When her sister Tonia married, Chesnie had thought surely it must be third time lucky for one of her sisters. But, no. Tonia had produced two babies in quick succession and seemed to have quickly developed the same love-hate relationship with her husband that her parents shared.
With one or other of her sisters forever returning in tears to the family home, to rail against the man she had married, Chesnie had soon known that she wanted no part in marriage. She had attended college most evenings, doing most of her studying at the weekends. She had not lacked for potential boyfriends, however, and occasionally had gone out on a date with either someone she had known previously or had met at college. On occasions, too, she had experimented with a little kissing, but as soon as things had looked like getting serious shed put up barriers.
Shed become aware she had started to get a reputation for being aloof. It had not bothered hernor had it seemed to stop men asking her for a date.
Chesnie had been working in an office for two years when her studies came to an end. Shed taken more courses, and done more study, and two years later had been ready to take a better-paid job. Shed changed firms and begun work as a secretary and shed been good at it.
What she had not been so good at was handling the traumatic friction that seemed to be a constant feature in her family home. Shed told herself she was being over-sensitive and that everyone had their ups and downs. The only trouble was that in her fraught home, the animosity was permanent.
Having been brought up to be self-sufficient, she had thought often of leaving and had soon felt she could just about afford a bedsit somewhere. Only the knowledge that her mother would be furious should she leave her commodious and graceful home for some lowly bedsit had stopped her.
Matters had come to a head one weekend, however, when all three weeping sisters, and crying babies, had descended. From where Chesnie had viewed it, each sister had been trying to outdo the other with reports of what a rotten husband her spouse was.
When Chesnie had felt her sympathy for the trio turning into a feeling of weariness with all three of them, shed gone out into the garden and found her father inspecting his roses.
You came to escape the bedlam too? he asked wryly.
Dad, Im thinking of moving out. The words she hadnt rehearsed came blurting from her.
I think Ill come with you, he replied. But, glancing at her to see if she was smiling at his quip, he saw that she wasnt. Youre serious, arent you? he asked.
The words were out; she couldnt retract them. Ive been thinking of it for some while. Im sure I could manage a small bedsit, and
Youd better make that a small flat, and in a good area, if you want me to have any peace.
Two days later her mother sought her out. Your father tells me your home isnt good enough for you any more.
Chesnie knew that she loved her motherjust as she knew the futility of arguing with her. Id like to bemoreindependent, she replied quietly.
Ten days after that, and much to her astonishment, her mother told her she had found somewhere for her. Chesnie was so overjoyed that her mother, having slept on it, had decided to aid her rather than make life difficult, that she closed her eyes to the fact that the rent of the flat was far more than she could afford.
Furnishing the flat was no problem. What with bits and pieces from her parents and her grandparents, and with her restless sister Nerissa always changing her home around and getting rid of some item of furniture or other, Chesnie soon made her small flat very comfortable.
She had been resident for two months, though, when she had to face up to the reality that she just couldnt afford to be that independent. Her mother would be horrified if she went downmarket and found herself a bedsit. And from Chesnies point of view she would be horrified herself if she had to give up the peace and quiet she had found to return to her old home.
When Browning Enterprises advertised for a senior secretary she applied for the job, and got it. It paid more, and she earned it when she started taking on more and more responsibility. The only fly in the ointment was Lionel Brownings son. But Hector Browing had his own business, and apart from visits to his father, usually when Hectors finances needed a cash injection, Chesnie saw little of him. She was aware that he resented her, but could think of no reason for his dislike other than the fact that he knew that she knew he was as near broke as made no difference.
She was happy living in a place of her own, but since she lived in the same town as her parents she popped in to see them every two or three weeksand always came away glad she had made the decision to leave.
Then, a year later, her paternal grandmother died, and after months of living in a kind of vacuum her grandfather sold his home in Herefordshire and, with her parents having ample room, moved in with them.
Chesnie adored her grandfather. She seemed to have a special affinity with him, and had feared from the beginning that life with her bickering parents would not suit her peace-loving Gramps. She took to popping in to her old home more frequently.
