After a few more weeks, Josh started to feel in a rut with his job search and decided to try a new tack. After breakfast and showering on the Monday morning, he put on his suit, with a smart shirt and a designer tie that Tom had lent him. He left the house and made his way to the High Street to visit the job agencies in person to see if this would improve his chances of finding employment.
He had mixed fortunes; finding some that would not even see him without making an appointment whilst those that would, advised him that there was little point in going to the office as he was already registered with them online. They assured him that they were putting his cv forward for any vacancies that they thought suitable and that they would, of course, contact him if any promising leads came from it.
Having planned on spending the whole day in this endeavour, Josh felt rather crushed when he had seen the last of the agencies by lunchtime. He was, at least, partially solvent now, with the regular gigs at "The Saracen's Head" and with Lucy refusing to take any money from him for his keep until he had a "proper" job. Nearing the end of the High Street, he realised that he was close to Lucy's sister's place and decided to drop in for a bite to eat.
As he approached the door, he was struggling to remember her name; he knew it began with an A - Amy? Alice? Alison, that was it and, if he remembered correctly, she preferred to be called Ally. He opened the door and smiled at her behind the counter, approaching as he viewed the menu.
"Hi Ally - it's Josh, in case you didn't remember," he told her, as she smiled back.
"Oh - I remember - well, I must say Lucy has worked wonders with you, you look a real treat compared to that first time. What can I get you?"
"I think I'll have the ham and cheese toasted panini and a cuppa, please," he stated, getting a tenner from his pocket.
"Look, I know you're still unemployed - have it on the house," she responded, as she placed the order through to the kitchen.
"No, no - I insist - I'm kinda earning at the moment - doing gigs at The Saracen, I get decent money from there so I don't need handouts," he passed the note over the counter and Ally gave him his change. "You should come and see us some time, if you fancy an evening out."
She smiled at him, "Yes, Lucy mentioned them, said you were really good and something about some girl singing with you."
"Yes, Shannon - she's got a great voice - I can't understand why she hasn't made the breakthrough yet - but I'm glad she hasn't - I can't sing for toffee so I need someone who can and with her looks, well, I think the guys sometimes just come to look at her as she moves on stage."
"Yes, I seem to recall Lucy mentioning something - what was it she said? Oh yes, dresses like a whore and flashes her panties. I guess that would pull the men in. We've been meaning to come along but our usual child-minder has been unwell and we want to make sure she is fully recovered before we let her near the kids," Ally responded.
"Oh - Lucy never mentioned you had a family - congratulations," he remarked as he took the panini from her and started to walk to a table. He was about to take a seat near the window when he spotted a familiar face - it was Amy from the pub. He walked over to where she sat, nursing a cup of coffee.
"Mind if I join you?" he enquired, "I could use some company."
She sniffed as she indicated the seat opposite her and as he looked closer, he could see she had been crying.
"Are you okay, Amy? What's the matter?" he asked, as he sat down opposite her.
"It's my boyfriend, he's broken up with me - found some other girl," she sniffed, as she dabbed at her eyes with a hanky.
"If he's that stupid, then he doesn't deserve you - you're a cracking girl and you're so nice as well - not like that Shannon. You'll soon get another fellah - hell, every time I'm at the pub I see them all eyeing you up - you'll have your pick of replacements, Amy." He bit into his panini as he watched her.
"Thanks - that's kind of you, Josh - it's just that I thought he was the one - we'd been together for eight months and this is the first I knew that he wasn't happy," she told him, as she sipped at what looked like a cold coffee.
"Do you want a fresh cup? My treat," he offered.
She looked into his eyes, "You don't have to - we barely know each other, why would you be so kind?"
"Hell, it's only a coffee and I like you - well, what I know of you - in fact, I'd like to get to know you better," he stated, as he got up from his seat and went to the counter. "What do you want?" he asked, as he reached Ally.
"Could I have a Mocha Latte, please?" responded Amy.
As soon as she spoke, Ally swooped into action, preparing the coffee for her.
"Want a slice of cake, or a biscuit, to go with it?" he enquired.
"No, really, you don't have to," she answered.
"A slice of the lemon drizzle as well, please," Josh ordered, remembering back to when Amy had brought a lemon drizzle cake into the bar to celebrate her birthday.
As he returned to the table carrying the cake and coffee, he was greeted by a happier looking Amy, her eyes still glistening from the tears but a genuine smile on her face.
"You're a breath of fresh air, Josh - you really are a good friend to have," she accepted the cake and the coffee and immediately set about the lemon drizzle, with the fork provided.
"I know what tough times are like, hell knows I've had enough of them myself - I hate to see people - people I like - upset. Your Martin is a complete fruit cake, giving up a gorgeous girl like you - I hope he gets dumped soon and realises his mistake."
He sat down and finished his panini and drank his tea, his eyes frequently looking across at Amy. For her part, she was aware of his glances, which made her feel a bit brighter. She liked Josh very much, ever since that first day in the pub.
"Aren't you and Shannon an item?" she enquired, before taking a sip of her coffee.
Swallowing his latest mouthful of tea, Josh looked across the table at her. "Shannon is a law unto herself. Sure, I won't lie to you, we've had sex twice but the last time was three weeks ago. She's a strange girl, sometimes all friendly and flirty, other times as cold as a wet fish. I'll be honest with you; I don't know where I stand with her apart from the fact that we seem to be a semi-permanent act. I'm thinking of telling her I'm fed up with her games and that we should just be a duet, no personal attachment, just so I can move on."
"You know her and Geoff were an item a couple of years back?" she asked.
"No - no, I didn't - I know he warned me off of her but I didn't realise it was from personal experience," responded Josh, "I guess he got burnt, did he?"
"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that. Geoff is a bit of a player, himself - he even tried it on with me when I first started at the bar - if you ask me, those two deserve each other," she took another sip of her coffee, "Thanks again for being so kind - you really helped me get out of the doldrums."
Finishing his tea, Josh checked the time on his phone. "I'd better get to the shops; I need to get some ingredients for tonight's dinner. You want to talk some more, give me a ring - you've got my number, haven't you?"
She nodded as he left, finishing her coffee and leaving the café a few minutes later.
As he went around the supermarket, buying what he needed as well as a bottle of wine and some beers, Josh thought about his conversation with Amy. Now, there's a girl more like my Lucy, he thought; kind, honest, respectful with a good sense of humour, not to mention stunning looks and a good figure.
He paid for his purchases and made his way back home, letting himself in and taking a quick shower before starting to prepare dinner. He was whistling "Shallow" as he worked his way around the kitchen, the latest song he was thinking of adding to their repertoire. His mind kept switching back to his conversation with Amy but he decided that it was too soon to suggest a date, she needed time to sort out her emotions, she would be too vulnerable now.
He heard the door open and Lucy was soon in the doorway, smiling at him, "You don't have to cook every night, Josh," she stated, her nostrils taking in the pleasant smells emanating from the pans on the stove. "Tom's gonna be late tonight. We'll probably have to eat without him - is it something that can be warmed up later?"
"Yeah - probably won't be as nice but still edible," he responded, looking at her, framed by the doorway.
