usual productive standards, I’m making progress.
Perhaps Rob was right and having a change of scenery and environment is helping a little. Being forced to live with another person has made me self-conscious. I never cared what Freya thought of me. She never intruded on my thoughts. With her I was never forced to have interactions. Unlike now.
I’m sitting at the island, eating, when the housekeeper walks in.
“Oh.” She stops when she sees me, as if she’s shocked. I don’t normally take my lunch in here. It’s always at my desk in the study but for some reason I decided to eat here today.
“I hear your friend starts here soon.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin.
“Jamie?” She breaks out into a smile. “He has a few things to sort things out with his current workplace. He’s definitely starting?” She sounds hopeful as she runs her hand through her silky hair. It’s the color of dark chocolate, with caramel mixed in. Strange how I never noticed that before.
“In a few weeks.”
“That’s great. You’ll like him.”
I have my reservations. “Will I?”
“He’s nice and friendly, like Trevor ...” She winces, as if she’s wandered into hostile territory.
“Trevor was rude and disrespectful.”
She starts unpacking the groceries but doesn’t answer. It was a rhetorical question. We’ve not been in the same room since that time in the gym. This first meeting is a little stilted but there isn’t the usual edge. He’s not as brittle as I am accustomed to him being.
“You don’t ever go out,” she states.
“I don’t need to. Everything I have is here.”
“But going for a walk can be nice. It might help you to get some fresh air.”
I don’t find her curiosity, or advice, as offensive as I usually would.
“Rob says you and your friend both lost your jobs.” I’ve never had more than a few words to say to Freya, and I’ve known her for years. I have no idea why I’m taking the time and trouble to make conversation with Mari now.
“We all got laid off. All the staff. It was horrible. The owner had been charged with money laundering offenses. We had no idea any of this was going on.” She shivers with disgust. “I never thought my boss was that kind of person.”
“People will surprise you in ways you can never imagine.”
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right about that.”
I should know. I write about these people all day long.
“Jamie is nothing like Trevor.”
“No?” He must mean something to her. I wonder if she’s subtly pleading with me not to fire him.
“He’s a good guy. Most of my belongings are at his place.” She stops suddenly, as if she’s said too much.
He is her boyfriend.
A thorn pricks at my side. This means they will laugh about me, and talk about me, just not here. They’ll do it in private. “You’re together?” Why did I ask that? Why did I pry in a way I never do?
“God, no,” she cries, “We’re just friends.”
Even if they are just friends, there’s a chance I’ll be the butt of their jokes and I won’t even know. I get up abruptly, the need to shut myself away pinching my thoughts.
“You’re going?” she asks, looking startled at my abrupt departure.
“I have words to write.”
She nods, as if she understands. “Do you need me to bring you anything? You seem to be making progress.” Her smile is light and reassuring. She’s making an effort. Trying to be nice and friendly. I should make an effort, too, but now I wonder if I should head to the gym and do a workout before her friend turns up.
Chapter 12
MARI
I can’t decide if Ward is becoming more civil, or if I’m getting used to him. Or whether I feel sorry for him, knowing about his mom and his girlfriend. But as the weeks go by, we reach a nice equilibrium.
Being cooped up together gives people no choice but to try to get on. It also helps that the house is huge. We could go the whole day without seeing one another, like we did soon after the gym encounter.
I make it a point to go into his study first thing every morning and give it a good clean before he starts. I’m still as careful as ever around him. I’m aware of his short temper and I can’t risk losing my job over his tantrums.
The shining light on the landscape is Jamie coming on board. Even though Ward is nicer, it’s still lonely and isolating being here. I miss