She knew he looked forward to her visits, and knew when he suggested he teach her to drive that he was looking for excuses to get out of the house.
She and her grandfather spent many pleasant Saturday afternoons together, and when she passed her driving test she took to taking him for a drive somewhere. Three months ago she had driven him across country to Herefordshire, and to the village where he had lived prior to moving in with her parents.
Six days later she had arrived home from her office to find her grandfather sitting outside her flat in his car. Im not such a good cook as my mother, but youre welcome to come to dinner, she invited lightly, watching him, knowing from the fact of him being there as much from the excited light in his eyes that something a touch monumental was going on.
Over macaroni cheese and salad he told her he had noticed a To Let sign in the garden of a small cottage on their visit to his home village last Saturday. He hadnt phoned the agent because, knowing the owner, he had phoned him instead. The result being the tenancy was his straight away on a temporary let while he waited for something in the village to come up for sale.
What could she say? Its what you want, Gramps? she asked quietly.
I should never have left, he answered simply, and she could only think, since he had never parted with his furniture but had put it in store, that perhaps without knowing it he had always meant to return.
What do my parents think?
A wicked light she hadnt seen in a long while entered his eyes. Your fathers all right about iteryour mothers taken it personally.
Chesnie knew all about her mother taking it personallyshe would go on and on about it, and Chesnie suspected he would want to move out sooner rather than later. When are you leaving? she asked.
I was wondering if youre free to drive me there tomorrow? he asked, looking positively cheeky.
He had got everything arranged so quickly! She had to grin. Id love to, she answered, and was thinking in terms of availability of trains for the return trip when her grandfather seemed to read her mind.
You wouldnt care to look after my car for me, would you? Ill seldom need it, and it will only be until I can find a property in the village with a garage. There isnt one at the cottage.
You wouldnt care to look after my car for me, would you? Ill seldom need it, and it will only be until I can find a property in the village with a garage. There isnt one at the cottage.
That had been three months ago. Chesnie missed her grandfather but had driven to see him several times. When, six weeks ago, Hector Browning had accused her of having an affair with his father she had known she couldnt possibly work at Browning Enterprises any longer.
Knowing she was going to part company with Lionel Browning, and having just received a letter asking her to vacate her flat, it had been decision time. She needed somewhere new to live and work; she could do both anywhere.
When Chesnie had seen the advert for the PAs job at Yeatman Trading, and subsequently passed the first and second interviews, shed crossed her fingers and hoped
She still had a wide grin on her face when she drove up to the smart appartment block where her sister lived. She had a new job now, PA to none other than Mr Joel Davenport himself.
Nerissa was in, took one look at her beaming face, and squealed, You got it!
Later she calmed down enough to say that she had known she would get it. The rest of us had to get married to afford to leave home. But not you, clever girl, you inherited the family brain. From Chesnies viewpoint it hadnt been that easy. She had worked hard, but Nerissa was going blithely on, Now to sort you out with a flat. Stephen was having a word with someone last night who may have something She broke off waspishly. He does have his uses.
From that moment on everything seemed to move at lightning pace. Chesnie was not a partying person, but Nerissa made her promise to return for a party she and Stephen were holding on Saturday evening, and Chesnie returned to Cambridge and packed up her belongings ready for her move.
The party was a success; Nerissa wouldnt have had it any other way. But, although Chesnie found the function enjoyable, she had other things on her mindshe had only two weeks to work alongside Joel Davenports present PA and get up to speed. It wasnt very longwould she cope?
Chesnie arrived back at her sisters apartment after her first Monday in her new job with her head spinningand a sinking feeling that two months, let alone two weeks, wouldnt be long enough for her to remember all that there was to absorb.
She was ready for bed and didnt think she had energy enough to eat a meal. Her sister had other plans. How was your first day? she asked straight away.
Im on my knees! Chesnie confessed.
That good, huh? And how was the new boss?
I havent seen him. Hes in Scotland until Wednesday.
Right, now, dont take your jacket off. The flat Stephen told me about has come up. Come on, well go and take a look.
