Chapter Thirty-Nine
Rather than drive in and have to lie, she left the car at home and took the bus, walking the last part of the journey. It had done her good; allowed her more opportunity to process everything and work through her sadness before she was faced with interacting with people.
Dani spotted her instantly. She was on the phone and couldn’t leave the office, but Caz could feel the eyes on her the entire way as she walked through the garage and found her toolbox.
She already knew what she was doing: Finishing off the Ford Focus she’d started the day before. New brakes, pads, and tracking; all simple enough if she could just get focused and get her head into it.
Checking it was safe, she hit the button that would raise the car up so she could get underneath it and crack on. Work would be her solace today, too.
But she should have known that small bit of peace wouldn’t last long.
“Car sorted?” Ron said. He’d bent over to look under the car at her.
“Nah, I walked in,” she said, not turning to look at him and lie to his face. “I’ll fix it later.”
“Well, we’ll say no more about it, but next time, make sure you call in. I don’t want them lot thinking you get special treatment just cos we’re family.”
“Sure. Sorry, Ron,” she said. Her hand squeezed the wrench a little harder as she twisted a bolt. “I’ll make up time in my—”
“Give over, will ya. Like I said, just call, or get Grace to call. In fact, that would be nice, she’s been quiet lately. Everything alright?”
Caz stiffened.
Grace had been quiet with everyone. She was too excited about the baby to see people and not blurt it out, so she’d just been keeping out of the way, waiting for the time when it would be safe to shout it from the rooftops. That wouldn’t happen now, though, would it?
“Yeah, you know, just the usual stuff people get busy with. I’ll tell her, though…to call you.”
“Alright, well, I’ll leave you to it then.” He walked away and Caz got back to it.
She twisted the wrench and it slipped off the bolt, her knuckle scraping across metal. “Fuck,” she hissed to herself before sucking the sore spot.
“Not your day, is it?” Dani grinned as she poked her head under. “You alright? You look like shit.”
“Thanks.”
“Seriously, are you alright?” Dani moved closer, concern written all over her face. “You look like shit.”
Ignoring the insult, Caz said, “I’m fine, yes. Just—”
“Had a row?”
Caz nodded. “Something like that.”
Someone turned the radio up and started singing along to one of the songs, making both women turn to watch for a moment.
“If you want to chat about it…” Dani said with a shrug. “I’m available.”
“I don’t, but thanks,” Caz responded. “It’s…there’s nothing to say about it right now. Just got to work things out with Grace and then it will be fine.”
Dani looked at her as though she could see right to her core. “Must be serious…”
Caz rubbed her hand over her face and sighed deeply. “Can we change the subject?”
“Sure…just…never seen you like this before. I didn’t think you two ever argued—”
The wrench landed on the floor.
“For fuck’s sake, Dani, please…just drop it, alright?”
Dani’s hands raised instantly as she stepped back and away from poking the bear any further.
“I’ll get us a cuppa, okay?”
Caz nodded, bent down and grabbed the tool.
“Okay, thanks. And sorry…I didn’t mean to shout.”
“It’s alright.”
She’d composed herself by the time Dani reappeared carrying two cups of steaming tea. She handed one to Caz and placed her own down on top of the toolbox, producing a packet of chocolate Hobnobs from her overalls’ pocket.
“Figured a few of these wouldn’t hurt,” she said, with a smile that said she was unsure of anything she might say right now.
Caz took one and bit into it.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, mostly to herself than to Dani. “All couples argue.” Except we’re not a couple and this is bigger than any argument ever could be, she thought to herself.
“Yeah, they do…but…” Dani scrunched up her mouth as she contemplated whether to say it or not. “You don’t cry about it, and you look like…well, you looked like you did, and I hate seeing you upset, because I ain’t used to it, and I don’t even know what to do or say to—”
Caz pressed her thumb and forefinger into her eyes and relieved the pressure.
“Just make tea…and bring biscuits.” Caz smiled sadly.
They stood in silence and drank their tea, nibbling on the odd biscuit here and there, until Caz’s phone broke through with a buzzing noise from her pocket.
Putting her cup down, she pulled it free and noticed it was Grace’s office number, and a small thrill ran through her. If Grace was calling, then it had to be a good sign, right?
“Grace, hi,” she said, answering the call instantly and then turning away and walking towards the other side of the car for privacy. Because if Grace had called to give her an earful, she didn’t need everyone listening in.
“Hi, Caz, it’s Pete, listen…Grace is…well, she’s told us about what’s happened.”
“Right.”
“We’re obviously very sorry for your loss and we’re insisting she goes home, but to be honest, I don’t think she’s in any fit state to drive.”
Caz was already heading up the stairs to Ron’s office. “I’m on my way. I don’t have my car, though, so I’ll have to cadge a lift or get a cab, but I’m coming.”
“Okay, we can deal with things this end.”
“Right, so you won’t let her leave or do anything—” What was she even suggesting? Things were not that bad, where they?
“Don’t worry and don’t rush.” Pete lowered his voice and said, “She’s safe, she’s just upset and she needs you.”
“I’m not sure how true that is, but…I’ll be there asap.” She closed the call and rapped her knuckles on Ron’s door, opening it without answer. “I need to go.”
He sat back in his chair and stared at her. “Why?”
“Because…” She swallowed, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth as she considered what to tell him. “Grace isn’t feeling well and her manager just called to ask me to come and pick her up.”
Now, Ron sat up, paying attention. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get going.”
“I…I don’t have my car, and I’ll need to drive Grace’s when I get there…can you call me a taxi?”
“No,” he said, standing up and moving towards the door. He leaned out. “Dani?” When she looked up at him and mouthed, ‘What’, he shouted down, “Get the van and take Caz here and drop her off at Grace’s office.”
“I can get a cab. I’ve wasted enough of your time today—” She felt the tears beginning again and sniffed, gulping in air and swallowing down the emotions.
Ron closed the door with as slow and quiet a movement as Caz had ever seen from him.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but I can see quite clearly that sommat is up. Now, I’m not going to pry, because I would like to think you’ll both tell me in your own time if it’s something I need to know about. But in the meantime, whatever it is, it needs fixing.” He placed a warm palm on her shoulder. “So, you go home, and you and my Sweetpea will work this out. Because I’ve never seen her as happy as she is with you.”
Caz nodded. “I’ll try.”