Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i Take a Break Fiction Feast

Flying sparks I think Jacob really likes you,’ Emma said, as she balanced her elbow on the dressing table to apply another coat of mascara. The friends had been chatting about possible romances within the amateur dramatic society that they both belonged to, and had commented on a few couples who’d got together since meeting at the club. Jacob’s name had come up as Emma knew of Paige’s attraction towards him. ‘You think?’ ‘Yeah. It’s the way he looks at you.’ Paige made a face. ‘I’m not sure he looks at me differently to anyone else.’ ‘Seriously. I think there’s a spark between you.’ ‘Feels more like a one-sided attraction,’ Paige said glumly. She’d liked Jacob, who was also in his mid-20s, as soon as she’d met him a few…

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Payback Cathy frowned as she walked down the aisle to the back of the bus. Yet again, there were only two seats free. And, as usual, Tracey was occupying one of the facing seats, next to the aisle. Naturally, she was on her mobile. Cathy sat diagonally across from her, by the window. A man was fast asleep in the opposite window seat, quietly snoring. ‘Yeah!’ Tracey shrieked with laughter. ‘I know! You should have seen him! Talk about a love god! I told him…’ Cathy gazed determinedly out of the window. There was no way she wanted to hear about Tracey’s love life again. Or her latest wild shoplifting spree. ‘No way!’ Tracey cried, howling with laughter. ‘Oh, Jules, you didn’t! Just wait until I tell Maria!’ Please, no!…

Doing a runner A dam and Eve were the happiest couple in the world because neither had a mother-in-law. With those words in her head, Josie achieved perfect timing. As the doorbell rang, she yanked on her coat and grabbed her bag. ‘Sam, your mum’s here,’ she yelled before she opened the door. ‘Hi Mary, I’m just on my way out.’ Mary took a slow glance over her shoulder. ‘Your front lawn wants cutting.’ ‘Does it? Tell Sam, will you? He’s in the lounge playing with Lily. I have to rush off.’ ‘Where are you going? It’s Saturday.’ ‘I have a dentist’s appointment — they’re open until noon.’ ‘Well, that’s a shame — after all, weekends are for family.’ Josie frowned. That’s two gripes she’s got in, she thought, and…

When I arrived at Gran’s to find Cassie and Kim coming out of the front door, it didn’t surprise me. Not because it was a common sight — in fact, I don’t think I’d seen them at Gran’s flat since we were kids — but because Gran had died two days before and had left no will. With the three of us her only family, I knew they’d be there before long, their grubby hands grabbing whatever they could find. Actually, if anything surprised me at all, it was that they hadn’t been round sooner. ‘Oh. Hi Linda,’ Cassie said, like I was the last person she’d wanted to bump into. ‘Er, me and Kim are just helping you clear Gran’s stuff.’ She shot Kim a sideways glance. ‘Yeah,’ Kim…

Old cast-off It was as Sally tried to go in the dining room, when she got home from work on Friday night, that she first became aware of it. As she pushed the door wide open, it hit something and swung back at her, knocking her arm and making her spill her cup of tea. ‘What?’ she cried. ‘You haven’t scratched it, have you?’ demanded Gordon, hearing the bang and running down the stairs. ‘Scratched what?’ asked Sally, hurrying to fetch a cloth from the kitchen to wipe the carpet. ‘Darling, it isn’t rubbish’, it’s quality!’ ‘I’ll show you!’ he smiled, stepping over her and gently opening the door. ‘Ta-da!’ Sally froze. She looked up from her kneeling position. ‘You haven’t, have you?’ she whispered. ‘Please say you haven’t!’ ‘Haven’t…

Rekindled flames Emma, Emma! There’s another fire, and your brother’s still not home. I tried calling but he’s not answering his phone.’ After shaking me awake, around 11pm, my mother’s shadowy form moved over to my bedroom window. ‘Are you sure he’s even involved, Mum?’ Sirens wailed in the distance as I scrambled out of bed and started reaching for my clothes. I’d taken a job in London six months ago, after my 15-year-old brother had promised to behave. Mum had called me at my house-share days earlier. ‘Can you come home for a few days?’ she asked. ‘Luke’s been mixing with the wrong crowd since you left. I didn’t want to tell you, but I feel out of my depth. ‘First, an old, abandoned stable went up in flames…

Whiff of love Try our latest perfume, Madam?’ The cosmetics salesperson stepped forward and sprayed Tessa with something heady, choking her with the sickly fumes. ‘It’s called Magnetique,’ she added brightly. ‘It’s horrible,’ replied Tessa tartly. ‘But very popular,’ said the salesperson coldly. ‘I wear it myself.’ Her badge read: I’m Annabelle! I’m here to help! ‘Well, Annabelle, I prefer something lighter and fresher, but thanks anyway.’ As Tessa walked to the restaurant to meet her brother, she was uneasily aware of the heavy, musky smell. Then she spotted her brother and forgot about it. ‘Tess, this is Jeremy Williams who joined our office this week.’ Tessa smiled at the tall, dark-haired man standing next to Mark and felt a little lurch of pleasure. Very cute, she thought appreciatively. ‘So,…

