Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2024 i Take a Break Fiction Feast

I’m sorry to inform you that you have failed your driving test.’ I listened as the examiner read out a list of things I’d done wrong, including driving too slowly and hesitating at junctions. There was nothing major, my driving wasn’t considered dangerous. But there were simply too many minor mistakes to ignore. I thanked the woman, climbed out of the car and made my way back to the office where Mike was waiting for me. The poor lamb had taken half a day off work to drive me there and back. The minute he saw my face, he frowned. ‘From the look on your face, I’d say you failed again.’ I stepped into his arms. ‘I did. Sorry, dear.’ ‘You poor thing,’ he comforted. ‘You were doing so well…

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Emma had a job interview for the role of PA to Rob Jones, the famous weather forecaster. She watched him on TV every day, waving his hands over a map of the UK, talking about rain, sun, and wind. And now he needed some help… Not everyone wished Emma well, though. ‘You might become famous,’ whined Kate, her sister. ‘It doesn’t seem right — I’m prettier than you and I want to be on TV. Working behind the scenes would suit you better.’ ‘I will be working behind the scenes,’ Emma snapped. ‘There’s no chance of me becoming famous. Rob just needs somebody to schedule his appointments, deal with correspondence, and help with his social media. ‘He’s become a household name since he wrote his autobiography and raised thousands of…

Look at this, Jerry!’ Ruth called to her husband as they walked into the hotel room. It was decorated in subtle shades of gold, brown and cream. A king-sized bed, piled high with colour coordinated cushions and a gorgeous silky throw, dominated the space. The luxury en-suite with a Jacuzzi bath, huge soft towels and a power shower, was crammed with scented complimentary toiletries. The luxurious white fluffy slippers and robes were lovely too! Ruth admired the vase of artfully arranged flowers, while Jerry found a bottle of wine in the mini-fridge. A bowl was filled to the brim with fresh fruit. The fancy coffee machine and a hospitality tray of posh snacks were the final touches. ‘It’s not bad here, is it?’ Ruth grinned. ‘It’s a pity we’re only…

It was a big day for my son Ollie, aged eight. He was playing his first competitive football match at the recreation centre. Dan, my husband, should have been there with me, watching, but he’d had an emergency call to take his recovery vehicle to a breakdown miles away — the stranded driver was diabetic and only had one small snack in her handbag, so he couldn’t argue. ‘Go Ollie!’ I cried, as he sprinted up the pitch towards goal. ‘Doh Ollie!’ my little girl, Maisie, echoed from her buggy, parked in front of me. ‘Wow — that young man is fast!’ a voice beside me exclaimed. I turned and saw a slender, well-dressed woman. ‘Is he your son?’ she enquired. ‘Yes,’ I said proudly. ‘I’m sorry — I don’t…

People think I tried to drown my identical twin as a five-year-old. Only that’s not the truth. I simply hoisted her over the fence surrounding our fish pond, then talked her into taking a paddle. Once wet, she started screaming. If it was a murder attempt it was rather feeble. Still, aunts, uncles, neighbours and my parents’ friends passed the tale on, then jokingly labelled me as the ‘evil’ twin. ‘I might go into my husband’s office and stab him with his letter opener’ Now, a good 45 years later, the young woman on reception inside my sister’s high-rise office greeted me without a qualm. ‘Morning, Mrs Evans. You’re back from your holiday, then? How was it?’ I’d copied Andrea’s layered bob accurately. I’d also chosen the right tweedy business…

Trish was a little anxious during the night. It was the first time her children had been on a sleepover, so it was probably to be expected. Her worries intensified when her phone rang quite early next morning, but vanished the moment she heard her sister-in-law’s cheerful greeting. Laura asked if the boys could stay all day. After hearing they were having fun, and excited to have woken up in a different room and be eating waffles instead of their usual breakfast, Trish agreed. Trish had always been on the nervous side, but it hadn’t really held her back. Nerves hadn’t stopped her getting a part-time job she enjoyed, meeting and marrying the love of her life, and giving birth to three boys she adored. But could her anxieties be…

