felt the same. After clearing the air by the river, they’d walked for a while, hand-in-hand, before heading back to the cottage. There, they’d sat at the kitchen table sharing a bottle of wine. Before Annie had accidentally knocked over Jake’s glass. It had startled Pip. As if on springs, the dog had leaped from Jake’s lap onto the table, knocking over Annie’s glass, and sending a bowl of olives tumbling to the floor. Creased with laughter, they’d scrambled about under the table retrieving the olives. And then their hands had collided and the mood c
hanged. Their lips followed suit, and then …

  Jake couldn’t resist a smile as he looked around the kitchen and spotted Annie’s bra dangling off the food mixer and her knickers on top of the bananas in the fruit bowl. At some stage in the proceedings, she’d suggested they might find her bed slightly more comfortable. Not that Jake had been bothered. He’d been perfectly happy on the floor devouring every inch of her heavenly body.

  He rummaged around in a kitchen drawer, pulled out a whisk and began whipping up the eggs. He was starving. Hot and steamy sex certainly gave you an appetite. And hot and steamy didn’t go anywhere near describing what he and Annie had just shared. Just thinking about it made him hard again. He didn’t know if he’d be able to stay away from her long enough to make the omelettes. Thank god the night was still young, because there was lots more he wanted to do to her. Lots, lots more. And it didn’t include telling her about the book stuff and the film deal. There’d been enough talking for one day. He would tell her all about that tomorrow. In the meantime, the omelettes could wait. Thinking about Annie naked in bed, he realised he couldn’t. He threw down the whisk and strode towards the stairs …

  From a wonderful deep sleep Annie Richards drifted back into consciousness to find a muscular brown arm draped across her stomach, and the man to whom it belonged fast asleep beside her. Relishing the moment, she turned her head slightly so she could study his face. And what a face. Long dark lashes, sculpted cheekbones, a smooth straight nose, dark stubble covering his uncompromising jaw, and then that delicious mouth. The mouth that had kissed, licked, nibbled and teased every willing part of her last night. She’d forgotten just how good sex could be. Not that she’d ever had sex like that before. She’d never doubted that a man like Jake would be anything other than dynamite in bed, but just how explosive, she couldn’t have begun to imagine. The memory of how many times he’d brought her to a shuddering orgasm caused her to blush and smile at precisely the moment Jake opened his eyes.