‘Oh, please Mandy, come with us. You’ll have a good time.’ Jan, dressed in her Friday night finery, begged from the doorway. I sat on the sun-lounger, outside the French windows, book in hand. Once Jan’s best friends, the twins, Anvi and Diya had arrived, they would head into town for the evening.
I shook my head. Clubbing wasn’t my thing. Ever since I
moved into the flat to share with Jan, she’s tried to fix me up with a date. At
first, out of politeness, I had joined them.
‘It’s a great way of making new friends by meeting mine,’
Jan had said. Until I noticed, most of the people she introduced me to were
single men she hardly knew. The doorbell rang, heralding my escape. After
greeting Jan, Anvi and Diya popped their identical brown heads around the door
and said in unison, ‘Are you coming with us, Mandy?’
‘Not tonight, I’m busy.’ And held up my book. ‘Girls, I’ve
already tried to persuade her.’ Jan said.
‘Mandy, you’ve got to forget all about him, and live a
little dangerously.’
The twins giggled and said, ‘You’ve read enough books to
build your own library.’
‘We’ve offered her the chance for a night out and she’s made
her decision,’ Jan said from the hallway. ‘We’re off now, Mandy.’
‘Have fun,’ I called back.
‘We will,’ they said closing the front door behind them.
After moving into the area to start a new job, and a new
beginning, I came across Jan’s advertisement on the net. I wasn’t sure what to
expect, having never shared accommodation before, but wanted something more
homely than the B&B where I lived. Jan’s flat was in a perfect location and
was within easy reach of the florist where I worked.
On a bitterly cold morning, I found myself standing before
an impressive Victorian house that overlooked a park. As I took in the ornate
ceiling in the grand entrance, wondering, which one of three flat conversions I
would be living in, I was struck from behind and my bag went flying.
‘Oh, please forgive me,’ said a breathless fair-haired woman
as she scrambled to pick up the contents of my shopping bag. Too early for my
appointment, I had wasted a bit of time in the nearby bookshop.
With a bright smile the young woman said, ‘You wouldn’t be
Mandy Kent, by any chance?’ she asked while slipping the romantic novels back
into the bag and handed it to me. ‘I’m Jan Meadows.’
I nodded.
‘Oh dear, not a great start to our relationship, but at
least you can tell people I swept you off your feet.’ She opened the door to
her flat. ‘Please come in, if you trust me.’
Jan soon made me feel as though we’d known each other for
years with her guided tour of the spacious flat. Within the week, I had moved
in, and by the end of the month, it had become my home.
The sitting room French windows led out onto a communal
garden. Jan used the low wall outside the patio doors to screen off a small
area with trellising. This allowed us to have a certain amount of privacy when
we had the doors open.
Once the evenings became warm enough, I curled up on the
sun-lounger on the patio, with the latest romantic novel, a spotlight over my
shoulder and a glass of white wine in one hand. With a myriad of twinkling
stars overhead, I was in heaven as I turned to the first page. Now I could
abandon myself into the strong arms of the handsome hero of my choice, rather
than find a new boyfriend, especially after the grief, I suffered with the last
one.
For two years, my life was full of Gerard’s inconsistencies.
Some evenings, if I were lucky, he would arrive on my doorstep either, very
late, normally after I’d cancelled restaurant bookings or dinner dates with
friends. Sometimes, he would arrive on time, but suddenly needed to be
elsewhere, and had to go. On receiving a last minute call from Gerard, ‘Mandy,
I promise this is the last time.’
‘No, Gerard, this is the final time,’ I said cutting the
call, fed up at being left all dressed up with nowhere to go. That’s when I
found romantic novels’ heroes were more reliable. There’s no chance of them
letting me down.
Lying in a haze of sweet summer jasmine, I turned the pages
in quick succession, following the hero. Knight Theodore battled with the power
of darkness to rescue his beautiful Abbelina from the wicked wizard’s tower of
doom. Theodore climbed the crumbling stairs, swinging his sword as he cut his
way through the army of night creatures. Before the heavy, locked, oak door, he
lifted his sword high and sliced through it as though it was made of paper, and
swept the love of his life up in his powerful arms, and kissed her.
