Jane Actually

battered aluminium cones that were originally adjustable. One of the switches had never worked and the two remaining cones tended to flicker. It was always a source of contention, Tamara always arguing it needed to be binned.
    After a little searching, Melody found a dial on the new lamp that incrementally controlled the brightness. The paper shades sent out a soft glow, in comparison to the spotlights from the old lamp.
    The sound of keys in the front door attracted Melody’s attention, as well as that of Sally, who burst out of the bedroom. The door opened and bumped into Melody’s carry-on bag.
    “Mel? Are you home?” Tamara called out as she pushed aside the luggage. The scraping sound alarmed Sally who jumped straight up.
    Melody rose from the couch and answered, “I just got in.” She hurried to the door, picked up her purse and luggage and gave Tamara a quick peck on the cheek.
    “I thought you wouldn’t be home until tomorrow,” Tamara said. “Stop it Sally, it’s not dinner time,” she told the cat, who was circling her leg. “You’re fat enough already.”
    “We finished early so I booked an earlier flight,” Melody answered as she returned from putting her purse and luggage in the bedroom.
    “You ate the ticket?” Tamara asked, surprised that her penny-pinching lover would ever willingly pay full fare.
    “I wanted to come home and see you,” she said. “It was worth it.” She didn’t add that she no longer booked no cancellation tickets, one of the benefits of being Jane Austen’s agent.
    Tamara took Melody’s hand and they embraced and Melody drank in the smell of Tamara’s hair.
    “I’m really glad you’re home, too. We’ve missed you. Stop it Sally!” she said to the cat, who’d stood up and lightly sunk her claws into her slacks.
    Their intimate mood spoiled, Tamara asked, “Did you eat?”
    “I brought a sandwich on the plane,” she said. “How ’bout you?”
    “Pizza at the office. Hizzoner bought.”
    “Ooh, pizza with the mayor.”
    “And five others from the planning department … and the rest of the mayor’s staff. We have the big announcement next week, remember?”
    Melody nodded as if she had some idea to what Tamara referred.
    “Liar. You have … OK, Sally, I’ll get you something.”
    She scooped up the cat and took it into the kitchen. Melody considered saying something, but thought better of it. The incredibly small morsel of food she fed Sally could hardly make much difference anyway.
    That task done, they retired to the couch, Tamara taking a glass of wine with her. They snuggled, their bodies naturally settling into their matching curves.
    “New lamp,” Melody observed.
    “It finally died,” Tamara said. “Honestly, there were sparks when I tried to turn it on. Look at the outlet; there are scorch marks.”
    “I believe you,” she replied, although she tried to see the outlet from where she sat.
    “Things happen around here if you’re gone for two weeks.”
    “Like going to Provenza’s.”
    “Among other things. I’m really glad you’re back. How long before you leave again.”
    “It’s not that bad,” Melody said, knowing full well she was only home for the night.
    “Yes it is. I hate having to look at a calendar to find out if you’re home. Aren’t you going to England again?”
    Melody sighed. “Not for another two weeks.”
    “It would be nice if you could spend some time at home.”
    “Wouldn’t you just be at the office if I was?” Melody asked, and regretted it immediately. Her tiredness and the beer had dropped her guard.
    Fortunately Tamara only said, “Probably,” and then was silent.
    Melody was congratulating herself that her stupid remark hadn’t sparked an argument when Tamara said, “I have something to tell you.”

Back to Bath
Albert imagines the worst
    BertieFromHants says:
    Where are you Jane?
    JaneAusten3 says:
    Still in NYC, Albert.
    BertieFromHants says:
    And what are you editing now?
    JaneAusten3 says:
    Another young adult novel. Apparently being bitten by a vampire is the source for most teen angst.
    Jane wrote this while looking at the square before Bath Cathedral and the Pump Room and the hundreds of people dressed in Regency costume. The festival, as ever, was a surreal event for Jane. She had been in Bath during the festival twice before and each time she promised herself she would not return, for the effect was disturbing.
    She quite appreciated the obvious enjoyment of the