A Promise For Tomorrow Read online

  Sarah chuckled. 'Do you have brothers or sisters?'

  'A sister. Don't ask – Skye! But it could have been worse.'

  'Oh?'

  'Just imagine if my parents had been holidaying on the Isle of Muck.'

  Sarah began laughing. She didn't stop until they were outside the café and saying their goodbyes.

  'We should meet again,' India said. 'Get to know each other properly.'

  'That would be nice.'

  India scribbled something on a bit of card. 'Here's my phone number. If you need anything, or want to chat, give me a ring. But I'll probably see you again in town anyway.'

  'I hope so.'

  'And good luck with the job hunting!'

  'Thank you. The same for your Harry. And I hope you manage to wriggle out of your parking ticket.'

  'Oh, that old thing! I've forgotten about it already.'

  Sarah smiled, chuckled and moved on, searching for a new SIM card for her phone. It was a long time, she thought, since she had met anyone as entertaining as India. She hoped they did meet again.

  Chapter Three

  Grocery shopping! Sarah reminded herself with a start. There was nothing at all in the way of food in the flat. Yet somehow food had sunk to the bottom of her to-do list. It wasn't really surprising, she thought with a wry smile. Meeting India had seen to that.

  She didn't need much. Just enough to get her started and see her through the day. Coffee, tea – and something to eat in the evening. Cleaning materials, as well. It wasn't a lot, but it still managed to fill three plastic bags. And that made it a struggle to find her key and let herself back into the flats.

  'Let me help,' a voice said from behind her, as she tried to hold all the bags in one hand and search for her keys with the other.

  She turned to see a tall young man waiting patiently.

  'I'm sorry!' she said. 'I didn't realise I was holding you up. My key is here somewhere.'

  'That's all right. Here!'

  He stepped forward and put a key of his own in the lock. Then he opened the door and held it open for her.

  'You must be the new tenant?' he said. 'Number Three?'

  'Yes, that's right. I just arrived this morning. You live here, as well, do you?'

  'Yes. Number One. John Stevens is the name.'

  'Sarah Hodgkin. I'm pleased to meet you.'

  'Let me take some of your bags,' he offered. 'These stairs are brutes when you're fully laden.'

  She smiled and accepted the offer gratefully. 'They're good exercise, though,' she said. 'I won't need to join a gym.'

  'No. Just going up and down the stairs half-a-dozen times a day is enough for anyone. When you've settled in I'll get you to sign the petition.'

  'Oh?'

  'For a lift. We're all going to bug the landlord to put one in – even if it has to be built outside, on a wall. One of those high-speed, glass jobs they have in Dubai.'

  'Dubai? I've never been there.'

  'Neither have I. But I've seen the photos in the glossy mags.'

  She laughed. Then they reached her landing and she turned to thank him for his help.

  'Any time!' he assured her, before bounding back down the stairs.

  What a nice man! she thought happily. It looks as though I'm really lucky with my neighbours. That's two I've met.

  *

  She took her time over the next couple of days, easing her way gently into her new life. There was no need to rush. She didn't want to find herself overwhelmed by difficulties and uncertainty. She would do what had to be done patiently and systematically – and enjoy herself while she did it.

  The need to find a job was most pressing but she knew she had to be realistic. It wouldn't be easy. And it wasn't. She saw nothing in the local paper or in the adverts in shop windows. Nothing for her, and not much for anyone else either. The next step would be to visit the Job Centre, but she wasn't quite ready for that yet. The Job Centre was Big Time. It could wait a little longer, wait until she had found her feet in this new life.

  Part of her reluctance to take that step immediately was that she wasn't even sure what she wanted to do, or even what she could do here. She had been such a long time in her old job that she needed time to review her options carefully, and start thinking about what opportunities a small town like Alnwick might have to offer.

  There was also a little pride at stake. Never before had she needed to seek help when it came to finding a job. Job Centres had always been for other people, not for the likes of her. So she wanted to see if she could do it herself first, before she went looking for help.

