Serendipity

By Ruby Binns-Cagney

Jill and Marc struck up an easy friendship - the children of neighbours, attending the same school, it was a no-brainer they'd be friends. When life delivers cruel blows, it will take a miracle for each of them to emerge unscathed. What starts as an opportunity transforms into something entirely unexpected.
When Jill makes the decision which throws her life into chaos, it is the making of her. No longer the shy girl from next door, Jill seizes the chance to reinvent herself with miraculous - and unexpected results.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BinnsCagneyPublishing Co
• Release date: Apr 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005321109

Ruby Binns-Cagney

Keep in touch - sign up for new releases and save on publication day:http://books2read.com/author/ruby-binns-cagney/subscribe/1/41373/Ruby Binns-Cagney is a successful independently published Author who writes women's fiction (chick-lit) and American-based crime thrillers.Ruby's 'Detective Macaulay' crime series has a following on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/detmacaulay (@DetMacaulay)Ruby has a website and blog - read more details of her publishing services.Through her publishing company - BinnsCagneyPublishing Co - Ruby empowers others to become self-published Authors, and her Team also mentor new Authors.Free Marketing Help Signup:http://eepurl.com/3IsJPAdd her to your Google+ Circles https://plus.google.com/+RubyBinnsCagney/postsPlease visit her website:http://author-tales-of-self-publishing-books.blogspot.co.uk

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SERENDIPITY

Ruby Binns-Cagney

©Copyright Gizzard Publishing 2021

Cover Design ©Gizzard Publishing Co 2021

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law.

This book is fictional. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

SERENDIPITY

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

About the Author

Further Reading

CHAPTER 1

When Jill’s childhood crush Marc had asked her to sing at his wedding, she couldn’t believe he’d remembered her, and all their childhood shyness. Jill couldn’t stop staring at her phone and the voice message.

After all this time, Marc Bennett had finally contacted her. He must have asked someone if Jill still sang in a band, and somehow got her number.

Jill had to tell her close friend Debra immediately, just to confirm she hadn’t imagined it. Debra answered on the second ring.

What’s happened now? Debra exhaled and then Jill heard the trademark cough which followed. Her habit was getting more expensive every year and Debra didn’t cut back.

Hello to you, too. Thought you’d given up smoking again?

Gary walked out last night.

Stupid bastard! What’s he done this time?

The usual. Seeing that Doreen who works up the laundrette.

Old enough to be his Mum’s Mum.

Teeth like a horse.

Her breath stinks and all. I hate going there but Dad insists.

The comfortable silence between them passed in a heartbeat.

What did you call me for?

You’ll never guess so I’ll just come out with it.

You’re pregnant! Debra howled with laughter and almost choked on her cigarette.

As if, you old tart.

Takes one to know one. Mind you, you’re the oldest of us so I expect you’re dried up by now, right? Debra cackled and Jill could imagine her rocking back and forth in her chair as she did so. When something made Debra laugh, she could laugh for a long time.

Let me tell you my news instead of making wise cracks.

Sorry. Go on then. What’s this earth-shattering news?

Marc Bennett texted me.

"Heart throb of the year texted you. What for?"

Charming. Thanks for the vote of no confidence.

You’ve been holding a torch for Marc since you were seven years old. He finally gives you a moment’s thought, and you expect me to get excited?

Forget it. I’ve called you at a bad time, clearly!

A beat.

Don’t hang up, I’m sorry. Debra stood up and then tossed her cigarette end into the long grass at the end of her garden and closed the kitchen door.

It’s ok. I guess Gary’s really done a number on you this time.

He always comes crawling back, but we had a row and he had this look I’ve not seen before.

What did you row about?

The sound of the front door opening gave Debra a jolt.

I’ll have to call you later. The sudden silence on the other end left Jill with her mouth open.

***

Jill returned to her voice message, and then recalled that at school, Marc was a stud-in-training. Seven years old and confident as hell.

A dead ringer for his Dad, the ex-footballer Jonathan Greaves of Eaton United. Retired prematurely after a broken metatarsal in his left foot ended his career. The golden foot that had enabled Eaton United to reign as league champions for twelve years. Sadly, Marc wasn’t interested in football. More like he didn’t want the pressure of living up to his legendary Dad.

Jill was seven years old when she knew that she fancied Marc, After school, they hit the roundabout in the park just beyond the gates. Marc had told her to hold on tightly to the bars while he spun her around on the roundabout, and then dared her to jump off and onto the grass.

Jill did it; crashing on the ground with dizziness, and then slowly walked back to school as they waited for Marc’s Dad to pick them up in his rust-brown Morris Marina.

The one with the black faux-leather seats that burned the back of your legs on a hot sunny day if you weren’t careful. After Jill’s Dad totalled the family car, Marc’s Dad dutifully picked them up after school until they were sixteen years old.

The feeling of Marc’s breath on her face while they both stared at each other was one of her go-to-memories now when she felt lonely. Which was often.

***

After agreeing to sing at the wedding, Jill realised she hadn’t asked about his Bride-to-be. With the wedding in just two weeks’ time, she