Excerpt from "Kirsty's Vineyard" by Anna Jacobs

(Published by Severn House UK, available post-free anywhere from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk)

Kirsty escorted this month’s speaker to the side area of the library, casting a quick glance over the audience. Enough people to make a respectable showing, thank goodness. She introduced the elegant older woman and sat down at the front, not at all interested in the topic, which was Getting the Best out of Life. But it was her turn to babysit the speaker today.

It was quite a coup to have Catherine Kintley. They’d asked her to speak six months ago, but since then her second book had hit the bestseller charts and she’d appeared on television, been featured in articles in women’s magazine, had become quite a celebrity.

In spite of her reservations about motivational speakers, Kirsty was quickly caught up in what the woman was saying. Catherine had lost her husband when she was thirty-two, just as Kirsty had, and at forty had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At sixty, Catherine was vibrant with life and enthusiasm, and communicated it so well the audience sat up straighter, smiled, nodded – were putty in her hands.

Afterwards they queued up to buy Catherine’s book. She took the time to speak to everyone and make them feel special.

When it was all over, Kirsty picked up a copy of the book and surprised herself. ‘I’d like to buy one as well.’

While the bookseller took her money, Catherine signed the book, then smiled. ‘I hope it helps. You look rather quiet and sad.’

‘Do I?’

‘Yes. Just when you relax your guard. I saw it happen a couple of times during my talk. You’re too young to have such a guarded expression.’

‘I lost my husband too,’ Kirsty admitted.

‘Recently?’

‘No, four years ago.’

Lara held Kirsty’s hand in both hers. ‘You’ve not really moved on, dear. I can see it in the way you hold yourself – quiet, tight, shut away. Sorry. I shouldn’t be so personal, but I hate to see lives wasted, when there’s a big world out there full of exciting things to do. I hope my book helps you.’

The warmth of Catherine’s smile lingered long after Kirsty had waved goodbye to her at the library door.

She looked at the book and wondered what had got into her. She never read this sort of thing, preferring gentle romances or family stories. Nothing violent, nothing miserable or extreme.

And she had moved on, of course she had. She’d made a whole new life for herself with her brother Rod and it was very – pleasant. She had friends and family she loved; she didn’t need or expect any more than that.

But Catherine’s words lingered in her mind all day.

When she got home, Kirsty found Rod in a much more cheerful mood than usual.

‘There’s a new job advertised at work,’ he announced before she’d even got her coat off. ‘It’d be a promotion for me, and I could do the work standing on my head.’

She made all the appropriate noises, but he went on and on, so in the end she escaped to her computer. But she spent more time staring blindly at the screen than she did answering emails or getting on with her genealogical research into their family history.

At sixty, Catherine Kintley had been glowing with life. Kirsty’s eyes went inevitably to the photo she kept on her desk: her and her late husband Mike. In it, they were both radiating happiness. She stared across her bedroom at the mirror. From a distance she might have been a well-preserved fifty, not thirty-six. The woman in the mirror was . . . she sought for a word and came back reluctantly with colourless.

Oh, she was being silly! And she might have been stupid enough to buy the book, but she wasn’t going to read it.

She did, though, couldn’t put it down. Every word seemed meant for her.

But how did you do it? How did you break out of your comfort zone? Catherine said it would be a different way for each person and you had to find your own route – and that was the challenge.

Kirsty truly enjoyed her job, loved helping people, hearing how much they’d enjoyed a book she’d recommended. She certainly didn’t intend to change that.

And she didn’t fancy going out on the hunt for a new guy, either, whatever her friend Neris said.

So what could she do to change things? She racked her brain, but came up with nothing.