  But it wasn't easy. After a week or two of circling round and round, getting nowhere, she began to miss her old job. A new start was proving more difficult to make than she had anticipated.

  The old place had been very good for her. She went to the office every morning, sometimes without enthusiasm, it was true, but always knowing she was going to be very busy when she got there. And knowing, too, that what she did when she got there was appreciated. In fact, she thought with a wry smile, they had probably always been so kind to her on the rare occasions she was ill because they had been desperate to get her back to work as soon as possible.

  Perhaps she had made a mistake in leaving? Oh, no! She mustn't think that. Of course she hadn't. There was more to life than work, and she had needed to sort the rest of it out desperately.

  It was just that she missed the safe, reliable rhythm of her old job. She had been at Jacksons a long time, after all. Perhaps too long. But she wasn't made for doing nothing, which was what she was doing right now.

  She shook her head. Enough! That's it. This very morning, she would swallow her pride and see what the Alnwick Job Centre had to offer.

  *

  Not much. The Job Centre was a massive disappointment.

  'We don't have much on the stocks at the moment,' the woman Sarah dealt with said. 'Not that are suitable for you, I mean.'

  'I understand,' Sarah said.

  'In fact, we don't have many vacancies suitable for anyone,' the woman confided in a weary voice. 'The recession, you know?'

  'Yes, I have heard of it.'

  'I'm only temporary myself.'

  'Really?'

  The woman grimaced.

  'Well,' Sarah said, feeling less unusual and isolated, 'I see you have a vacancy for a dog trainer. I could do that – with training, of course. Is it sheepdogs or greyhounds?'

  'I'm not sure.'

  'Or apprentice blacksmith. That's shoeing horses, isn't it?'

  'What does it say?' The woman leant forward to peer at the screen.

  'Shoeing horses,' Sarah said firmly. 'Do you think I could cope with that?'

  'As much as anybody, probably,' the woman said with a grin.

  'That's what I thought. But I'll give it a miss, I think.' She paged on and reached the end. 'That's everything, isn't it?'

  'I'm afraid so. Come back next week. We might have some more vacancies by then.'

  'Do you think so?'

  'Not really. But you never know, do you? Meanwhile, you should fill in the Job Seeker's Allowance application form. That will give you a bit of money. Not much, but it's better than nothing.'

  *

  Sarah was glad to get out of there. The experience had been every bit as stultifying and deadly as she had always imagined it would be. Still, you had to start somewhere if you were looking to resurrect your career, or start a new one.

  What she needed now, though, was to see a friendly face, and one had just come to mind. She hunted through her pockets for the bit of card. Then she rang India to see if she could meet her for coffee.

  Chapter Four

  They met outside Chez Marie, the café they had visited the first time they met. Sarah was very pleased to see India's smiling face. 'I'm so happy you could make it,' she said.

  'I'm always ready to get out of the house, especially if there's cappuccino to come. How are you, anyway? How are you finding Alnwick?'

/>   'Alnwick is fine, very nice. To be honest, though, I'm a bit flat this morning. I've just come from the Job Centre.'

  'Spotted any opportunities in the job market?'

  Sarah shook her head. 'Not really. Just blacksmithing and dog training, which aren't really me.'

  India laughed and linked arms with her. 'Come on!' she said. 'I'm buying.'

  'No, no! It's my turn.'

  'I'm job hunting, too,' India said.

  Sarah sipped her coffee. 'What kind of job?'

  'Anything. I don't care.' India shrugged and gave a little sigh. 'We've got to have some money coming into the house. Harry is doing his best, but he hasn't found anything yet. So I'm going to have a go myself.'

  'Well, good luck. You'll have to let me know how you get on. What kind of work are you qualified for?'

  Again the shrug. 'Nothing at all. I'm not qualified for anything useful or practical. So I'll have to see what comes up.'

  'But what did you used to do? You must have had a job sometime in your life, India.'

  'Me?' India gave a brittle little laugh. 'Nothing much. Shop work mostly, so long as it was nothing to do with arts and crafts.'

  'What's wrong with arts and crafts? What's that got to do with anything?'

  'My parents.'