Fiona watched as Ros sat at her desk and applied yet another layer of lipstick. ‘You can put on all the warpaint you like,’ she said, ‘but I honestly don’t think Matthew is that superficial. He goes for women with depth — and I don’t mean in the cleavage department,’ she added, as Ros pulled down her revealing top even more. ‘All men are the same!’ grinned Ros with a wink. And then she snapped closed her compact and sat up as the door opened. ‘Good morning, Matthew!’ she called. ‘Good morning, Ros! Morning, Fiona!’ he said, as he walked in. Fiona smiled at him and couldn’t stop herself pulling in her tummy, despite what she’d just said. Matthew was so gorgeous. And single. And with his crinkly blue eyes…

Laura heaved a sigh as she traipsed into the supermarket. Life seemed one long drag at the moment. She didn’t even have the luxury of her husband cuddling up to her amorously in the evenings. Quite what had happened in the past year to put things on a go-slow in that department, she had no idea, but it would be nice if he showed a little more interest in her. Yawning, she followed her normal path around the aisles picking up what was needed, when something stopped her in her tracks. Peering more closely she read the blurb advertising a new brand of coffee, and grinned. Frisky Coffee. Try it to pep up your love life! She didn’t often believe PR blurb, but maybe she ought to give it a…

Blending in Happy tears washed my face as Ben picked me up and swung me round. My daughter, Ava, who I’d thought was engrossed in the cartoons on the television, joined us. ‘My turn now, Daddy!’ she said when Ben finally put me down. It was the first time she’d called him Daddy. After he’d done as she requested, I asked Ava: ‘Did you know about this?’ She nodded. ‘Ben asked me to choose a ring, and he said if you wore it, he would be my daddy.’ So, one of the times Ben had fetched her from infant school and not come straight home, they’d gone to a jeweller’s instead of the park. The last time he’d collected her was a week ago. I was impressed she’d managed to…

Fireworks! She took a little extra trouble with her make-up that Tuesday morning. It was the day Michael visited the wine shop where Lynette handled the accounts and other paperwork. Michael, with his glossy hair and irresistible grin. When he laughed, fire seemed to dance in his eyes Bonfire man, she and the rest of the staff called him, for the simple reason that he worked for Bonfire Snacks who made the fancy nuts and crisps the wine shop sold. It suited him. There were a few strands of red in his hair if you looked closely, which Lynette did. When he laughed, fire seemed to dance in his eyes. And that smile, oh that smile. It heated Lynette, melted her. Naturally, Michael was charming, that was his job. Really,…

Read all about it The train Kim caught to work every morning was always so packed, she had dubbed her commute ‘the crush hour’. ‘How was the crush hour today?’ her friends in the office would ask And Kim would reply: ‘Fine. Same as usual.’ Except, for the past three weeks, her commute hadn’t been fine. Nor had it been the same as usual. Because now, the word ‘crush’ had taken on an entirely different meaning. Sitting in the staff canteen, Kim took a bite of her sandwich. She glanced at the front page of the free newspaper she always picked up on her way to work and sighed. She hadn’t taken in a word of it. So ask him out! Ask him out and put yourself out of your…

Blessings After he’d asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, my boyfriend booked a table for two at Gino’s, and we were walking towards the restaurant when he told me he loved me. ‘Really?’ I gasped as I wondered why he’d decided to say such a personal thing in such a public place. ‘Really,’ Harry grinned. ‘I never thought I’d find the right woman, Nina, but you’re definitely the one.’ I smiled and squeezed his arm. ‘Oh, I love you too, Harry, but we’re not going to be able to tell anybody we’ve fallen in love.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘Because of Simon,’ I explained, my heart skipping a beat. ‘Ah, I see,’ Harry replied, although the tone of his voice suggested he didn’t see at all. ‘So you…

First impressions Jarrod stepped out of the lift and glanced at his watch without spilling the coffee in his hand. It was 8.59. ‘Hi, I’m Jarrod Peters, I have a job interview at 9am with Chris Reilly.’ He flashed his dentist-bright smile at the receptionist. From the warm smile she returned, he knew he’d already caught her attention. And why wouldn’t he? The designer suit accentuated his gym-toned body, his hair was a trendy short style that made him look casually sophisticated, and his face, well, he was born with looks that opened doors — for getting the ladies, the best deals at retail stores and after today, the perfect job. The receptionist pointed to the left. ‘Just sit in that waiting room there, and you’ll be called for your…

Proving her wrong So, what do you want?’ I asked my best friend after she’d barged into my house and plonked herself down on one of my kitchen chairs. ‘Well, I was going to ask you something,’ Jess replied. ‘But you seem to be in a mood.’ ‘Yes, I’m in a right mood,’ I growled as I went back to kneading the dough I’d just made. ‘This mixture’s far too sticky, Jess, but if I add more flour the proportions will be all wrong.’ ‘I came round to ask you if you want to go on a double date tonight’ ‘Will they?’ ‘Yes, they will,’ I said, putting the dough back into the mixing bowl. ‘Well, you could add just a little more flour,’ she said, getting up and peering…

Adrian and I stood in the living room amid a sea of cardboard boxes. ‘Did you want the clock?’ he asked me. ‘Oh, yes please, if you don’t mind,’ I replied. ‘I like the sound of it ticking when I’m alone in the house — it feels like company.’ ‘What about the Van Gogh print?’ I asked. ‘It was always more yours than mine.’ ‘I would like to hang on to that, yeah,’ Adrian answered. ‘No problem,’ I said. My ponytail was coming undone, so I tugged off the elastic, ran my fingers through my hair and tried to do a bit of a tidy-up. A mirror would have helped, but we’d already packed up the one that had hung in the hall. ‘I think I’m starting to lose focus,’…