Ben placed half a dozen house brochures on the breakfast table. ‘Voilà! Today we start. We have an appointment with Herve at eleven o’clock. We’re looking at these three this morning.’ And he handed her a handful of brochures.
‘I like the look of this one,’ he said, pointing to the top brochure.
‘Oh, so do I,’ Jodie said, looking at the long mas with its terracotta roof and bougainvillea trailing along the front of the building. ‘It’s beautiful.’ She looked at the price. ‘Can we afford it?’
Ben nodded. ‘Yes – with a large mortgage.’
Fleetingly, Jodie thought of Jacqueline’s insurance money. ‘I have some savings and my mum’s money. We can put that towards it too.’
‘Merci, ma cherie, mais non. I will buy our home,’ Ben said. ‘Your money is yours.’
‘But I want – need – to contribute,’ Jodie protested. ‘We’re married. Couples share things. There’s an English saying: what’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine. My money is ours.’
‘And we will, and do, share things,’ Ben said. ‘But I provide a home for my wife.’
Jodie smiled at him. ‘D’accord. I’m not going to argue about it today. Just remember the money is there if it’s ever needed.’
Half an hour later they were on their way to meet Herve at the first house. To Jodie’s surprise as she got out of the car, he was all smiles and bonhomie with Ben and even flashed her something that might have passed as a smile as they shook hands.
The house was as beautiful as the brochure had shown. In fact, the photographs hadn’t done it justice. Wandering from room to room, Jodie could imagine herself living here with Ben. It would be a lovely house for children to grow up in.
While Herve took a call on his mobile, they wandered hand in hand around the first floor, looking at the four large bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms.
‘Which room would you use as a study?’ Jodie asked as they stood on the large, open-plan landing looking out over the front garden.
‘The small one overlooking the woods,’ he replied instantly before turning to her. ‘What do you think? Could you live here?’
‘It’s perfect. Do you like it?’
Ben nodded.
‘But we can’t buy the very first house we’ve looked at – can we?’
Ben laughed. ‘If we both love it – yes, of course we can, but we’d better have a look at some others too, just to make sure.’
The next house Herve took them to, Ben vetoed before they’d even set foot inside. ‘Désolé, Herve – I can’t live that close to pylons.’
Herve sighed and drove them on to the third and final house of the morning, an old, partly renovated farmhouse. Looking at the price, it was €50,000 cheaper than the house she’d fallen in love with and could, Jodie knew, be just as beautiful. But it would probably take more than the difference in price to complete the renovations. Several of the rooms, she could tell, needed more than amateur DIY skills.
She glanced at Ben. ‘It could be rather wonderful but it would take living in the middle of a building site for months – maybe even years. And expensive too, employing someone to do the major work needed.’
Ben nodded and turned to Herve. ‘Could we have another visit to the first house sometime this week? We think that’s the one for us.’
As Ben drove them back to the cottage, Jodie looked at the brochure photos again, mentally furnishing the rooms, imagining cooking in the kitchen with its views out over the distant mountains, tucking her children into bed.
‘Would you mind awfully if I did some work this afternoon?’ Ben’s voice broke into her thoughts. ‘There’s a couple of things I need to sort before I settle back down into my normal writing routine.’
‘Don’t forget it’s tonight Nicola and Gilles are coming to supper,’ Jodie said. ‘If you’re going to be working, I’ll take Tess for a walk, and then come back and start preparing the food. I made chocolate mousses yesterday so dessert is done. Main course is salmon fillets, salad and tiny new potatoes. I hope that’s all right,’ she added anxiously, glancing at Ben.
‘Sounds delicious.’
Back home, Jodie quickly changed into some comfortable walking clothes and shoes, hooked Tess up to her lead and made for the path that threaded its way above the village. Next week when Ben started his writing routine proper she’d begin one of her own. Cooking, walking the dog and seriously trying to find some freelance work instead of surfing the net and becoming distracted.
Her mobile rang as she reached the track that led up to La Prouveresse Ferme where she knew Nicola’s son Olivier lived with his great-aunt, Giselle. Leaning against the stone wall at the bottom of the track, Jodie looked at the name on the screen before guiltily pressing the button.
‘Tina. How are you?’
‘Hi. I’m fine but I was beginning to think you’d been abducted,’ Tina said, smothering her sigh of relief that Jodie had finally answered her phone. ‘I’ve been trying to contact you for days.’
‘Sorry about that,’ Jodie said. ‘Been a bit busy. I’m not at home at the moment either.’
‘So, life across the Channel is good?’
‘It’s wonderful,’ Jodie said. ‘Ben’s finished his book and taken time off so we’ve been doing things together. Even been down to the coast and, since we got back, we’ve been house-hunting.’
‘I’m beginning to be really jealous of your new life. Seen anywhere you like?’
‘One absolutely beautiful place. We’re going back for a second look later in the week. I’m pretty sure Ben will put in an offer then. Oh, Tina, I wish you could see it. I’ll email you a picture as soon as I can. Ben will be starting his next book at the end of the week so hopefully we’ll have a decision before then and can start things rolling. Then it will be down to me to handle things.’
‘Thanks. Where are you if you’re not at home?’
‘I’m just walking the dog around the lanes,’ Jodie said.
Tina could hear the happiness and excitement in Jodie’s voice. She forced down a tiny shiver of jealousy. Jodie’s life sounded idyllic. The kind of life she’d always dreamt of living.
‘You sound really happy. I’m so pleased,’ she said.
‘I am,’ Jodie said. ‘How’s life in London? Recovered from the Book Fair? How’s Maisie?’
