TRULY SPARKLING

Par t two of Della Galton’s warm Christmas romance

It’s lovely to see you again,” Lindsey said as she showed Katie into her office, which was tucked away at the back of her beautiful house.

The place was like a Tardis, Katie thought as she was shown into a space furnished with soft lighting and two red Chesterfield-style sofas alongside a walnut desk. The perfect place to sort out your life, Katie decided.

She still couldn’t believe she was having a life-coaching session. It wasn’t the kind of thing she’d ever have considered. But Lindsey was so nice. The kind of person you could trust.

“The first thing I usually ask clients,” Lindsey began once they were settled with a percolator of fresh coffee, “is this… If you had only six months to live – what would you be doing?” She smiled. “Let’s assume money isn’t an issue.”

Katie nodded. “I’d immerse myself in music,” she said instantly. “And I’d live in a cottage something like this one…” She gestured towards the window, which overlooked a sprawling garden. “Sharing it with the man of my dreams, of course.” She felt her stomach clench. Until she’d come to Dorset to help her brother, she’d thought Marcus was that man – but something had changed in the last fortnight. It was very disturbing.

“Currently you’re a teaching assistant?” Lindsey questioned, looking at some notes she’d made when they’d chatted on the phone. “Does that involve music?”

Katie shook her head. “My contract in Bristol finished in November. And it didn’t involve music. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked my job, but…” She paused. “It wasn’t your dream job?” “Not really.” Katie went on hesitantly, “I’m a musician. I thought at one stage when I was young and idealistic that I’d like to be a professional pianist, but by the time I was old enough to choose, I’d let myself be talked out of it. By my teachers – and family – you know. Being a musician isn’t exactly a reliable career, is it?” Her face heated up as she tried to suppress the emotion in her voice. She hadn’t wanted to be talked out of her dream. She hadn’t wanted to be sensible.

“So you went for the reliable option?” Lindsey asked softly.

“Yep… and I’m currently out of a job!” She shrugged, trying to minimise the hurt.

It was weird, but until now she had never put it into words. She’d never stopped long enough to wonder whether or not she’d done the right thing.

“I’m too old to have a career change now, though, aren’t I? Even if I wanted?” Lindsey’s eyebrows shot up.

“You’re only thirty-four! It’s a perfect age for a career change. Besides, you’re never too old to follow your dreams.” She spoke with such assurance that Katie felt a tingle of excitement in her stomach.

By the time their session ended, she was buzzing with it. Lindsey was inspiring. She had a way of making you feel anything was possible.

Just before Lindsey showed her out, Katie said the second thing she’d said that day that bypassed logic and sense and had more to do with gut feeling.

“Do you by any chance have a bit of a thing for my brother?”

Lindsey did a classic double take.

“Oh my gosh, is it that obvious?”

“Only to me. Don’t worry.” Katie smiled at her. “Men are so dim when it comes to romance. Or at least, Jimmy is.”

Lindsey bit her lip. “I liked him the first time I met him. Every time I’ve met him since, I’ve liked him more. That last party was the – um – third he’s done this year.”

“Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to just ask him out?” Katie said impulsively.

Oops! That had probably been a bit direct, but Lindsey clearly hadn’t taken offence because she giggled.

“Loads cheaper. But I can’t… I’m scared he’s going to say no. Is that mad? Yes it is, isn’t it?” Her cheeks went pink as she answered her own question.

“Totally,” Katie said, “And far be it for me to do him out of business but, hey, maybe I can help. I’ll be subtle, don’t worry,” she added, seeing Lindsey’s look of alarm. “Leave it with me.”

In the end Katie wasn’t very subtle. Or more to the point, subtle didn’t work. After Jimmy had totally ignored several hints about festive romance and mixing business with pleasure, and some other stuff about how wonderful Lindsey was, which he’d agreed with, but not pursued, she decided to ask him outright.

So one evening when they were decorating his slightly battered Christmas tree she said idly, “A Christmas drink with Lindsey Campbell would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

“Great idea,” he said, leaning forward to hang a red bauble on one of the lower branches. “You two get on really well, don’t you?”

“Not me, you Muppet… You!”

“Me?” He looked astonished. “She’s well out of my league. A girl like that.”

“Darling brother, you have no idea, do you? She thinks you’re lovely. Clearly she has very good taste. I bet you anything that if you were to phone her up and ask her for a drink – she would say yes.”

“How do you know?” He glanced at her suspiciously.

“Call it women’s intuition.” She tapped her nose. Then she nudged his phone towards him. “Go on. Ask her out. You’ve got nothing to lose.”

She made herself scarce to give him some privacy.

“She’s out of your league? Darling brother, you have no idea, do you?”