‘Oh, my sweet love, my darling Abbelina, at last we are
together,’ he murmured into her ear.
‘Oh, my darling sweet… Arrh!’ she cried.
Theodore swung round, his sword drawn, pulling his love
close behind him.
In horror, I threw my book aside as something black and
hairy dropped into my lap. A pair of bright, green eyes blinked up at me,
before letting out a pitiful cry.
‘Hello, where did you come from?’ I asked, looking up into
the starry night sky. The kitten clawed gently at my legs, turning around
twice, and then settling down and promptly falling asleep. The sound of purring
was quite soothing as I read on.
Suddenly, I woke with a jolt, the sound of the front door
closing and Jan’s footfall coming into the sitting room.
‘Hello, you still up?’
‘I nodded off.’ My little companion was gone. I moved the
lamp back into my bedroom, before gathering up my novel and the empty wine
glass. ‘Would you like a hot chocolate?’ I called to Jan from the kitchen.
‘Yes, please.’
While I added the chocolate powder to our cups, and waited
for the kettle to boil. Jan, seated at the table, reached for my book and read
the page I had reached.
‘Honestly, life isn’t like a romantic novel to meet the
right guy, you need to go out rather than burying your head in this rubbish.’
‘It’s escapism.’ I took the novel from her and replaced it
with a mug. ‘Anyway, did you have a good time?’ I sat opposite her.
‘We had a wonderful time. We’re all meeting up for coffee
tomorrow. You should come along, too.’ ‘It’s very sweet of you, Jan, but I’m
not in a hurry
to find love.’ I took a sip of my hot chocolate, hoping that
she would leave it at that.
Jan gestured to the book. ‘Why lock yourself away in a
tower, waiting for a prince to rescue you. Climb upon a white charger for
yourself, that’s the way to true love these days.’
I took another sip of my drink, while trying to come up with
some excuse, which wouldn’t hurt her feelings. Jan and I are so very different.
Where I enjoy being on my own, relaxing and reading into the night, Jan was the
opposite, enjoying mixing and dancing the night away. So playing safe, I opted
for changing the subject. ‘Do you know anyone who owns a black kitten?’
‘A black kitten?’ She frowned tiredness clouded her mind.
‘No, why?’
‘Well, one dropped onto my lap, while I was reading on the
patio.’
‘You need to get out more, Mandy.’ Jan glanced towards the
sink, where an empty wine bottle stood. The one, I had left for recycling. She
turned a questioning look on me. ‘Tomorrow, why don’t you come out for coffee,
with us?’
I laughed. ‘You know, full well there was only enough wine
in that bottle for one glass. So can you think of anyone?’
‘Anyone, who’d make a hot date for you.’ She gave a light
laugh and took a sip of her drink.
‘No, silly, who owns a black kitten?’
Jan shook her head and set her mug down. ‘No idea.’
‘Who lives above us?’
‘Lucy Wibberley does, but she’s away at the moment. Then
there’s the Byfords. Mr Byford suffers from asthma so no pets there.’
‘Oh well, I expect it’s found its way home by now.’ Jan
crossed to the sink. ‘Hmm, I need my bed, if I’m to look my best for the
morning. Are you sure you don’t want to come with us tomorrow?’
‘I’m sure. Thanks for asking. I’m going to the library to
find out about evening classes.’
‘Evening classes? What for? You’ll meet someone far more
exciting with us, than you will at the college.’ Jan rinsed her mug under the
hot water before setting it upside down on the drainer.
‘Jan, I’m not looking for love.’
‘Goodnight, sweet dreams,’ she said, with a wink, before
disappearing into her bedroom.
I washed my cup and set it next to hers. It would be nice to
meet someone special who enjoyed reading, and the quieter side of life, rather
than clubbing, but maybe I’m too much of a dreamer, I picked up my book, and
headed off to bed.