‘Maisie’s fine. Settled in well. London is the same as ever,’ Tina said. ‘The Book Fair was exhausting and…’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’ve come to a decision and given in my notice.’
‘It’s about time. Kirsty was using you. Have you got another job lined up?’
There was a short silence before Tina said. ‘No – I’m going to start my own agency.’
‘Brilliant news. What are you going to call it?’
‘I’m going for the simple option of using my name: Tina Matthews Literary Agency. Easy for people to remember and find.’
‘It’s perfect,’ Jodie said. ‘I know it will be a huge success. How soon will you start?’
‘Umm, like, as of now. I was hoping to do things slowly. I haven’t even got an office set up yet, but when I gave Kirsty a month’s notice she threw me out with immediate effect.’
‘Why on earth did she do that?’ Jodie said.
Tina sighed. ‘It’s a long story – I’ll tell you later but first I have to ask you something. That loan you’ve offered me several times – may I take you up on it? Provided, of course, Ben doesn’t mind. Not a large amount, just enough to help kickstart things and get me through the first year. I’ve got a bit saved but need a top-up for cashflow and in case of emergencies.’
‘Oh, Ben won’t mind. He’s already told me it’s my money,’ Jodie said, remembering the earlier conversation about mortgages. ‘Of course I’ll lend you some money to help start up the agency but…’ Jodie hesitated. ‘There is one condition.’
Tina felt her heart sink. Why had she rushed to give Kirsty her notice? She should have started organising things quietly, secretly, while she still had a job. But Jodie had never mentioned a condition before when she’d made the offer. So why now?
Tina could barely get the words out. ‘And the condition is?’
Jodie heard Tina’s involuntary intake of breath when she heard there would be an unexpected condition attached to the loan. She bit her lip in apprehension.
The idea had only come to her as she listened to Tina talking so she hadn’t had time to think it through. Weigh up the pros and cons. What if Tina didn’t agree? What if it spoilt their friendship? Maybe she should backtrack a little.
‘Don’t worry, it’s not a condition set in stone – you can always say no and I’ll lend you the money anyway. It’s just…’ Jodie paused. ‘Could I be involved with the agency? Rather than simply loan you money could I be your business partner? Organise the PR and publicity among other things?’
‘Are you serious?’ Tina said.
‘Very. When Ben’s working all hours on his book I need something to do other than just housework and walking Tess. So I’ve started looking for part-time freelance work on the internet but I haven’t managed to find anything yet. Helping you with the agency would be perfect.’
‘It would be brilliant from my point of view too,’ Tina said.
Jodie let out a huge sigh of relief. ‘We’ll have to draw up a proper legal agreement as well as a business plan.’
‘Oh, we don’t need to do that,’ Tina said. ‘We’re best friends.’
‘All the more reason to do it legally. We have to be professional about it. Too many businesses fail because friends think they don’t need to get things in writing.’
‘OK. I’ll draw up the business plan for the agency, you work out a basic legal contract and we’re in business. Just have to start signing up some clients,’ Tina said. ‘Hopefully Kirsty won’t have bad-mouthed me to all and sundry.’
‘Talking of Kirsty, what happened there?’ Jodie said.
Tina sighed. ‘Well, you know things have been strained in the office for months now. I should have realised I was being slowly edged out. I should also have realised Leah was manipulating things behind my back. So when I blithely gave Kirsty my notice, I played right into her hands.’ Tina was silent for a few seconds before continuing.
‘Apparently, between me handing my notice in to Kirsty and her storming out to tell me to leave straight away, Leah went into her office and told her I intended to poach several authors, including the one I’d hoped to sign this week. As much as I would love my clients to follow me, I would never ever do anything as unprofessional as that. But Kirsty believed Leah and saw red. Hence the “get out now” ultimatum and the ripple effect it’s having through the agency.’
‘What d’you mean?’ Jodie asked.
‘Remember how Margaret was upset at Leah organising things at the London Book Fair instead of her? She rang me yesterday, very upset that I’ve left. Says she’s going to hand in her notice too as soon as she finds something else. Doesn’t want to risk getting the same reaction I got from Kirsty.’
‘Sensible lady,’ Jodie said. ‘So who is going to handle your client list now?’
‘According to Margaret, Kirsty is taking the majority and handing the rest over to Leah,’ Tina said, sighing. ‘I just wish I didn’t feel so guilty. Kirsty, I know, will do her usual professional job at looking after my ex-clients, but Leah? Who knows? I feel I’ve let them down.’
‘Nonsense. Kirsty is at fault here, not you.’
‘I know you’re right but…’ Tina sighed.
‘Anyway, once I get some press releases about the agency winging their way out to the book trade you’re bound to get lots of enquiries,’ Jodie said. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if some of your clients want to sign with you when their contracts with Kirsty finish. Right, I’ve got to go. Friends coming to supper tonight. Talk to you tomorrow.’
Back in her London flat, Tina switched off her phone and settled down on the settee with her laptop, a happy smile on her face. Tina Matthews Literary Agency was one step nearer to being operational.
Opening the laptop, Tina came to a decision. Kirsty would be informing clients that she, Tina, was no longer at the agency, but there was a possibility that Lucinda Penwood, the author of the time-slip novel, hadn’t yet signed for representation and wouldn’t receive a letter. Tina took a deep breath.
She’d take a chance and write to Lucinda Penwood herself and explain the situation. No way would she offer representation. She’d word the email carefully, explaining she was no longer with Kirsty, wouldn’t even mention the fact she was starting her own agency. It was just a way of wishing her luck and telling her the book was good – good enough, in Tina’s opinion, to be a runaway bestseller.
Leaving the agency and missing out on the chance of representing Lucinda Penwood was currently her only real regret.