Chapter Eight #3
Check out my latest hot date in today’s @ TheSundaySentinel! Link in bio. #swiperight #thelovelibrary #journalist #writer #itsmetessieivecomehomenow
‘Now you’re going to close IG and not look at Wilde’s feed,’ Saskia reminded her.
‘You’re as bad as Jay telling me not to read the comments,’ Tess pointed out even as she wondered why the people closest to her needed to perform these regular interventions.
‘Because your friends want you to enjoy good mental health and not spiral,’ Saskia said. ‘You and Wilde are on different journeys.’
‘And comparison is the thief of joy.’ During a brief foray into embroidery, Tess had cross-stitched this mantra on a sampler and Saskia had allowed her to hang it up in the minimalist bathroom so that Tess wasn’t tempted to start clacking her nails on containers as she did her skincare routine.
Tess was determined not to dwell on her disappointments but make the most of how life was treating her on this particular Sunday.
It helped that it was one of those glorious late spring days that London did so well.
After brunch, they walked to Hampstead Heath to find some bluebells.
Mostly so they could take selfies among the bluebells.
Walking in nature and feeling the vitamin D hit her face, despite her diligent application of SPF, usually made Tess feel better when she was down.
And today she wasn’t down now she’d got over her Wilde wobble.
She was well fed, well walked and although most of her friendship group couldn’t bring themselves to read The Sunday Sentinel because, ‘Love you, Tess, but it really is the most reactionary right-wing rag,’ she had lots of messages and texts.
Mostly about how thrilled they all were that she was getting published for writing about something other than stair lifts and conservatories.
Tess’s mother was less thrilled.
Oh, Tessa, no one will want to date you if you’re going to write about them in a national newspaper.
Also, it looks like you’ve gained weight since I saw you at Christmas.
Or maybe you just need a better-fitting bra.
At least Tess’s book group, the Romance Girlies, were all beside themselves and wanted to know if it would be triggering for Tess if they picked Wuthering Heights as their next read. They completely understood when Tess asked if they could wait a couple of months.
There was more good news the next morning in Tess’s inbox:
From: Sarah.Nelson@
To: Tess.Hardy@
Subject: Wuthering web traffic!
Hi Tess
Congratulations! Your Heathcliff piece was the most-read article on the website yesterday.
There were a lot of comments on the piece from ‘Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’ types to say that we’re meant to be a serious newspaper and they’re cancelling their subscriptions.
Always a sign that we’re doing something right, and they never do cancel their subscriptions.
Would love it if you could keep pitching me more dating disaster first-person pieces. You are our resident single gal after all.
Best
Sarah
Tess sighed as she read Sarah’s last line. She didn’t want to be The Sunday Sentinel’s resident single gal. It was bad enough that all her dates ended in disaster without now having to dissect them for the delectation and disgust of their readership.
But no, she was being ungrateful. She was happy to have any opportunity to write for the editorial team. Especially as her current workload involved two advertorials to send to clients for a final edit. A new email arriving in her inbox was a welcome distraction.
Her stomach actually did a nosedive when she saw that it was from The Love Library. Then her tummy righted itself – the sender was Ella and not her rude, grumpy, miserable, unbearable brother.
From Ella@
To: Tess.Hardy@
Subject: LOVED your piece!
Hi Tess
Happy Monday! Hope life is treating you well.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the piece you wrote about The Love Library in yesterday’s paper.
Gabe was a bit unforthcoming about what had happened on the date and I know that maybe it wasn’t everything that you hoped it would be, but thank you for being such a sport and not dissing us to your readers.
Though, you did do our Gabe dirty. He was not happy that you demoted him to a mere assistant. He didn’t say anything while he read the piece, but he does this thing with his eyebrows when he’s annoyed and they become a fuzzy straight line.
We’ve been inundated with emails asking about membership for The Love Library. After your date with hapless Heathcliff (again, so sorry about that), I realise that maybe there are a few issues that need to be ironed out.
Your feedback has already been so helpful. And I do feel guilty that the first date didn’t work out as we both hoped, so would love to offer you another romantic rendezvous.
Unfortunately, Darcy is still waitlisted, but I’m sure there are plenty of other fine fellows that I could tempt you with. (Gabe has promised to be on his best behaviour or I really will demote him to assistant.)
Send me some possible dates and we’ll set something up.
All best
Ella