The morning sunlight poured through the window as I threw
the curtains back. My room was slightly smaller than Jan’s, overlooking the
garden. From my window, a path led down to a garage block, half hidden by a
collection of shrubs. Brightly coloured bedding plants edged the lawn, while
pots of fuchsias and geraniums stood along the low wall surrounding the patio.
As I took in the view, I saw something curled up on the sun-lounger. I grabbed
my dressing gown and hurried outside.
‘Hello you.’ The kitten yawned lazily before stretching and
turning over. ‘You poor thing, you haven’t been out here all night?’ I stroked
its tummy. ‘Are you hungry?’ I carried it indoors.
‘Not really, Mandy, but it’s always best to have breakfast.’
Jan rubbed the sleep from her eyes as we entered the kitchen. ‘Oh my, he’s so
cute! Where did you find him?’
‘On the sun-lounger. He’s the little devil who dropped in on
me, but how do you know, it’s a he?’
‘I don’t, but to be that gorgeous, it must be a male.’ She
laughed, took a tin of tuna from the cupboard, and a small dish.
‘I wonder where he came from.’ I set him down. He wandered
unsteadily over to the dish, sniffed it, and then tucked in.
‘I’ve got a basket he can sleep in until we find out who
owns it,’ Jan said kneeling before the kitten, stroking its head as it chomped
on another chunk of tuna.
When the twins arrived, they cooed over the kitten, while
waiting for Jan. Just before leaving, Jan said, ‘We’re all meeting up at the
coffee house at midday; why not join us.’
‘Not today, I’m kitten sitting.’ I set Black Magic, the name
I had given him, on the floor and he ran after them. I raced after him and
grabbed him just as they were closing the front door.
‘Well, Black Magic I need to get dressed. Now you behave
yourself.’
Moments later, I noticed the French windows hadn’t been
closed properly. ‘Oh, Black Magic, I’ll never find you now.’ I checked the
sun-lounger, just in case, but he was gone. With a heavy-heart, and no kitten
to worry about, I set to work cleaning the flat. Jan and I were both tidy
people, so soon the flat was clean, and the washing done and ready to hang out.
The rotary dryer was in a breezy spot near the garage block.
As I began to peg the last item of washing on the line, I heard a faint
mewling. ‘Black Magic, where are you!’ I couldn’t see where the cries were
coming from so I hunted in among the shrubs. ‘Come on, show yourself!’ I pushed
my way between two laurel bushes and found myself up against the back wall. The
meowing seemed to be above me.
‘How did you get up there, you silly thing?’ Black Magic
peered at me from the garage roof. ‘Come on, jump.’ He nervously leaned forward
as though he was about to, but then gave a pathetic cry and moved back from
view.
‘I should leave you there.’ I snapped in frustration as I
began to hunt for a way to reach him. The shrubs attacked me, pulling at my
clothes and hair, while his pitiful mewling floated down. ‘You should’ve
thought about how you would get down before going up there,’ I called while
struggling to free myself from another branch. The wall from the neighbour’s
house met up with the wall from the garage. Between the two stood a large tree
stump that almost reached to the garage roof. I held on to it and a drainpipe
to pull myself half onto the roof. Now I could see Black Magic sitting in the
centre whimpering at me.
‘What I don’t understand,’ I said, as though talking to one
of my customers at the shop. ‘Why couldn’t you jump into my arms today?
Yesterday evening you were quite capable of throwing yourself at me!’ I raise
my foot higher, hoping to find a better foothold. As I struggled to shift my
weight a forceful voice from below said, ‘What on earth are you trying to do?’
As I turned my head to see who had spoken, my foot slipped
and I lost my grip and fell backwards. Then unexpectedly strong arms encircled
me and the most delicious smelling aftershave filled my nostrils. I lay still,
feeling safe and not wanting to open my eyes, in case I was dreaming.
