BooksBarbecue
Back All You Need Is Love
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. OCTOBER
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. Acknowledgments
  53. More from Jessica Redland
  54. About the Author
  55. Also by Jessica Redland
  56. About Boldwood Books

‘Actually, I have one more condition. As you know, here at Past Lives Museum we pride ourselves on only displaying exquisitely made bears by extremely talented craftspeople from the past. We haven’t specifically defined what the past means and as the museum will be in your past, my fifth condition is a commission for you to make two of your Ju-Sea Jem Bears. One is for my personal collection and one is to be displayed pride of place in the museum. I will pay for them, of course, and I don’t expect them immediately as you have enough to deal with. Perhaps I can visit Whitsborough Bay at some point in the New Year and collect them personally?’

I felt my lip wobble and blinked back the tears. ‘Have I ever told you that you’re the best boss in the whole wide world? And a wonderful friend too. Thank you.’

Owen leaned across the desk and gave me a hug. ‘No, Jemma. It’s me who needs to thank you. You’ve turned this place around in the time you’ve been here. I never told you when you started here but the museum was struggling to stay afloat. It was a financial risk employing a curator but the knowledge and passion I saw in you convinced me it was a risk worth taking. If it wasn’t for you, the museum would not exist today. You’re more driven and much stronger than you realise. Don’t ever forget it.’

‘But I’m always crying. Look at me now.’ I dabbed my eyes with a tissue.

‘Crying isn’t a sign of weakness. I personally think it means that you care deeply about something which is a good thing, isn’t it?’

As I returned to my desk, I knew I’d done the right thing in resigning and I certainly felt boosted by Owen’s words. Looking across at him now, laughing with another of my colleagues, I was so grateful for how understanding he’d been. It made a difficult situation so much easier. So that was it! One more week and I’d be moving back to Whitsborough Bay for good. It was definitely the right decision to move home but had we been right not to involve Mum in the discussion? Only time would tell.

25

Sam

✉︎ From Jemma

Really short notice but are you free tonight for a catch up? Xx

✉︎ To Jemma

No plans. Usual place? X

✉︎ From Jemma

Any chance you could come to the flat? 7pm? We’ll get pizzas in

It was quite pathetic really. It was the Tuesday of October half-term but it could have been any night of the week – or the following week for that matter – and my reply would have been exactly the same: no plans. None. I seriously had to get myself some hobbies, some mates or both.