Why can’t we go to the cinema for my birthday party, then go and have pizza?’ Eight-year-old Ava asked, sticking out her bottom lip which quivered slightly making Grace feel even worse. ‘I’m sorry, sweetie, but it’s a bit expensive if you want all your friends to come,’ Grace said, hating to disappoint her only child. ‘I’m sorry, sweetie, but it’s a bit expensive if you want all your friends to come’ But since Ava’s father had passed away through illness 10 months ago money was tight. This was Ava’s first birthday without him and Grace had wanted to make it special, especially as Ava had coped so well with all the changes thrust upon her. Life had certainly thrown them some curve balls. It was good that Ava had…

It was dark, it was wet, it was Monday morning. Far too early. Janet frowned and gazed at her reflection in the bus window. She looked awful. Not only did she look miserable, but her hair needed cutting and highlighting, she hadn’t bothered to put on a scrap of make-up and there were bags under her eyes from her sleepless night. What had she promised herself after Cameron left her? New look, new start, new life. That had been two months ago. Somehow it had been difficult to summon the effort… Suddenly, a mobile phone rang and the young woman in front answered it. ‘Hi, Flicky!’ she cried, rather too loudly and happily, Janet thought. ‘Oh, let me tell you! What a night! Paul and I went to Imbraglios and…

The problem with Barry was he was just too perfect. ‘I wish I had a problem like yours,’ Carolyn said as Jess confided in her friend in the staff canteen. ‘A week in my shoes and you’d see what real problems are like.’ Carolyn was the receptionist at Willard Securities and, Jess thought, older and wiser. Sometimes, though, older and cynical seemed more accurate. ‘The trouble is, we have everything in common,’ Jess said. ‘I mean, literally everything. But I don’t fancy him. Nick’s the one I want to go out with.’ Carolyn snorted. ‘Listen, love. I married Jim because he had a face like a film star and a body to die for. Then what happened? Twenty years later, I’m living with a couch potato I share nothing in…

I felt a bit bad about how much fun we were having on our winter break because, in a sense, it really should have been my friend, Lauren, who was enjoying herself on this gorgeous staycation. ‘Cathy, I’ve found this great opportunity for a free holiday!’ she’d exclaimed when she called round to see me one day in the autumn. ‘This couple want to do a house swap for a week — they’re coming up here to attend a winter wedding and want to make a proper trip out of it. In return, they’re offering use of their property — and it looks fab.’ I knew Lauren and Kev had been short of cash recently, since Lauren had been made redundant. They hadn’t been able to get away anywhere in…

Feline spooky Jenny was just about to lock up when she thought she heard a faint noise. Surely it was just her imagination playing tricks — and as she slipped her jacket on, she chided herself for being so silly. She was just about to leave when she heard the noise again. It was more distinct on this occasion. Her pulse quickened, and she contemplated what to do. Since retiring earlier that year, Jenny had been volunteering at one of her local National Trust properties. The property in question was a beautiful rambling old medieval manor house. She’d only been working there for a few weeks, but had already established herself as an invaluable member of the team. Jenny particularly loved telling visitors about the fabled ghost. Never for a…

It was all Carly’s idea. Della hadn’t even wanted to go to the nightclub, but her friend was very persuasive. ‘You deserve some fun!’ Carly had told her. ‘Your husband’s working, your kids are round at their friend’s on a sleepover. He can’t expect you to just stay in on your own. You’re young, you should be out, enjoying yourself, not mouldering away here.’ ‘I don’t know…’ Della sighed. ‘I bet John’s having fun with his colleagues, he’s not really working this late…’ Della looked at her friend bitterly. Fun! If only she knew! All the years they’d been married, John had had affairs at every single opportunity. She was absolutely certain he was out canoodling with some female client. At least she’d made sure he wasn’t going to pull…

New Year’s Eve. In 12 hours it would be 2024. A new start and a new year. And her still in her dressing gown wondering why she’d suggested this. ‘It’ll be fine,’ Mags had told Connor, when she’d knocked on his door yesterday to give him the parcel the postman had left with her because he’d been away for Christmas. Obviously not fine that while absent there had been a leak in his bathroom and now all his electricity was out, and with no knowing when it would get fixed. But absolutely fine for him to hold his New Year’s Eve thing at her house, given it was far too late to cancel. No, she didn’t feel pressured at all! What would she be doing on New Year’s Eve on…

