Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox

you want to look at it that way.’

      ‘You really don’t want to marry me – that’s the truth isn’t it?’

      ‘Yes, you’re right. I don’t want to marry you, Jack. Not when you’re so pig-headed and selfish, you can’t even do what I want.’

      ‘But this isn’t altogether about you.’ For a fleeting moment, Jack actually began to wonder if he really was being selfish, but after he had gone her way as far as he could, and still she was unable, or unwilling, to meet him half-way, what was he to think?

      ‘This is a big decision for me,’ he reminded her. ‘I need to find some peace of mind, if I can. You trying to hold me back tells me only one thing.’

      ‘What’s that?’

      ‘We don’t have a future together. We don’t have the kind of partnership that makes for a happy marriage. Perhaps we never did. Here am I, trying to find a middle way, but you’re only interested in what you want. You’re not even trying to see it from my point of view. You don’t respect my feelings, or any decision I make, unless it complies with yours.’

      After this tussle of wills, he was beginning to see more clearly. ‘You obviously don’t understand that this is a last resort for me. Sometimes, I feel as though I’ll be cursed with these nightmares till the day I die. You may be right, and maybe there aren’t any answers – but at least this way, I’m trying to do something, and I desperately want you with me.’

      ‘Huh! Well, that’s not going to happen!’

      Jack could see he was fighting a losing battle. ‘Won’t you even consider coming with me, just for a week or so – to see how the land lies? And if, for whatever reason, it doesn’t work out, we can think again. Say you’ll give it a try at least?’

      ‘Sorry, Jack, but this conversation is at an end.’

      ‘I’m sorry too. I’m sorry we couldn’t reconcile our differences.’

      ‘Your fault, not mine,’ she insisted.

      Jack shrugged. ‘If that’s how you feel about it, I won’t bother you again. But if you do change your mind, you know where I am.’

      ‘Oh, but I think you’re the one who must change your mind, Jack.’ She played her last card. ‘I think you should know . . . Mal Shawncross has asked me to marry him. And I’m going to say yes.’

      ‘I see.’ Jack knew about Mal from Brian. He also knew how much Molly meant to him. ‘Mal’s a good bloke,’ he told her quietly. ‘Brian says he adores you, Molly. I’m sure he’ll take good care of you.’

      ‘He will, yes!’ Molly was furious that her plan had backfired. ‘Is that all you have to say?’ she demanded. ‘Aren’t you even going to try to fight for me, and make me change my mind?’

      ‘What’s the point? If you agree to marry Mal, you obviously don’t want me, and now I’m done arguing and talking. Like you, I need to get on with my own life.’

      He felt betrayed, yet oddly relieved. ‘I’m glad for you both,’ he said – and was surprised to find that he meant it. Then, there was little else for him to say, except, ‘Bye, Moll. Thanks for everything. Take care of yourself.’

      When he replaced the receiver, Molly threw a tantrum. Furious that her little ploy did not get the result she wanted, she upturned the small table, sending the phone crashing to the floor. ‘You’ll regret doing this to me!’ she yelled. ‘You bastard! I hope it all goes wrong for you!’

      At Curtis Warren Motors, the morning had been frantic. The new stock had attracted a good turnout, which continued right up to lunchtime.

      ‘I’ve never known it so busy.’ Jan was kept on her toes behind the desk.

      ‘It must be the new promotion,’ Bill decided.

      Jan had other ideas. ‘Nah. I reckon they’ve heard that Jack is leaving, and as he normally trims his own commission to make a good deal, they thought they’d best get in before he goes.’

      ‘I would never cut my commission!’ Bill bragged. ‘I need the money.’

      ‘Why? Have you got a wife and six kids hidden away somewhere?’ Jan found him easy to tease.

      ‘No way! I need the money because I mean to have my own showrooms by the time I’m thirty.’

      Having emerged from his office to deliver a batch of mail for the post, Jack overheard his remark. ‘I’ve no doubt that you’ll do it too,’ he told Bill. ‘In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to find that some day you own a string of showrooms right across the country.’ He drew an imaginary sign in mid-air: ‘Bill West – Autos to the Stars.’

      Bill blushed. ‘Don’t take the mickey, Jack. It’s my dream. I know it’ll take time, but I will do it!’

      Jack kindly reassured him, ‘I wasn’t taking the mickey. I really meant it, Bill. You’ve only been here a short time, but already you’ve proven yourself to be a born salesman. You’ve got a knack for making the right deal, and that only comes naturally. Many others have to learn the hard way.’

      ‘A born salesman!’ Bill was highly flattered. ‘Do you really mean that?’ His boyish smile lit up the room.

      ‘I do mean it, yes – and I’m not the only one who thinks so.’

      ‘The customers are of paramount importance and good judges. They like and trust you. They know you won’t flannel them into buying a car they don’t really want.’

      Bill returned the compliment. ‘You taught me that, Jack,’ he admitted. ‘You showed me how the customer is more important than anyone else. ‘Look after them and they’ll look after you.’ That’s what you said.’

      ‘There you go, then! Keep that in mind, and you won’t go far wrong.’ Picking up his coffee, Jack took it back to the office.

      ‘I wish he wasn’t leaving,’ sighed Jan. ‘I’ll really miss him.’

      ‘We all will.’ Bill had no doubts about that. ‘I suppose he’s got a lot to think about, mind you, what with moving up north to take on such a highly responsible position.’

      ‘Yes, but if you ask me, Jack’s got a lot more on his mind than work just now.’ While Bill was always looking for the next customer, Jan enjoyed keeping her eyes open and her ear to the ground, for any juicy snippet of gossip. Leaning forward, she lowered her voice to a whisper: ‘He’s got woman trouble. After what I overheard earlier when he was on the phone, I reckon he’s about to chuck his girlfriend for good. And about time too, if you ask me!’

      ‘Why do you say that?’ Against all his instincts, Bill was intrigued.

      ‘Mind your own business.’ Jan regretted even mentioning it. ‘I’m not telling.’

      ‘Ah! Now you’re beginning to wish you hadn’t tittletattled . . . You like him, don’t you? I mean, you really like him! In fact, you fancy him rotten!’

      ‘Keep your voice down, or he’ll hear you!’

      ‘Admit it, then.’

      ‘All right, I won’t deny it.’ She glanced to where Jack was seated in his office, head bent over a pile of paperwork. ‘Who wouldn’t like him?’ she murmured. ‘He’s a good bloke.’

      ‘Yes,’ Bill taunted her, ‘and he’s about to receive a top-of-the-range company car. And he’s on his way to becoming a boss-man, with an outrageously generous salary.’

      ‘It’s got nothing to do with any of that. Like I say, he’s a good bloke, and there aren’t many of them around.’