the time I was there. They eyed me with suspicion from the moment I arrived. I tried to be friendly. I’d brought a big jar of coffee and a tin of biscuits with me and I was happy to talk to anyone, but the thing that ruined it for me was the fact that the manager, Mike, was impressed by me. That meant they couldn’t accept me as one of them. They still ate the biscuits, though.
I was there to work on the reception desk but they didn’t have many visitors; it was mainly deliveries that had to be redirected to the warehouse. There was a large office for administrators behind the reception area and Mike had a small office off that room. Upstairs were individual offices for other managers. As soon as I got there one of the admin staff hauled a computer into reception for me and they all piled work on my desk. On Friday, an hour before we were due to go home, I’d finished everything that had to be done and went to the bathroom. When I came back I found my in tray was suddenly full to the brim and when I looked into the admin office nobody would meet my eyes. I preferred to be busy but didn’t want to do their work as well as my own. I couldn’t say anything, though. There were six of them and not one of them had given me a friendly word. The door between reception and their office stood open and as I did their work for them I’d hear them chatting about what they were doing that night. My mind was far away as I typed up their work, daydreaming about what I’d do after my house was sold. I could buy a house here and rent it out, then live off the rental income while I traveled the world. I’d have to stick to cheaper areas, I thought, full of enthusiasm, but then had a sudden vision of myself lying on a beach with a bunch of twenty-year-olds. Just then I heard one of the women in the office say, “I’m going to Thailand in September,” and I hastily rearranged my plans.
At 4:30 there was an exodus to the ladies’ bathroom, and at 4:50 they all emerged with fresh makeup and straightened hair. The smell of hair spray and entitlement lay heavily in the air. They headed straight for the door without saying good-bye.
* * *
? ? ?
Just as I got into the car a message came through from Fiona.
They arrived safely. Do you know when they’re going back? They are refusing to answer the question and Mum is talking about being here for Christmas. Pray for me.
I laughed. There was no way she’d put up with them for that long. As I drove out of the office car park I decided to stop at the supermarket on my way home for alcoholic reinforcements. I’d changed my mind about staying off the drink; if I was going to work there, I’d need something to help me, at least on weekends. Next to the supermarket was a pizza takeaway and I couldn’t resist paying them a visit.
I drove back to my flat, my car smelling of pepperoni and cheese, and couldn’t wait until I got inside and could relax. I was facing two days away from those women and I planned to enjoy every moment.
As I scrambled out of the car I struggled to keep my leather shoulder bag away from the greasy box and the bottle of chilled white wine away from the pizza, too. I really wasn’t looking where I was going and as I put my key in the front-door lock, I froze.
Someone was behind me.
And then I heard, “Hello, Ruby,” and I turned quickly.
It was Tom’s son, Josh.
CHAPTER 42
Ruby
Josh?” I wanted to kiss him. I always kissed him when I saw him, but my hands were full and he didn’t look as though he wanted me near him. “Hi! It’s lovely to see you.”
“I got your message,” he said. “So this is where you live?”
I could see from his face as he looked at the bare dangling lightbulb in the entrance that he wasn’t impressed. “Take these, will