Miranda Dickinson - When I Fall In Love

AVON

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

77–85 Fulham Palace Road

Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Copyright © Miranda Dickinson 2012

Miranda Dickinson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Source ISBN: 9781847562364

Ebook Edition © November 2012 ISBN: 9780007478477

Version: 2014-12-09

As I write this, I am looking back at four extraordinary years of excitement, fun and lots of hard work. I would like to thank all the lovely team at Avon for everything they have done to make these the most exciting of my life so far: my fab editor Sammia Rafique, Caroline Ridding, Claire Bord, Rhian McKay and Jim Blades.

Big thanks to my wonderful agent, Hannah Ferguson, for being one of the most positive people I know and for believing in the crazy stuff in my head (wombats included!) For crucial draft reading and confidence boosts, unending thanks to Kim Curran-Goodson. Thanks also to Kate Harrison for her expert Brighton knowledge and knowing her Laine from her Lanes.

I love my tweethearts on Twitter who keep me going, make me giggle and occasionally make me cry. I would especially like to thank Trish Hills, Cressida McLaughlin, Gem Fletcher, Natalie Hewis, Kayla Staniland, Kath Eastman and Joanna Cannon for being wonderful friends and cheerleaders.

As ever, real people have inspired parts of this novel. So thanks to the gorgeous Gemma Perkins for inspiring Elsie, Chris Armfield for inspiring Woody’s rock wisdom, and the lovely Cupcake Genie team in Crawley whose awesome shop and cupcakes inspired Sundae & Cher’s menu (www.cupcakegenie.co.uk). Thanks as ever to my fab Peppermint massive – watch out for your cameo!

And finally, to my wonderful new husband Bob – thank you for being my unexpected future and for making everything sparkly again.

Life can throw you spanners, curveballs, opportunities and surprises. This book is about going forward, regardless of what lies behind …

For Kim. Because this story wouldn’t have been as brave without you.

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.

John Lennon

Contents

Cover

Title Page MIRANDA DICKINSON When I Fall in Love

Copyright Copyright AVON HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 77–85 Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith, London W6 8JB www.harpercollins.co.uk Copyright © Miranda Dickinson 2012 Miranda Dickinson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins. Source ISBN: 9781847562364 Ebook Edition © November 2012 ISBN: 9780007478477 Version: 2014-12-09

Dedication Dedication For Kim. Because this story wouldn’t have been as brave without you.

Epigraph A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality. John Lennon

Chapter One: Not supposed to be like this

Chapter Two: Moving on …

Chapter Three: Pleased to meet you …

Chapter Four: Altogether now …

Chapter Five: Hello again, hello …

Chapter Six: Just the way you are …

Chapter Seven: Getting to know you …

Chapter Eight: Baby steps …

Chapter Nine: I’m sorry, have we met?

Chapter Ten: Feel the fear …

Chapter Eleven: Stepping out

Chapter Twelve: Welcome to the world

Chapter Thirteen: Take a bow …

Chapter Fourteen: A night to remember …

Chapter Fifteen: A big ask …

Chapter Sixteen: Something like a plan

Chapter Seventeen: A sentimental journey …

Chapter Eighteen: A beginning and an end

Chapter Nineteen: You ain’t seen nothing yet …

Chapter Twenty: Back to the future

Moving On – an epilogue

Keep Reading

The List

Reading Group Questions

Interview with Miranda Dickinson

About the Author

By the Same Author

About the Publisher

‘Excuse me, miss?’

Elsie Maynard looked up from her half-crossed-out shopping list to see the hulking figure of a security guard blocking her way. ‘Hi. Sorry, I’m in a bit of a rush, actually, so if you’ll just …’

‘I’m going to have to ask you to come with me, please.’

This was the last thing she needed today. Not only had her lunch break been delayed by forty-five minutes by a particularly persistent wafer-cone salesman but also, in her haste to complete all the shopping tasks on her list, she had left work without her umbrella just as the heavens opened. And now this …

‘I’ve told you, I don’t have time to stop.’

The huge security guard gave a world-weary sigh and clamped an enormous hand rather too heavily on her shoulder. ‘I must insist, miss. I believe you have goods you have not paid for, so if you will just accompany me back into the shop, please …’

What on earth was this man-mountain on about? Of course she had paid! What kind of person did he think she was? Incensed at the very notion, Elsie opened her mouth to protest, when a new voice interrupted her.

‘Hey. Can I help?’

He was young, arguably handsome, with dark brown hair and green eyes. Everything about him gave the impression of someone in complete control: from his neat haircut to the well-cut suit and overcoat he wore, together with the fact that, frustratingly, he was apparently immune to the large splats of rain Elsie could feel soaking through her too-thin work uniform and tights. Over his shoulder Elsie caught sight of a blonde-haired young woman dressed in a turquoise and black Fifties diner waitress outfit, looking as if somebody had just tipped a bucket of water over her head – and her heart sank as she realised it was her own reflection in the shop window.

Mr Impervious-to-Rain’s smile would probably have been welcome, were it not for Elsie’s sneaking suspicion that he was enjoying the sight of her, bedraggled, flustered and now squirming with embarrassment on the steps of the high street chemist’s.