April

From                     Sent                            Subject

Hal Buchanan       Monday 9:16AM       What happened

Hal Buchanan       Monday 9:16AM       you promised?

Hal Buchanan       Monday 9:16AM       about that

Hal Buchanan       Monday 9:16AM       Football Game

Hal Buchanan       Monday 9:15AM       Hey

Sam found herself smiling at the screen as the emails appeared one at a time in her inbox. It had been just over a month since the black-tie dinner debacle, what was Hal Buchanan doing contacting her now? She’d avoided telling Sheila so far that he’d kind of ‘dropped off’ her client list, but she knew the day of reckoning was nigh and she’d have to explain herself.

But now, out of the blue, he’d given her a reprieve. All the excuses about him not being a suitable client suddenly evaporated and Sam decided he deserved a prompt and personal reply. She checked her teledex and picked up the phone, dialling the direct work number he’d given her.

‘Hal Buchanan.’

‘So, interested in football game, hear I you are?’

‘Come again?’

‘I received a very odd string of emails today.’

‘Hey Samantha, nice to hear from you.’

‘I’m still trying to decipher it. Do you want me to read it out to you?’

‘Go ahead.’

‘It says, and I quote, “What happened you promised about that football game, hey”.’

‘Well, that’s the fault of the ISP.’

Sam laughed.

‘I’m telling you, there’s no way to control the order the server sends your mail.’

‘So why did it work for me?’

‘Beginner’s luck.’

‘Okay, so I won’t say anything about bad workmen blaming their tools.’

‘And I was so hoping I was going to get a little more of your sass.’

‘Sass?’ she scoffed. ‘What on earth is sass?’

‘It’s what you’re real good at. Being a smart ass.’

Sam grinned. ‘Okay, I promise I’m going to bite my tongue so hard from now on, it’ll bleed.’

‘Well, don’t do that. But, hey, what about that football game you promised?’

‘Has the season started?’

There was a moment of silence. ‘Do you actually know anything about football, Sam?’

She breathed out heavily. ‘No,’ she admitted. ‘But my son knows all there is to know and he’ll come with us, if that’s okay with you?’

And if that was okay with Josh. She hadn’t even mentioned it to him as she had not expected to hear from Hal again. Josh was lately more non-communicative than ever, if that was possible. The episode with his father had left him sullen and angry. He resented having to go there, and from what she could glean from Jessica, he made the weekends an ordeal for everyone. But Jeff hadn’t complained to Sam. He wouldn’t dare.

‘Can I ask you something, Hal?’ Sam said tentatively.

‘Sure.’

‘What made you decide to contact me again?’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘Well,’ she took a breath, ‘you know, after the way I acted . . .’

He didn’t say anything.

Sam cleared her throat. ‘I was just wondering, that’s all.’

He paused. ‘I contacted you because I want to go to the football, Sam. I thought that was obvious.’

Now she was embarrassed. She sounded like a schoolgirl. This was business and Hal was her client. Which was exactly how she wanted it. ‘Oh, okay, sure. Right, well, I’ll organise it and get back to you.’

‘Great.’

‘Bye then.’

‘Oh, Sam?’

‘Yes?’

‘I also figured you deserved another chance,’ he added.

Sam felt flushed. ‘Oh, right. Well, I won’t disappoint you.’

‘I’m counting on it.’