Maame(95)
Angelina smiles so wide I notice her dimples for the first time. “That’s a wonderful way to look at it, Maddie.”
* * *
Nia
So I’m on the hunt for a nice place to live. Any chance you are too?
Maddie
Yes please!
Chapter Thirty-nine
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Carrow Books Mentorship Program
Dear Maddie Wright,
Thanks for submitting to the Carrow Books Mentorship Program. Your sample has been read and I am sorry to say that we won’t be taking it forward. We wish you the very best with your writing in the future.
Sincerely,
Carrow Books
I’d forgotten all about the rough draft I submitted, which makes the rejection no real loss. I put my phone away and pause beneath the office’s spiral staircase when I hear Penny and Kris walking up.
“I think Maddie should be more involved with Love Stories than she currently is,” Kris says. “She did bring us Afra and picked out great photographers—we’re even contacting two of her choices. She’s been on top of her admin since she started and is full of ideas for an assistant. I did tell you the concept of Flavor Pairings and the play on the word ‘pair’ were her ideas, didn’t I?”
What?
“You did, and I know,” Penny says. “I am impressed, but we were drowning in general admin before her, and we can’t afford to split her focus now.”
“We should give her the opportunity to do both.”
“She’s just lost her father,” Penny says. “Let’s not overwhelm her.”
The door closes behind them, but I stay where I am. So it wasn’t Kris “stealing” my ideas, it was Penny refusing to acknowledge they were mine. Why would she do that? Was that person from the internet right? Is it to keep me as an assistant for longer, rather than pay for my promotion and replacement? Should I confront her?
You can’t confront your boss and accuse her of stealing.
I briefly close my eyes and accept that I don’t have the energy to fight the (wo)man today.
My phone buzzes again.
Unknown number
Hi Maddie!
I’m not sure if you remember me but it’s Emma here. I got your number off Jo she thinks I’m asking you for publishing tips so if she asks play along! I don’t know if you and Cam know but it’s Jo’s birthday on Sunday and I want to throw her a surprise party at your place in the garden. Can you both help? xx
Emma has been to the house a few times with her boyfriend, Tinka. I remember her from her very short, blond bob and freckle-splattered cheeks.
I’m about to type out an excuse to get out of it when I think, maybe this is how I make amends for blaming Dad’s death on Jo. Even though I don’t plan to stay for much longer, I am rather tired of going to work and coming home only to go straight to my room when she’s in the kitchen or in front of the TV. I did apologize but clearly that wasn’t enough. Maybe this action will speak louder than my words.
People pleasing?
Maybe, but baby steps.
I check in with Cam before responding.
Maddie
Hi Emma,
We’d be happy to! X
* * *
Cam and I spend the whole of Saturday together, driving around town in her car, picking up balloons, snacks, barbecue food, cups, and decorations from various shops. We stopped for lunch and both ordered soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I give her a very brief synopsis about my return to work, Love Stories, and Ben, but not Alex. I tell her I’ll be moving out soon to live with Nia. She tells me all about teaching summer school classes and her students, who are hilarious but aren’t learning as quickly as they should (she blames the rise of social media) and how she’s been thinking a lot about renting out her room and going traveling.
On Sunday, my job is to set up with Cam whilst Emma is out with Jo. We move the big fold-out table into the garden and put on some music as her friends trickle in. We set up snacks and drinks in the kitchen and Olivia, the first of Jo’s friends to arrive, gets started with the barbecue. Cam and I play host until we hear Jo scream at the door. She must have seen the numbers 2 and 8 balloons we tied to the front door’s knocker. When she comes in, we yell “Surprise!” let off party poppers, and someone pops open champagne, which spills on the carpet. We all choose to ignore the growing dark stain.
More of Jo’s friends arrive and an hour later, I’m sat in the corner of the garden with Emma, who’s finishing her master’s, Olivia who works at a literary agency, Kenny who’s a junior casting agent, Tinka a dancer, Cam, Jo and … Sam.
“Look, I know you loved it, but it’s overrated,” Kenny says. “Yes, it is!”
I’m quickly learning that Kenny is very opinionated. He’s Black, wearing a fedora hat and a brightly patterned shirt. How he pulls them both off is a mystery that I highly suspect has something to do with his attention-drawing personality.
“That doesn’t mean it was bad,” he says, “but people have shone this ridiculous light on it to blind others into thinking it’s groundbreaking stuff when really? It was just okay. There, I said it.”