The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings

Chapter 17 New beginnings

Jasper woke up feeling something he had not felt in a very long time — happy. He’d had a brilliant night with his friends and, for the first time in a long time, he felt he had something more to look forward to than just the next good time.

He also reflected on his new-found friendship with Jayne. They had caught a cab back to their respective homes together and, as Jayne got out, they had shared a small but intimate kiss.

He’d winked at her as she left the cab and said he would call her today. Now he reached over to pick up his phone and sent her an emoji blowing a kiss. Within seconds he got one back. He never would have guessed how much happiness an emoji could bring a 43-year-old man.

He swang his legs out of the bed and stood up, stretching. He didn’t have a hangover — years of drinking had conditioned him to pull up fine. He did, however, have a serious need for coffee. He wandered to the kitchen and found his mother sitting at the kitchen table reading a magazine. She hadn’t yet seen he was there and, as he looked at her sitting there alone for a moment, he realised his mother looked old. He’d never really thought about it before, but the sun was highlighting her silvery grey hair and her skin looked translucent — fine and papery. She must be 75, he mused to himself, thinking he would definitely have to do something special for her birthday coming up in November.

She looked up and saw him standing there. He went over and gave her a kiss on ...