Somewhere to live was a priority. From somewhere Chesnie conjured up some enthusiasm and, with her sister driving, went to view a small flat on the outskirts of the city.
The flat consisted of a sitting room, bathroom, a tiny kitchen and two bedrooms, though the second bedroom was no bigger than her parents broom cupboard. If theres a chance, Ill take it, Chesnie declared at once. The rent was astronomicalbut so too was her salary.
Youre sure? Nerissa questioned. Youre welcome to stay with me for as long as you likeif you can put up with Tibbetts. Tibbetts being her husband, Stephen Tibbetts.
This will do fine, Chesnie assured her, and in no time Nerissa was speaking to her husband on the phone.
You can move in any time, she said the moment she had ended her call. Lets celebrate!
Chesnie was grateful that the celebration was nothing more than a meal out with a glass of wine.
Tuesday proved every bit as busy as the previous day, with Barbara Platt trying to break her in gently but as aware as Chesnie that there was not too much time remaining before Barbara departed a week on Friday.
Joel Davenport had already been at his desk for over an hour when Chesnie arrived at her office on Wednesday. She was not late, was in fact fifteen minutes early. In the short time shed been there she had heard that he simply ate up workthroughout that day he proved it.
Not that she had much to do with him. Though he did leave his office at one point to speak to Barbara and to pause in passing to ask, pleasantly enough, Settling in?
She raised her head, maintaining her cool image to politely agree, Yes, thank you, and he went on to Barbaras desk and Chesnie went back to what she had been doing.
By Friday, although she was starting to grow more confident that she was up to the job, she was nevertheless mentally exhausted by the time she arrived at her sisters home, to be greeted by Nerissa smilingly telling her, Philip Pomeroy rang. He wants to take you out.
You make me sound like a set of dentures! Whos Philip Pomeroy?
Youre hopeless! Nerissa complained. You met him at my party last Saturday. Tallish, wavy brownish hair, very slightly receding, pushing forty. Ring any bells?
Chesnie did a mental flip back to the party, and placed Philip Pomeroy as a rather amiable man, interested in her, but inoffensive with it. Did you tell him I was busy?
I told him youd ring him.
Nerissa!
Oh, go on, ring him. Hes nice.
Out of courtesy to her sister, who had promised a return phone call on her behalf, Chesnie reluctantly phoned Philip Pomeroy, who appeared pleased she had rung and straight away asked her to dine with him.
Im very busy at the moment, she replied.
Youre too busy to eat?
Im moving into a new flat tomorrow, she explained. It will take me over a week to get everything unpacked.
I could bring champagne and caviar round, and we could snack while you unpack.
She laughed and decided she liked him. Some other time, she said, and rang off.
Chesnie had a change from mental exhaustion on Saturday, when she met the delivery van from Cambridge and set about placing her belongings and hanging up curtains.
On Monday Barbara Platt afforded her the most wonderful, if scary, compliment by telling her that Joel Davenport had a meeting at one of their other businesses and that Barbara was going with him. We wont be back again today, but I know youll cope.
Chesnie wished she had Barbaras confidence in that, but, to her delightthough bearing in mind it had gone seven in the evening before she finally switched off her computercope she did. She was not complainingshe was starting to really enjoy her job. She went home to her new flat feeling on top of the world.
Friday, Barbaras last day, arrived all too quickly. Chesnie spent the morning eagerly absorbing all and everything that Barbara was telling her of the more confidential details of their work. She supposed that with Barbara divulging such matters it must mean that she had satisfied herself that the new PA was worthy of such confidences.
Feeling enormously pleased with Barbaras trust, Chesnie was further delighted when at half past twelve the good-looking Joel Davenport came into their office and, instead of going over to Barbaras desk, came over to Chesnie.
Im taking my number one PA for an extended lunch. The office is all yours, Chesnie Cosgrove.
Indeed, so delighted was she at this further show of trust in her abilities that her cool exterior slipped momentarily. She smiled, a natural smile. Bon appétit, she replied.