Perfect on Paper by Gillian Harvey (top 20 books to read txt) 📕

‘Just wow.’ In the background, Wilbur had started to cry.

‘But what should I do?’

‘Look, sis,’ Steph said, carefully. ‘I love you, you know that. And I’m here for you. And I want you to ring me up when you’re having problems.’

‘Right?’

‘But when I’ve been at home all day wondering what on earth to do with my life … When Wilbur’s been teething and crying and filling his nappy every five minutes …’

‘Uh huh?’

‘Well, to have you ring me up with the terrible problem you’re worried about because you’ve created this ridiculously popular character, who has somehow united most of the women in Britain … And how are you going to manage to do that while starting your own law firm …’

‘Yes?’

‘Well, two things. First of all, have you thought how it makes me feel? A bit shit, that’s how. Because my sole achievement this week has been to catch up with the washing on Wednesday morning.’

‘Oh, Steph.’

‘And the pile’s enormous again, so that was a short victory.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be, don’t be,’ her sister said, ‘but try not to see all these things as problems. You’re having an amazing adventure. It’s a bit weird, true, but then that’s normal for you!’

‘Hey!’ Clare laughed.

‘And you know how you were worried about being invisible?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, you’re not.’

‘You don’t think?’

‘Clare – you’re a national celebrity and soon to be senior partner of her own law firm.’

‘But am I though? It’s not me, after all. It’s Martha.’

‘What?’

‘It’s Martha who’s the celebrity – not me.’

‘But it doesn’t have to be in disguise – that’s all been your choice.’

‘True.’

‘And you know, if you really want to find an invisible woman, you wouldn’t have to look too far away.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Me! Clare, I love you, but do you ever think what my life is like? John working all the time. Wilbur never seeming to want to sleep, or be put down, or give me a second’s break to – I don’t know – go for a pee?’

‘Oh, Steph …’

‘It’s pathetic, I know,’ Steph continued, voice thick with tears. ‘But sometimes I just want to get in my car and drive and drive and drive …’

‘Steph, you don’t mean that.’

‘Don’t I?’

‘Do you?’

‘No, I suppose not,’ Steph continued, clearing her throat. ‘Just ignore me – having a moment.’

Steph was right, Clare realised, after she’d hung up the phone. She might have felt invisible, but she’d also been part of the problem – she hadn’t seen that the most important woman in her own life was struggling.

Chapter Forty-One

‘Could you sit down for a minute?’ Clare asked when Ann poked her head around her office door the next morning. ‘Nothing to worry about,’ she added.

‘Phew,’ Ann grinned. ‘You scared me for a minute!’ She closed the door and sat down in the seat across from Clare’s. ‘You sounded so formal. I thought you were going to tell me to stop eating so much chocolate at my desk or something.’

‘Never!’ Clare laughed. ‘I know you’re fuelled by chocolate.’

‘True. So, what’s up?’ Ann smiled.

‘Erm,’ she said, clearing her throat.

Ann looked at her patiently, her smile becoming a little strained.

‘Sorry. I just wanted to ask you something, in confidence … and it mustn’t go beyond these doors – at least for now,’ Clare continued.

‘OK?’

‘I’m thinking – and it really is only in the very early stages – of starting out on my own.’

‘Your own firm?’

‘That might be a bit of an oversell, but yes, a very small firm. Me, one other partner perhaps, admin support.’

‘Right …’

‘And I wanted to ask you – hypothetically – if I decided to jump ship, whether you’d want to come with me?’

‘Oh!’ Ann’s cheeks reddened slightly.

‘Yes. I mean, when I say “jump ship” – I’d do it all properly. Proper notice period, that sort of thing. Wouldn’t leave Nigel in the lurch, or the clients, although I won’t be stopping any clients who decide they’d like to come with us of course!’

‘I see.’ Ann was giving nothing away.

‘I could match your salary – I’m afraid I couldn’t offer more at the moment. It’s going to be a squeeze at first. And of course, with any start-up, well there’s a risk it won’t work out. Which is why I want to be totally up front with you.’

‘OK.’

‘But I would hope that in time I could reward your confidence in me – bigger salary, more responsibility, that kind of thing. I mean, I think at this stage you could probably do most of the transactions in your sleep.’

Ann grinned. ‘You could say that.’

‘Anyway, I’m not asking for an answer now – I don’t want one yet. I want you to think about it properly. And don’t worry about upsetting me if the answer is no. I’ve decided to take a risk – but I completely understand if it’s not for you.’

‘Thank you,’ Ann got to her feet. ‘And thank you, you know, for offering … for having faith in me … Martha.’

‘Shhh.’

Once Ann had left her office, Clare looked at her watch. It was 11 a.m. She glanced involuntarily at the bag in the corner. Alfie’s old gym bag was stuffed with Martha B. get-up. Wig, hat, sunglasses, more make-up than she usually wore – and a tracksuit that Dan had assured her looked ‘fly’.

In two hours she would be walking into a small studio and sitting down with her husband for a media interview. How on earth she would do it without being recognised, she didn’t know. She was just relying on the fact that it wouldn’t occur to anyone that Martha B. might be Toby’s wife in disguise. And wouldn’t put two and two together even if she looked a little ‘odd’. After all, everyone knew that Martha B. was a persona … they just didn’t know whose.

She laughed briefly to herself, realising that for once she hoped her husband wouldn’t notice her. That his habit of being wrapped up in himself – his work – would stand in her favour for once.

The taxi