Free Design For Loving by Jenny Lane Page A
Authors: Jenny Lane
on the first score, Katie noted, so maybe that’s how it was. She felt he could do better than Olivia.
‘ She said she couldn’t reach you on your mobile,’ Shelley added as an afterthought.
‘ No, that would be right because I left it here, switched off!’
He went into the back room and, after a few minutes, returned looking slightly irritated, but was pleasant enough to both of them.
The pile of exhibition work was growing daily and Katie knew that the standard was good. The replacement items were, if anything, even better than the originals and Lyall’s contribution was going to prove a great asset.
Suddenly, Katie had every hope that things could soon start looking up for them and that there might be a life after Jack, after all.
She put the finishing touches to a silver bracelet and got up for a leg stretch. Lyall stood up at the same time.
‘ Sorry, guys, I’ve got to go. See you both tomorrow morning.’
‘ I guess he’s gone to see the delectable Olive,’ Shelley said when he was out of earshot.
‘ Olivia,’ Katie corrected her automatically. ‘Well, he’s entitled to a life outside work, but she obviously only has to raise her little finger for him to come running.’
Shelley looked at her friend thought fully. ‘Lucky old Olive! Anyway, did you have a nice lunch?’
‘ Yes, it was very pleasant. You should have come.’ Katie filled Shelley in, but neglected to tell her about the cigarette box.
Shelley tidied her area. ‘Actually, I like working with Lyall. He’s more organised than Jack, but there is a sort of similarity, don’t you think?’
K atie considered. ‘In their work, do you mean? Otherwise I don’t think they’ve got much in common.’
‘ Yes, of course I mean their work. They have a similar sort of style, even though Lyall is working on smaller items than Jack. Have you seen his latest batch of pendants just removed from the kiln?’
The ceramic necklaces were exquisitely executed. The designs were as bold as Jack’s, but the colours were more subtle, pale greens and blues and lilacs, whereas Jack would have chosen bright yellows, reds and purples.
As Katie studied them, she could see what Shelley was getting at, although it hadn’t occurred to her before. It was as if they had both studied under the same teacher.
‘ I can see what you mean regarding the ceramics, but if you take a look at Lyall’s graphics, then there’s really no resemblance. Perhaps he took a look at Jack’s pottery, the few pieces he left behind, and thought he’d try to fit in with what he’d been doing. I have to say I actually prefer Lyall’s work. It’s not so garish and I think it will appeal to a more sophisticated taste.’
‘ I know where you’re coming from, but I actually liked those bright colours of Jack’s. It was right for younger people. Anyway, I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens.’
‘ Yes, we’ll need to find out how much interest the exhibition generates before we can make any decisions about the way forward. Time will tell, no doubt.’
Shelley consulted her watch. ‘And it’s time I was going, or I’ll be late for my shift at the pub again. See you, Katie.’
K atie was invariably the last to finish because she could not hurry her silver work. Eventually, she packed her things away and locked up carefully. When she arrived back at the cottage, she found another message from Jack on the answer phone. It gave her quite a start to hear his voice after what had transpired that afternoon.
‘ I’m keeping a low profile, Katie. Don’t worry about me, there are things I’ve got to sort out. I’ll be in touch again soon.’
* * *
Katie couldn’t seem to settle to anything after that. There was nothing on TV or in the newspaper to capture her interest. She prowled around the house like a caged animal and, in the end, decided to have an early night. She had just switched the kettle on to make herself a hot drink when there was a
‘ She said she couldn’t reach you on your mobile,’ Shelley added as an afterthought.
‘ No, that would be right because I left it here, switched off!’
He went into the back room and, after a few minutes, returned looking slightly irritated, but was pleasant enough to both of them.
The pile of exhibition work was growing daily and Katie knew that the standard was good. The replacement items were, if anything, even better than the originals and Lyall’s contribution was going to prove a great asset.
Suddenly, Katie had every hope that things could soon start looking up for them and that there might be a life after Jack, after all.
She put the finishing touches to a silver bracelet and got up for a leg stretch. Lyall stood up at the same time.
‘ Sorry, guys, I’ve got to go. See you both tomorrow morning.’
‘ I guess he’s gone to see the delectable Olive,’ Shelley said when he was out of earshot.
‘ Olivia,’ Katie corrected her automatically. ‘Well, he’s entitled to a life outside work, but she obviously only has to raise her little finger for him to come running.’
Shelley looked at her friend thought fully. ‘Lucky old Olive! Anyway, did you have a nice lunch?’
‘ Yes, it was very pleasant. You should have come.’ Katie filled Shelley in, but neglected to tell her about the cigarette box.
Shelley tidied her area. ‘Actually, I like working with Lyall. He’s more organised than Jack, but there is a sort of similarity, don’t you think?’
K atie considered. ‘In their work, do you mean? Otherwise I don’t think they’ve got much in common.’
‘ Yes, of course I mean their work. They have a similar sort of style, even though Lyall is working on smaller items than Jack. Have you seen his latest batch of pendants just removed from the kiln?’
The ceramic necklaces were exquisitely executed. The designs were as bold as Jack’s, but the colours were more subtle, pale greens and blues and lilacs, whereas Jack would have chosen bright yellows, reds and purples.
As Katie studied them, she could see what Shelley was getting at, although it hadn’t occurred to her before. It was as if they had both studied under the same teacher.
‘ I can see what you mean regarding the ceramics, but if you take a look at Lyall’s graphics, then there’s really no resemblance. Perhaps he took a look at Jack’s pottery, the few pieces he left behind, and thought he’d try to fit in with what he’d been doing. I have to say I actually prefer Lyall’s work. It’s not so garish and I think it will appeal to a more sophisticated taste.’
‘ I know where you’re coming from, but I actually liked those bright colours of Jack’s. It was right for younger people. Anyway, I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens.’
‘ Yes, we’ll need to find out how much interest the exhibition generates before we can make any decisions about the way forward. Time will tell, no doubt.’
Shelley consulted her watch. ‘And it’s time I was going, or I’ll be late for my shift at the pub again. See you, Katie.’
K atie was invariably the last to finish because she could not hurry her silver work. Eventually, she packed her things away and locked up carefully. When she arrived back at the cottage, she found another message from Jack on the answer phone. It gave her quite a start to hear his voice after what had transpired that afternoon.
‘ I’m keeping a low profile, Katie. Don’t worry about me, there are things I’ve got to sort out. I’ll be in touch again soon.’
* * *
Katie couldn’t seem to settle to anything after that. There was nothing on TV or in the newspaper to capture her interest. She prowled around the house like a caged animal and, in the end, decided to have an early night. She had just switched the kettle on to make herself a hot drink when there was a