Page 6 of The Twilight Garden

‘We could get a takeaway,’ offered Cat, adding, ‘My treat,’ before Gemma could make any remark about the state of her bank balance.

‘Best not,’ said Gemma. ‘I might as well use up what’s been sent. Gousto’s something else which will have to go now. I’d changed the delivery address to the new flat, but now I’ll have to cancel it, along with everything else.’ She sighed. ‘My whole life is on subscription.’

It was only just beginning to dawn on her the scale of the changes she would have to make… not just her meals but cleaning products, organic groceries, the special tea and coffee blends she liked and her favourite hot chocolate sachets. Those she would really miss – they were comfort in a mug. The list went on and on…

‘Well, whatever else there’s left to do, I’ll give you a hand. I’m owed a few sick days.’

Gemma’s eyebrows came together. ‘How can you be owed sick days?’

Cat grinned. ‘I reckon I’ve earned them, that’s all. I can’t remember when I last had time off. And the Brewster’s campaign had me working until eleven for the better part of a fortnight.’ She pulled a face. ‘So… now that it’s finished, Abby can let her shining new star pick up the slack for a bit, and I can help you. At least until you’re settled.’

‘Is Rachel really that shiny?’

‘Nauseatingly so,’ replied Cat. She gave Gemma a warm look. ‘I’m really going to miss you, and not just at work. I hope you know that. And I meant what I said about you coming to stay at mine.’

Gemma smiled. ‘You’d be heartily sick of me within days. And what about Joe? It’s his home too.’

‘And he loves you the same as I do. He won’t mind. Besides, where else are you going to live? You have to be out of this place by next Wednesday.’

‘Yes, I know. But I’ll find something.’

‘It’s ridiculous you can’t stay here, in your house.’

Gemma paused. ‘It isn’t, not really. If you think about it, the new tenants would be in exactly the same position I’m in now if I broke the tenancy agreement, and I can’t do that to them. I know how it feels. In any case, I can’t break the agreement, that’s the whole point of having a contract – to protect all parties involved. And yes, I have rung and checked before you ask. There’s a break clause, but that only comes into effect if the tenants default on the rent or something, not because I’ve simply changed my mind about moving. I can’t get the house back for another six months, and that’s all there is to it. Besides, I need the rent to pay the mortgage. Without a job I can’t even do that at the moment.’

Cat uncurled her legs from beneath her. ‘Even more reason for you to stay with me and Joe, so no arguments. Now, come on, let’s get dinner on the go, I’m starving.’

‘Maybe Leonards not working out is for the best,’ broached Cat once she was busy slicing leeks. ‘I know the job offer was very attractive, but now you have more time to think about what else you could do. That’s if you don’t want to stay in advertising.’

Gemma gave her a sharp look. ‘What else am I going to do? It’s all I know. But according to Abby, I’m on the scrapheap, so I’m not sure where that leaves me – looking for a new job, in this climate? With everyone cutting back on their budgets…’

‘Don’t listen to Abby. She’s not the world’s leading authority, you know. Plenty of other firms would give their eye teeth to have you.’

‘Would they, though?’ countered Gemma. ‘Would they really?’

Cat nodded, putting down her knife for a second to give Gemma a stern look. ‘They absolutely would… if that’s what you want to do. All I’m saying is that maybe things not working out today is a blessing in disguise. You have skills which would be transferable to loads of other industries. Don’t limit yourself to what you go after, that’s all. The cherries are ripe for the picking.’

‘I think the harvest might be over,’ replied Gemma, pausing to taste the sauce she was making. ‘At least it feels that way.’

‘Which is understandable,’ fired back Cat. ‘You’ve had a rough ride of things over the last year or so. It’s no wonder your confidence has taken a battering. But you’ll bounce back, Gemma. You’re amazing at what you do. Be gentle with yourself, though. Give yourself some time.’

Gemma eyed her over the top of the hob. ‘You sound like my doctor,’ she said. ‘That’s pretty much what she told me this morning.’

Cat smiled. ‘Perhaps because it’s good advice.’

‘It might well be. But giving myself some time isn’t going to find me a new job, and if I don’t find a new job I can forget about finding anywhere to live.’

Cat stuck out her tongue. ‘Humour me for a moment,’ she said. ‘But if money was no object and you could do anything you wanted, what would you choose?’

Gemma contemplated the wooden spoon in her hand before turning to stare at Cat. She wondered if her expression was as blank as her mind. ‘I have absolutely no idea,’ she said. ‘Truly.’

‘I rest my case,’ said Cat. She swept the pile of leeks she’d been chopping into a pan on the hob. ‘You’ve had your blinkers on for too long,’ she added. ‘Head down, don’t look left or right. And I get it, you’d never have survived otherwise. But now your vision doesn’t need to be so narrow, your eyes and head should be filling with all the wonders you’ve been missing out on. But they aren’t. You’ve forgotten how to look around you.’ She leaned across the hob to squeeze Gemma’s hand.

Gemma’s thoughts strayed to the photo on her phone, the one she’d snapped during the hugely embarrassing episode in the surgery. She’d all but dismissed it, yet… perhaps she should show it to Cat and see what she thought.

‘Do you know, I can’t remember the last time I read a book,’ added Cat. ‘Or baked a cake. I sometimes wonder if there isn’t more to life.’

‘You, bake a cake?’ Gemma shook her head in amusement. ‘Besides, you love your job.’