  Sarah sighed. 'Am I being really thick? What about your parents?'

  India grimaced. 'This coffee is terrible. It must be the worst cup of coffee I've ever had in my life. Who made it?'

  Sarah nodded towards a girl clearing a table.

  'Oh dear! The new girl. I'd better not say anything, in that case. I don't want to get anybody the sack. What were you saying?'

  'I asked you what your parents had to do with it.'

  'Oh, yes.' India gathered herself. 'Well, from what I've already told you about where they went and where they lived, what does that tell you about them?'

  Sarah shrugged. 'Next to nothing. Oh, wait a minute! Are they crafts people?'

  'Heart and soul. A life of great aspiration and poverty. I swore I would do anything but follow in their footsteps.' India shuddered and added, 'And they're still at it!'

  Sarah laughed. 'At what? What do they do?'

  'Potting. They're potters, him more than her. She's also into textiles.'

  'And do they still live on Skye?'

  'Absolutely.' India shuddered again. 'And I hope they stay there.'

  'Oh, India! You really are terrible.'

  'I swore I would do anything but live like them, and guess what? Here I am with an unemployed husband, no way of keeping up the mortgage payments on the house, looking for a job myself … and knowing that all I'm good for is potting!'

  'You, too? But I thought ….'

  'That was after they'd taught and trained me. As soon as I reached an age where I could say no, I did.'

  Sarah smiled. 'So it's not a laughing matter, is it?'

  'No, definitely not.'

  They looked each other in the eye and somehow ended up in near hysterics.

  'So perhaps you've got something in mind?' Sarah said eventually, wiping tears from her eyes and trying to suppress more convulsive laughter.

  'Well …. If all else fails, if I really can't get a job, I've begun to think of opening a craft shop. I wouldn't set up a potter's wheel, but I know enough about the craft to buy decent stuff in.'

  'I'm sure you do,' Sarah said thoughtfully. 'But it would still take a big investment to get it up and running, and then there would be no certainty of selling enough to make a living, would there? I mean… I don't want to be hyper critical, but have you thought it all through?'

  'No,' India admitted. 'Not at all. But you're giving me lots of reasons not to think any more about it at all. Maybe I should start an employment agency instead?'

  'Now you're talking! You'd be able to help me then, and probably Harry, as well.'

  'Mm. That would be good. So what did you used to do, Sarah? Before you came to Alnwick?'

  'I worked in an office.'

  'An office?'

  'It's no good pulling a face, India,' Sarah said, laughing. 'Yes, an office! And I liked my job, too.'

  'What did you do, besides make the tea?'

  Sarah chuckled. 'You're wicked! You really are. But you do make me laugh.'

  'You can pay, after all, in that case,' India said, pushing back her chair.

  *

  On the way out, they bumped into a man India knew. He was buying bread from the shop counter at the front.

  'Robert! How are you?' India grabbed hold of his arm.

  The man spun round and laughed when he saw who it was. 'I'm fine, thank you, India. And you?'

  India grimaced. 'Struggling. Harry's lost his job, and so far hasn't been able to find another one.'

  'He will. Don't you worry about that. People like him can do useful, practical things – not like us bureaucrats.'

  'This is my friend, Sarah,' India added, drawing Sarah forward. 'She's new to Alnwick.'

  Robert smiled and held out his hand. 'Hello Sarah! You should know you've found bad company already. This woman ….' He stopped and grinned. 'I'll say no more. Just that I hope you like it here.'

  'Thank you,' Sarah said, smiling back. 'I'm sure I will. I do already, in fact.'

  'Good.'

  Robert turned to pay for his bread.

  'See you!' India called, leading Sarah towards the door.

  ' 'Bye!'

  'He's a really nice man,' India confided when they were outside. 'A good friend, too. With problems, of course. Terrible problems. All good men come with problems, don't they?'

  Sarah wasn't sure about that. In any case, it was hard to believe that a man with such a nice, happy smile as Robert could have too many problems.

  Chapter Five

  Linda and John Stevens were laughing together at the entrance to the flats when Sarah returned home.

