were Blu-tacked to my wall. Not exactly gallery material. This baby would hardly be inspired by me.
I snapped out of my gloom. I was being thrown a lifeline. I needed to grab it with both hands. ‘What’s the next step?’ My stomach grumbled, reminding me that my fish finger sandwich was overdue.
‘Oh.’ Julie inhaled sharply. ‘You want to progress things? That’s awesome. Me too!’
The next round meant telling all other applicants I was no longer available and arranging a meeting with the couple in person, where we could talk things through. There would also be further documents, Q&A, health screening on both sides. All organised by Miracle-Moms.
‘I can’t wait to find out who you really are,’ I said. But there was an underlying current of concern. What if they were politicians I hated, or people with chaotic social lives? I needed to put a face to the names.
‘Of course. And if all goes well with the next round, we’ll get the non-disclosure agreement signed. You’ve already completed the blood tests, so technically we could be flying you to New York in a couple of weeks.’
My mouth fell open for the second time. Me? Fly to New York?
‘But my job . . . I’m not sure if I can get time off at such short notice.’
It was a lie. I only had a couple of weeks left to work. But it was all beginning to feel real now, and I needed more time to think.
‘We’ll compensate you. You won’t be out of pocket. My PA will take care of the visa. As long as you don’t have a criminal record, it won’t be a problem at all.’
It was all moving so fast and felt so surreal. I had to force myself to reply. ‘OK, then. I’ll have the records released to your doctor as soon as you send me through the details.’
‘Don’t worry, the agency will take care of that.’ Julie spoke with authority. ‘Just check the consent box and they’ll do the rest. Once you’re happy with everything, we’ll arrange to meet. If you have any questions in the meantime, just drop us a line.’
I hunched my shoulders as a stiff breeze crept in through the cracked windowpane. Opportunities like these did not present themselves to people like me. I strung together a few polite words, thanking her before we both ended the call.
Dropping my phone on to the bed, I hugged my knees to my chest. Just like that, a piece on the chessboard had been moved. The game was on. There was no going back from this. Tears welled in my eyes.
‘How about that,’ I mumbled to my baby. ‘I’ve only gone and done it, little bean. We’re going to New York.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SHERIDAN
Sitting with her head bowed, Sheridan picked at the label on her bottle of beer. She had not been out in public without her entourage for four years and she felt vulnerable on her own. In this bar, with sawdust on the floor and country music playing on the jukebox, she was confident she would go unrecognised. She was dressed in keeping with her surroundings, wearing cowboy boots and low-slung jeans, and a padded jacket bulked out her thin frame. Her long blonde hair was in a French plait, tucked beneath her peaked hat. She sipped her beer. Pulled a face. There were some celebrities who enjoyed going incognito, but it was not for her. Daniel would be horrified if he knew she was there on her own. Not that she was totally alone. She watched the door from her viewpoint as her old acquaintance strode in. He extended his hand, his skin rough from physical labour, his face weathered from working outdoors. Looking at him now, with his sandy moustache and unkempt hair, it was hard to believe that Mike had once lived in her world.
‘How’s it going, buddy?’ she said, patting his back as he leaned in for a hug. He reeked of cigarettes and chewing gum, and his leather jacket smelt like horse hide. ‘Sit,’ she said, in response to his incoherent murmurs. ‘I got you a drink.’
Sliding on to a stool next to her, Mike raised the bottle of Budweiser to his lips. The years had not been kind to him since he’d stopped working on It Takes All Sorts. While Sheridan’s career had flourished, Mike had been unable to deal with the pressures of being so famous so young. Failure after inevitable failure had led him down the slippery path of