She pulls open the door and the delicious warmth hits us aswe walk in. The pub has a log fire – the perfect place for a celebratory catch-upon a freezing night in midwinter. Even if Madison’s callwasverylast-minute.
I’d no sooner got in the house, after Logan dropped me off,when my mobile rang and it was Madison, phoning with a question. She wascollecting her boyfriend, Jack, from the train and would I meet her for a drinkbeforehand so she could hear all about my exciting last few days in person?
And as she’s one of my very favourite people, of course Isaid yes.
Now, as we take our drinks over to a table by the fire,Madison starts telling me all about her idea to beat the January blues. ‘I waschatting to the Little Duck Pond Café girls and we all feel the same. Just abit deflated, you know? So... we’ve set up theJanuary Is CancelledClub.’ She grins. ‘You can join us if you like. Not that you ever have timeto socialise much, what with your hectic writing schedule.’
‘Oh, I’m sure I could squeeze you in. It sounds like fun.’
‘It is. We had a dominos tournament last week, which wasactually more interesting than it sounds because it involved not playing thegame, but seeing who could set up the longest row of falling dominos.’
‘Oh, the domino effect? Where they all fall down like achain reaction? I haven’t done that since I was a kid.’
‘Neither had I. It was hilarious. Especially with the wineflowing and Jaz’s competitive instincts coming out with a vengeance.’
‘Who won?’
‘Jaz, of course.’
‘So what’s next?’
‘We’re having a cocktails and karaoke night.’
‘Sounds brilliant.’
‘You should come. It’s high time you stopped being a HarrietHermit and started socialising again.’
I smile, thinking of Logan. ‘You know what, I think you’reright.’
‘Of course I am.’
I grin at her, aware of a couple on the next table earwiggingon our conversation.
‘So, enough about me.’ Madison raises her glass. ‘Let’sdrink to your fabulous career as a published author! You so deserve thissuccess, Martha.’
I laugh. ‘Steady on, Maddy. All that’s happened is I’ve wonthe local heat. I’m a long way off having my book published. It isn’t evenfinished yet, for a start.’ The nosy couple are all agog now. I try to laugh itoff, although inside, I’m still fizzing with excitement after everything thathappened today. ‘I’m not counting my chickens yet.’
But right now, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
Madison shrugs. ‘But the fact that you won the local heat isamazing. People who know about literature enjoyed your writing. As Iknew they would, of course.’
I nod happily. ‘You’ve always been one of my biggestsupporters.’
‘Too right. I know talent when I read it.’
‘Thank you. You know that means such a lot. But the thingis, I’ve had too many knock-backs to takeanythingfor granted in theworld of publishing.’
She takes a swig of her wine. ‘That’s not what your face issaying, though. You’re positively glowing tonight, my friend.’
‘Am I? I don’t think I am.’ But even as I deny it, atell-tale blush is creeping stealthily into my cheeks.
Madison sits forward with a frown. ‘Hang on. Has somethingelse happened? Apart from winning the heat?’
‘No, no. Of course not.’
‘Hm.’ She purses her lips. ‘You can’t fool me, Martha Munro.I’ve known you since the day we both started school in Mrs Robinson’s class,and I know that expression. Is it a man?’
I burst into nervous laughter. The couple beside us have nowcompletely given up on a pretence at conversation and are blatantly awaiting myreply.