‘My God, Mandy, are you all right?’
For a moment, I wasn’t sure. Had I been dreaming? On hearing
Jan’s voice, I was sure I was going to wake up on the sun-lounger with a book
over my face. She continued, ‘Oh, hi Charles, when did you get back?’
‘A couple of weeks ago,’ a deep, silky voice said. ‘Oh, Lucy
never said anything about you coming to stay again, before she left.’ ‘A last
minute favour.’
‘Charles?’ I said opening my eyes slowly to find two golden,
amber pools staring down into mine. I sighed. I was in heaven.
‘May I ask what you were trying to do up there?’ ‘Rescuing
the kitten,’ I muttered, feeling a little silly.
A small, black face, with bright green eyes and tiny pink
tongue, meowed at us.
‘Oh Jack, what have you got yourself into this time. Come on
down.’ Without a moment’s hesitation, Black Magic aka Jack jumped straight into
my lap. ‘You’d better hold on tight.’
Not knowing whether Charles was addressing Black Magic or
me, I held on to his neck as he carried us over to the sun-lounger. After
carefully setting us down, Charles sat on the low wall. ‘I’ve been wondering
how I would break it to Lucy that her kitten was missing after she’d entrusted
him to me.’
‘I didn’t know Lucy had a kitten. Black Magic is adorable.’
Jan winked at me.
‘Black Magic!’
‘Well, that’s what Mandy named him after he dropped in on
her last night.’
‘It’s a great name! After the vanishing act, he pulled; it
is a far more suitable name than Jack. Lucy, my sister, named him after her
latest beau. Jack gave the kitten to her just before they left on holiday.
That’s how I became its sitter.’ Charles held out his hand to me and said, ‘I
hope Black Magic didn’t give you too much of a fright.’
My hand trembled as I took his. ‘No, not really. I was just
reading.’ I tried to keep my voice steady, but his wavy dark brown hair,
wonderful smile, and rugged looks sent my heart racing.
‘Would you like a glass of wine to steady your nerves,
Mandy?’ Jan asked her voice edged with laughter.
‘Err no, I don’t like drinking alone,’ I mumbled, without
taking my eyes off Charles.
‘I wouldn’t say no to a glass myself,’ he said with a smile.
Jan nodded and disappeared through the French windows.
Charles rubbed the top of Black Magic’s tiny head with his
forefinger allowing me the opportunity to check to see if he was wearing a
ring. As if right on cue Black Magic stood up, stretched, and then settled back
down again half on Charles’ leg and half on my lap.
‘Look, if you’re not doing anything tonight, would you care
to join me for dinner? I mean, I cannot take you out as Black Magic might do a
vanishing act again, but I can cook us a meal while you keep an eye on him.’
‘I would be delighted to join you both.’
‘That’s great!’ Charles slid the kitten into my lap. ‘You
don’t mind keeping an eye on sleeping beauty while I do a bit of shopping for
this evening, do you?’
‘Of course not. He won’t be any trouble this time.’
‘I’ll see you at seven then,’ he said.
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ I smiled, as my heart lifted.
‘Bye.’
Jan reappeared with a tray, a bottle and only two glasses.
‘That went well, I thought.’ she watched Charles walking along the path to the
back gate.
‘You didn’t by any chance set me up?’ I asked, as she poured
a glass of wine.
‘Call it divine intervention.’
‘Less stupid kitten, more Cupid’s kitten,’ I said kissing
Black Magic’s purring head. ‘Could you watch him, while I have a quick shower?’
Jan raised her glass to me and winked. ‘Of course. Don’t
forget to take this with you,’ she said tossing the romantic novel at me.
‘No, you can keep it.’ I laughed. ‘I’ve finished with it
now.’
About the author
Paula R C Readman loves being creative, whether that’s with words or with paint. So far, she has five books and over a hundred short stories published. This year she hopes to enter more writing competitions. To find out more about Paula and her writing visit: https://colourswordspaper.blog
