Shaping the Ripples Read Online Free PDF Page B

while he was hitting me, I just thought that I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life being scared.”
    She focussed back on me, “I still really love him, but I don’t believe that he’ll ever get properly free from that rage. I can’t spend the rest of my life waiting for the next eruption.” Her voice became stronger, “I won’t live like that again.”
    Linda fell silent, still looking at me. “Then that’s what I’ll tell him,” I replied, “that you wish him well, but that you’ve moved on, and it’s time for him to try and do the same.”
    Linda looked anxious again, “Be careful,” she said in a warning tone, “he’s not going to like it. He often says that he never forgets and never forgives when someone crosses him. If he can’t get at me, he might decide that you’ll do as the next best thing.”
    “Don’t worry,” I smiled at her with slightly more confidence than I was actually feeling, “I can look after myself. In any case, if he’s still clinging on to the hope that you might change your mind, he’ll not want to lose his temper in front of me.”
    I gave her my home phone number in case she ever needed anything, and then wished her luck as we said goodbye. Back in the car, I planned my route back so that I could do another couple of visits before returning to the office.
    By the time I’d made my two calls – one successful, the other finding no one home – parked my car again at the garage at home and walked to work, it was early afternoon. George was sitting in Reception with a wide smile on his face.
    “Yesterday’s visits must have gone well,” I observed “you look as if you’ve just won the lottery.”
    “On the contrary,” George replied, “I got exactly the same negative response as always.”
    I wasn’t really in the mood for guessing games. “Well something’s cheered you up.” I said.
    His faced cracked into an even more enormous smile. “Ian Jacobs rang me this morning.” He looked at me, clearly expecting some sort of reaction, and then realising from my blank expression that some further explanation was needed.
    “Ian Jacobs,” he repeated with more emphasis. “He’s the current chairman of the Executive’s Club, and one of the most influential businessmen in York. He rang to say that he’s heard about the good work we do, and wondered if there was anything he could do to support us.”
    I made suitably enthusiastic noises and George continued. “This could be the break we’ve been looking for – if Ian Jacobs is on our side, it will give me a way in to almost all the businesses in the city. I’m having dinner with him this evening to talk things over.”
    George is by nature an enthusiast, which is what helps him to cope with the almost constant rejection that his job entails. Even so, I was hard pressed to remember a time when he’d looked quite so excited and happy. I just hoped that this Ian Jacobs might live up to George’s expectations.
    “When you see him, see if he’ll give you some money to have this place redecorated.” I joked.
    Towards the end of the afternoon I was working in one of the consulting rooms, when there was a knock on the door. Katie’s head peered around the frame of the door.
    “There’s someone in reception to see you, Jack.” She said with a slight frown and wrinkle of her nose. “He seems a bit on edge.”
    I knew at once who my visitor was going to be, and went out to greet him without much enthusiasm. Sure enough, it was Ryan Clarke, and I led him through to the consulting room.
    “Have you seen her yet?” he demanded as soon as the door was closed.
    “Yes, I have – I went to see her this morning.” I replied, sitting down, and waiting for him to do the same.
    “How is she?” he asked, slightly calmer.
    “She’s fine, Ryan.” I searched for the kindest way to break the news to him. “She’s well and she asked me to tell you that she still loves you and thinks of you often.” I