Artful Dream

Chapter 14

Janet bantered with the taxi driver leaving Maggie alone with her thoughts. She sat with her head against the back of the seat staring up at the roof of the cab. She felt stupid, and then she felt angry for feeling stupid because that’s what the Martins' of this world wanted her to feel.

She wished now she had slapped him round the face that Sunday morning. Instead of just walking out on him, screaming down the phone to Debbie.

Maggie never saw or spoke to Martin after that day. She never saw him collect the few things he had at hers when she tossed them out onto the street. She just cried for the rest of the day alone in her apartment.

Maybe if she answered his calls told him what a bastard he was, gone out got drunk and found another man who truly loved her. Then she could have paraded him in front of Martin as if to say, Hey! I’m still standing.

Then she caught her reflection in the cab window, she was still standing. After Martin she opened her bookshop and was awarded Young Business Woman of the Year. She had been asked to present a talk on antique book forgery in Florence and she runs a successful antiques business with a man who took a lot of courage to say, he loved her. She was more than standing, she was running!

Maggie reached for her phone and dialled. After a few seconds Richard answered.

“Hi.” She said. “No nothing’s wrong just wanted to say I love you.”

Janet looked over to Maggie, smiled then carried on talking to the cabby. Maggie held her phone away from her,

“Richard wants to know what time we’ll be back? He’s making something special for dinner.”

“About six” replied Janet.

“Did you hear that? OK see you later. Love you too.”

The call ended with Richard’s avatar above his number. Maggie kissed her right index finger and held it on the screen. Janet sat back along-side Maggie and placed a hand on her arm.

“You OK?”

Maggie wiped a tear from her eye before smiling, “I’m totally OK.”

Janet then patted Maggie’s hand, “Right, ready for the West End?”

“Yes, but is the West End ready for us?”

The taxi pulled up outside Liberty and Co. Maggie got out first, letting Janet to pay the fare.

“Put your money.” Insisted George, “This one is on the house.”

Then he beckoned Maggie over as he leaned through the window. “Take this,” he handed her his business card. “If you or Mr Maple wants wheels anytime and I mean anytime, he is my number.”

Maggie took the card and thanked him.

“As I’ve already said, top bloke that Mr Maple and you’re a top girl. Do yourself a favour and hang onto him.” With that final piece of advice, George drove away looking for his next fare.

Maggie then took a deep breath. She was now ready for a day of extreme ‘Janet’ shopping. Janet shopping is not for the faint hearted. The last time they went up West, Janet made Maggie take up temporary residence in one of the department stores changing cubicles, while she ferried in rack upon rack of dresses for Maggie to try on. She had been in there so long, that the store manager threated to start charging her rent!