Читать книгу A Year of Taking Chances: a gorgeously uplifting, feel-good read - Jennifer Bohnet - Страница 13

Chapter Four

Strolling around the local flea market, killing time on Saturday morning, Tina turned at the sound of her name being called. Beth, a friend from college she’d lost touch with, waved at her excitedly.

‘Hi, long time no see. What are you doing here? I thought you were living in Scotland these days?’ Tina said. ‘Let’s have a coffee and you can tell me all your news.’

Two hours later, when coffee had turned into a lazy lunch at the Italian coffee bar and they’d filled each other in on all the details of their lives, Beth looked at her watch and said, ‘I’ve got to dash. I’m supposed to be meeting someone the other side of London in half an hour. Here’s my card. Email me!’

Tina quickly scribbled her own address and email on a piece of paper. ‘Sorry I don’t have a business card on me today. We must stay in touch,’ she said, handing the paper to Beth. ‘Give me a shout next time you’re in town. I’ve got a spare room since my flatmate moved out, so I can even offer you a bed.’

‘Are you looking for someone else to share with?’ Beth asked. ‘Only I know someone who’s desperate for somewhere to live. They’re having to couch-surf right now.’

Tina shook her head. ‘No. After having a few weirdos apply, I’ve given up on finding anyone suitable. Besides, I’m getting used to having the place to myself.’

‘Shame,’ Beth said. ‘I think my friend is having a really hard time at the moment. Never mind. I’m sure she’ll find something soon. Bye.’

Once home, Tina unpacked her shopping, gave the flat a quick tidy and pushed the hoover around, with the niggling thought buzzing in her mind all the time – had she been too hasty in refusing to even meet Beth’s friend who was having to resort to couch-surfing as a way of life?

It had been hard finding somewhere decent to live when she and Jodie had first arrived in London. It had taken them months of living in a less-than-desirable bedsit before they’d found this flat. Telling Beth she was getting used to having the place to herself was the truth but that didn’t stop it being lonely in the evenings and at weekends. Particularly at weekends. And the rent was quite high. Jodie’s contribution had definitely helped there. She couldn’t go on making up the deficit from her savings so she should really think about looking for a new flatmate. There had to be a non-weirdo out there somewhere looking for a place to live. Having someone new living in the flat would be a start to climbing out of the rut she was in. Maybe she should at least see what Beth’s friend was like?

Opening her laptop, Tina typed in Beth’s email address from the card she’d given her. ‘No guarantees but I’ve been thinking. If your friend wants to come and see the flat sometime, maybe we can work something out.’

Half an hour later her email programme pinged. ‘Hi, Beth says you possibly have a spare room I could rent. I’m desperate to find somewhere so please may I come and see you later today? Beth’s given me the address. Maisie.’

Tina sat for a moment, her fingers poised over the keyboard. Whoever Maisie was, she was clearly as desperate as Beth had said. She wouldn’t turn out to be yet another weirdo, would she? No, Beth wouldn’t have suggested her if that was the case.

Tina started to type. ‘Sure. Seven o’clock would suit me. Look forward to meeting you.’ She hesitated a fraction of a second before pressing the send icon. She could always say no, once she had met Maisie.

Time to ring Jodie for their weekly chat – at least this time she had a little bit of news to tell her.