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The waiter brought teapots and mismatched cups to the table. Elda sighed, relieved to distract Francis from his interrogation. She poured milk into her cup and waited for the leaves to brew.

“Of course I’m going to finish them. They’re almost done.”

“Good,” he said. “Then we can work together.”

She had a feeling Francis could really turn her disastrous week around.

***

“I could make it, with his help.” Elda sipped her tea.

“Let me just play this back, so I understand.” Jack tied an apron at his middle. “Some handsome, kind, mysterious country of origin guy wants to show your paintings.”

“Yes. And he’s Italian. It’s not that mysterious.” Elda drummed her fingers. “He’s an exhibition curator who came out of Goldsmiths and has done some great stuff in London and Paris. God knows why he’s here, but the mill studios have brought him in to run the annual show.”

“Well, if he sees something in your work, then I’m a fan. What’s next?”

“He’s put me on the programme, and I need to finish the trio of paintings.” Her gut wrenched. She’d been stalling for months and now she had a very firm deadline approaching.

“Shall we add chocolate chips or raisins to the cookies?” Jack held two packets in the air.

“Chocolate. Anyone who says they like raisins is lying, really.” Elda drifted off while Jack sifted flour. Francis had dangled a huge career carrot in front of her. Making a splash at a private viewing would catapult her onto the next exhibition and from there, who knew where?

“You know, obsessing over an art show is also much healthier than obsessing over your love life,” Jack said.

“I’m with you there.” Elda smiled. “This could be the break I need. And it’s a welcome distraction from the breakup. I might go home at the weekend to see Mum and Nan. You never know, Mum might even be proud of me.”

“Elda, you don’t need your mum to be proud of you.I’mproud of you, and you should be proud of yourself. You’re doing this. That guy walked into your studio and wants to putyourpaintings on display in the city’s main exhibition.” Jack tipped his cookie batter onto the surface with a flourish.

“You’re right.” Elda sat a little higher and raised her mug in a toast. She flinched as pain shot across her shoulders, reminding her that she still had some healing to do even though life was looking more hopeful. “Onwards.”

Elda yearned for the thrill of an exhibition, to see her name on a programme, to feel pride in her work. Creating something from nothing filled parts of her that were empty. She wasn’t sure why, but something was different about this time, and she wanted to give it everything she had.

There was something in the air, and she was buoyed up with pain relief and optimism. Even the thought of sharing the news with her mum didn’t dampen her spirits.

Chapter Five

Charlie stepped down the moss-covered path, the stones slippery from the overnight rain. Grateful for her sturdy trainers, she picked up the pace. The walk from home to the office was short, but she shivered in the early chill. Her shoulders ached from the weight of her rucksack.

She took a lungful of cold air, tipped her head up towards the blue sky and opened herself to everything. She had a few papers to file and had blocked some time in the afternoon to spend alone. Work had been consuming every drop of energy lately, and she had to take a breath. She couldn’t shake the thought of driving home from her parents’ the week before and what would have happened if she’d fallen asleep at the wheel.

As she walked across the city park, Charlie noticed a familiar shape coming towards her: Maureen, the only female KC at the chambers.

“Charlotte, good to see you. How are you?”

“Maureen. Good morning.”

“On your way in? Nice day to walk.” Maureen wore sturdy but shiny boots which were entirely appropriate for both the walk through the park and the office.

Charlie cringed at her own filthy runners.

“Yes, it is. I walk most days just to get some exercise.” The breach in her routine irritated her. She wasn’t a fan of small talk, and they were still a way off from the chambers.

“I’m glad I’ve seen you actually. You need to know you’re being considered for bigger and better. It’s a good thing,” Maureen said. “You should prepare yourself, your finances. There’ll be lots of conferences and pro bono work to do before you can be nominated. And you’ll be put forward for the Chambers Awards this season.”

Charlie bit her lip and waited for more.

“Just tidy up your personal circumstances,” Maureen said.