  'Hello, you two!' she said, smiling. 'Having fun?'

  'Sarah!' John exclaimed. 'Just the person we wanted to see.'

  'Oh, yes?'

  'We think we should have a party, to welcome you to Aidan House.'

  'Yes,' Linda confirmed. 'It's ages since we had a party here.'

  'Well ….' Sarah wasn't sure how she was expected to react. 'It's a nice thought. But I...'

  'In my place,' John added, 'seeing that I've got the biggest flat.'

  'Oh? I assumed they were all the same size.'

  Linda rolled her eyes. 'It makes him feel important, but it just means he pays more rent.'

  'Go on – hurt my feelings!' John urged.

  Sarah laughed. 'Well, it's very kind of you. But I don't know when ….'

  'Saturday,' John announced. 'I must be off now. You tell her the arrangements, Linda.'

  Then he was off, running.

  'Goodness!' Sarah said. 'Look at him.'

  Linda laughed. 'You'll get used to John. He's a little bit crazy.'

  'Fun, though?'

  'Oh, yes. Lots of fun. It's hard to take him seriously at times, but he means it about the party. You up for it?'

  'I think so,' Sarah said hesitantly.

  'You'll have to check your diary?'

  'Yes, that's right! No, of course not. It sounds a lovely idea.'

  'Do you fancy a coffee? Right now, I mean?'

  'Oh yes, please. I'm fed up of job hunting.'

  'Is that what you've been doing?'

  'On and off.'

  Linda grimaced. 'I know what that's like. Come on! I'll make you a latte.'

  'Oh? Impressive.'

  'Not really. Wait till you've tasted it. Mum gave me this coffee machine for my birthday, and I'm still practising with it.'

  *

  Linda's flat was much the same as Sarah's, except for the wallpaper.

  'You have terracotta stripes, I see,' Sarah said as she looked around the living room. 'I like them better than my purple ones.'

  'Not bad, is it? I also have a good view of the street. I like that, being able to see all th
e movement and activity.'

  'I can see trees from my window,' Sarah said. 'That's a big improvement on my place in Newcastle.'

  'Onwards and upwards, eh? Now how does this machine work?'

  But Linda protested too much. She soon had her new machine hissing and grumbling, and in a few minutes it produced their coffee.

  'How's the job hunt going – really?' Linda asked.

  'Terrible! Change the subject.'

  Linda laughed. 'So what else have you been doing? Anything interesting?'

  'Not really. Looking around mostly. But it's early days yet.'

  'Of course it is. That's what John used to say before he found his job.'

  'John Stevens?'

  Linda nodded.

  'What does he do?'

  'A land surveyor, I think. Something like that. He doesn't talk much about his work.'

  'He seems a nice man.'

  'Oh, he's lovely!'

  'Are you and he …?'

  Linda laughed. 'If only! No, not really. We've been out for a drink a couple of times, but that's as far as it's gone.'

  To her surprise, Sarah felt strangely relieved. She was glad John Stevens wasn't spoken for. Not that she had any interest, of course. How could she? Still...

  'What are you smiling at?' Linda demanded.

  'I was just wondering how many eligible young men there are in this town.'

  'Not many,' Linda said. 'And anyway I saw him first!'

  Sarah laughed. 'I'm jobless, Linda. Nothing to worry about from me. I'm no competition. All my energies go into hunting for work, not men.'

  But it wasn't literally true. She couldn't spend all her time job hunting. It was too depressing. John's party sounded like welcome relief.

  Chapter Six

  The flat soon became home. Perhaps it wasn't an ideal home. The living room looked out onto a churchyard rather than the hills or the sea, but at least she could see trees. The kitchen was rather dark, too, apart from very early in the morning when the sun lit up the breakfast table so brilliantly that she began to wonder about fitting a blind to the window.

  She didn't like the colour of the bedroom walls either. And she would rather have had a separate shower cubicle in the bathroom than a shower over the bath. A garden, too. She would have liked somewhere to plant spring bulbs and potatoes, and lettuce and dahlias. Do all those things she had never done.