Chapter 6 #2
There was a short pause and I realised that my heart was thumping rapidly. This had to be the weirdest thing ever, listening to someone summarise my life – though at the time, it had been predictions.
‘Let’s move on to the other subject you wanted to discuss.
Men, was it? You haven’t had much success with men so far but remember you’re still very young.
University will be an awakening for you with many intelligent, interesting men.
A friend will become very special and you’ll be together throughout university. ’
I pressed stop and was about to say his name when someone beat me to it.
‘Andy,’ Clare said. She looked surprised as if she hadn’t meant to say it aloud. She quickly added, ‘I only said that because you were about to and not because I believe in anything she’s saying. Another lucky guess. Lots of relationships start with friendship.’
Nice back-pedalling, Clare. She was right, though. It had to be Andy. Feeling warm and fuzzy as I always did when I thought about him, I pressed play again.
‘It will be an intense and passionate relationship. You’ll both think you’ve found The One and that you’ll always be together, but it will end after university.
It will be very hard getting over him, but, over the years, the hurt will lessen and you’ll strike up a friendship again.
You’ll often wonder about trying again, Sarah, but the timing will never quite work. ’
‘That’s definitely Andy and that’s frighteningly accurate,’ I whispered. I felt a bit shaky and sat on my hands to steady them. It couldn’t be a more accurate summary of Andy and me if I’d written it myself. ‘You can’t just say that’s a lucky guess, Clare, surely?’
‘Hasn’t everyone had a first love that they always wonder “what if…?” about? That’s basically all your woman there is saying.’
‘I disagree,’ Elise said.
‘You would.’
‘There will be a few more short-term relationships before you meet someone else who you think is The One. He may wear the uniform of your dreams, but he still isn’t The One for you.
It will take you a long time to accept this but, when you do, the ending will be quick and a whole new chapter in your life will start.
This is the person I was talking about earlier. ’
‘Will I ever get married? All I’ve ever wanted to do is get married.’
‘I know you have. I know you don’t want to end up alone like your uncle and you won’t.
You’re nothing like him. In the new chapter of your life, you’ll get together with someone very special.
He’ll have the looks and personality you’ve always hoped for and treat you with such care and respect. Would you like to know his name?’
‘Do you know it?’
‘Yes. It is Steven.’
‘Steven?’
‘Yes. But beware, Sarah, your grandma’s saying that it won’t all be plain sailing.
In this new chapter of your life, there’ll be options presented to you and one key moment when you have to pick between two special men – one who meant a lot in your past and one who means a lot in your present – forcing you to choose between the familiar and the unknown.
Make sure you follow your heart, not your head.
Following your heart will lead you to the true Steven. ’
‘Can you tell me anything else about Steven? Where will I meet him? When? Will I know it’s him straightaway?’
‘I’m afraid your time’s up, Sarah. All I’ll say is that your grandma’s telling me you won’t get together until you turn thirty and that you must be patient and remain hopeful.’
‘Thirty? That can’t be right; I’m getting married when I’m twenty-four.’
‘We’ll see, Sarah. I know that’s what your Life Plan says but life doesn’t always turn out as we plan. Enjoy the ride.’
‘Surely there’s something else you can tell me about Steven. How will I know it’s him? Steven’s a common name.’
‘The name isn’t that important. Your grandma says you’ll just know he’s The One.
I’m going to give you this CD and I suggest you put it somewhere safe and listen to it on your own in a week or so when you can really think about what I’ve said.
Or perhaps when you hit your crossroads and it finds its way back into your life. ’
‘Okay. Thanks.’
‘Your grandma says night-night and to please send her love to her two little girls and her grandson. She also says your mum will be devastated in the future when she can’t find your grandma’s bracelet. It’s not lost. It’s under the sofa. Goodbye Sarah.’
‘Thanks again.’ I could hear the sounds of chairs screeching on the CD, telling me I’d got up to head for the door.
‘Oh, Sarah! Stop a moment. I’m getting a message through for you from the man I mentioned earlier. Your uncle.’
‘Uncle Alan?’
‘Yes. He says he’s so sorry that you were the one who found him.
He’d give anything to not have scared you like that.
He wants you to know that, although he may have been grumpy sometimes, the time you spent with him meant so much to him, and…
Sorry, Sarah, he’s gone now and this doesn’t make sense to me.
He says he still has one every week, but now it’s a chocolate one. Do you know what he means?’
‘A digestive. A chocolate digestive.’
With very shaky hands I leaned forwards and pressed the stop button before slumping back against the bed. ‘There’s no way she could have made that up,’ I said. ‘No way at all.’