For a while longer we’re both silent.
“Good champagne,” says Luke eventually, and takes a sip.
“Yes,” I say. “It’s… very nice. Nice and… dry…” I break off and rub my face, trying to hide how nervous I am.
There’s part of me that wants to sit here, making small talk for as long as we can. But another part is thinking, what’s the point in putting it off any longer? There’s only one thing I want to know. I feel a spasm of nerves in my stomach, but somehow force myself to take a deep breath and turn to him.
“So. How did your meetings in Zurich go? How’s the… the new deal coming along?”
I’m trying to stay calm and collected — but I can feel my lips starting to tremble, and my hands are twisting themselves into knots.
“Becky…” says Luke. He stares into his glass for a moment, then puts it down. “There’s something I need to tell you. I’m moving to New York.”
I feel cold and heavy. So this is the end to a completely disastrous day. Luke’s leaving me. It’s the end. It’s all over.
“Right,” I manage, and give a careless shrug. “I see. Well — OK.”
There’s silence — and I force myself to look up. The love in Luke’s dark eyes hits me like a thunderbolt.
“And I’m really, really hoping…” He takes both my hands and squeezes them tight. “… that you’ll come with me.”
REGAL AIRLINES
Head Office Preston House 354 Kingsway London WC2 4TH
Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood
Flat 2
4 Burney Rd.
London SW6 8FD
17 September 2000
Dear Rebecca Bloomwood:
Thank you for your letter of 15 September.
I am glad that you are looking forward to flying with us and have already recommended us highly to all your friends. I agree that word-of-mouth business is invaluable for a company such as ours and may well send our revenues “rocketing.”
Unfortunately this does not, as you suggest, qualify you for “a special little thank-you” regarding luggage. Regal Airlines is unable to increase your luggage allowance beyond the standard 20 kg. Any excess weight will be subject to a charge; I enclose an explanatory leaflet.
Please enjoy your flight.
Mary Stevens
Customer Care Manager
PGNI FIRST BANK VISA
7 Camel Square
Liverpool L1 5NP
Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood
Flat 2
4 Burney Rd.
London SW6 8FD
19 September 2000
GOOD NEWS!
YOUR NEW CREDIT LIMIT IS ?10,000
Dear Ms. Bloomwood:
We are delighted to announce that you have been given an increase to your credit limit. Your new credit limit of ?10,000 is available for you to spend immediately and will be shown on your next statement.
You can use your new credit limit to do many things. Pay for a holiday, a car, even transfer balances from other cards!
However, we realize that some customers do not wish to take advantage of increased credit limits. If you would prefer your credit limit to remain at its original level, please call one of our Customer Satisfaction Representatives, or return the form below.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Hunt
Customer Satisfaction Manager
Seven
NEW YORK! I’m going to New York! New York!
Everything is transformed. This is why Luke has been so secretive. We had a lovely long chat at the wedding, and Luke explained everything to me, and suddenly it all made sense. It turns out he’s opening up a new office of Brandon Communications in New York, in partnership with some advertising supremo called Michael Ellis who is based in Washington. And Luke’s going to go over there and head it up. He said he’s been wanting to ask me all along to come with him — but he knew I wouldn’t want to give up my career just to trail along with him. So — this is the best bit — he’s been speaking to some contacts in television, and he reckons I’ll be able to get a job as a financial expert on an American TV show! In fact, he says I’ll get “snapped up” because Americans love British accents. Apparently one producer has already practically offered me a job just from seeing a tape Luke sent him. Isn’t that great?
The reason he didn’t say anything before was he didn’t want to raise my hopes before things started looking definite. But now, apparently, all the investors are on board, and everyone’s really positive, and they’re hoping to finalize the deal as soon as possible. Michael Ellis’s agency advertises for most of the big financial players — and he’s already been talking to them all about the new company. So there are loads of potential clients out there for Luke, and that’s before he’s even started.
And guess what? We’re going over there in three days’ time! Hooray! Luke’s going to have meetings with some of his backers — and I’m going to have some interviews with TV people and explore the city. God, it’s exciting. In just seventy-two hours, I’ll be there. In the Big Apple. The city that never sleeps. The—
“Becky?”
Oh shit. I snap to attention and hastily smile brightly. I’m sitting on the set of Morning Coffee, doing my usual phone-in, and Jane from Lincoln has been explaining over the line that she wants to buy a property but doesn’t know which kind of mortgage to take out.
Oh, for goodness’ sake. How many times have I explained the difference between repayment plans and endowment policies? You know, sometimes this job can be so interesting, hearing about people and their problems and trying to help them. But other times — to be honest — it’s just as boring as Successful Saving ever was. I