Liz hated going into pubs on her own. She always felt awkward and embarrassed, but she was parched after she’d been shopping that day. So she nipped into a pub, bought herself a lager and sat at a table outside, so she could watch the world go by. There were a lot of people around, and she noticed that most of them seemed to have dogs. She took a sip of her drink and focussed on a husky that was being led along the pavement. He was just beautiful, and as Liz gazed at him, she wondered if she ought to get a dog as her daughter had suggested. She’d been lonely since her divorce and a dog would certainly be company. But she’d never owned one before and she…

Keeping busy Can you clean the windows today?’ Ryan asked. ‘I have to work late, so I won’t have time to do them.’ Karen frowned. The last time she’d cleaned the windows, it had taken her all morning. And then, while she was admiring her handiwork, the sun came out, highlighting a web of streaks and smears. She’d tried removing them with elbow grease and a chamois, but the glass ended up looking worse than when she’d started. ‘You can clean them in future,’ she’d told Ryan. ‘They look lovely when you do them.’ ‘It’s just a knack.’ ‘Well, it’s a knack that I don’t have.’ She hadn’t cleaned the windows since. She’d left them to Ryan. Karen squinted at the patio doors. ‘They look fine to me.’ ‘Maybe, but…

Wow, you look happy,’ Tracey said, as her best friend slid on to the chair next to her. ‘Did you win the lottery?’ They always had Thursday lunch at their favourite café and Tracey had never seen Eve walk in looking so cheerful before. ‘Even better,’ said Eve. ‘I finally told my sister’s husband exactly what I think of him.’ Tracey’s eyes widened, ‘You didn’t!’ she said, her voice full of awe. ‘I sure did.’ ‘What happened?’ ‘Bryce and I were over there for dinner last night. Now, you know how much I’ve put up with ever since Caleb married my sister — the snide remarks about me being lower class, the constant criticism about my looks, my weight, my job at the supermarket, my dog and much more. We…

Christine sat down at her kitchen table, picked up a pen and jotted down the number that was beginning to haunt her — 40. She frowned as she examined it. She had hoped that by setting it down in print, the number might seem less intimidating. Alas, her plan had backfired. If anything, it made her feel worse. Christine had never understood the expression ‘life begins at 40.’ To her, it felt as though the best years of her life were behind her. Christine had loved her 20s, much of which she had spent travelling the world. Subsequently, when she returned to the UK, she found it difficult to settle down. Whereas most of her friends were happily married with successful careers, Christine’s life seemed to be drifting. She confessed…

Maria sat in the front pew of the church, her mind lost in deep thought. How had she got everything so wrong? How could she have been so foolish? How hadn’t she seen it would end up like this? The trouble was, Maria knew the answer… Jordan Kendall. The first time she set eyes on the boy she’d thought: Here comes trouble. If they hadn’t had to move from their cottage in the beautiful village of Burston and into a sprawling grey estate in the town of Newton Cross, she never would have met him. However, under the circumstances they’ didn’t seem to have a choice. When Stan lost his job at the forge they had to follow the work, especially with Kerry on the way. And the only job…

Has something happened?’ my best friend asked me when I went into the staff room at the hairdressers and got my salad out of the fridge. ‘What do you mean?’ I sat down at the table beside her. ‘Well, you seem like a different person,’ Cheryl explained. ‘You even smiled at Kath when she gave you a tip.’ I smiled again as I peeled the lid off my container. ‘Oh, I always smile at Kath. She’s very generous.’ ‘Yes, but it was a different sort of smile,’ Cheryl said before taking a sip of her tea. ‘Have you slept with Scott?’ ‘What?’ I gasped. ‘No. I haven’t.’ ‘Well, something’s obviously happened,’ she said, and looked me straight in the eye. ‘You’ve been walking around with a spring in your step,…