Chapter 3
Imake good time getting to the office, and I'm sat at my desk just after eight.
I stayed in bed as long as I could and left home just after five.
I tried to sneak out of bed without waking Kean up, but it didn’t work.
I turned the alarm off as soon as it started, but not quickly enough.
I also tried to get Kean to go back to sleep, but he just kissed me and got up anyway, bless him.
I have been at my desk for about half an hour when Daniel comes striding in, carrying a large coffee and a canteen food bag.
“Morning, Titus. I saw your car in the car park and figured you’d need a large coffee and bacon sandwich,” he says, putting them on my desk.
“Daniel, you’re totally a lifesaver. Thanks for these. How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing, it’s my treat to you for coming in,” he replies, grinning.
I laugh. “Thanks. I can’t believe that these policy meetings are still ongoing.”
“So, pull out a nifty true witch move and put an end to the nonsense.”
“Now that’s an idea. I’ll have a think on what I can do.”
“Good.” He sits on the side of my desk. “So, what’s new in ‘Titus’ land?”
I burst out laughing. “That makes me sound like an amusement park. Ernest told us yesterday that the script for the town musical is ready. He’s putting up a sign-up sheet for all non-acting parts.”
Daniel laughed. “What are you going to be, a dress designer or makeup artist?”
“Hopefully someone walking around with a clipboard looking busy.” I can dream, right?
“You’ll have to let me know when it’s on. It will be fun watching a musical with real magic.”
“I will. I can’t wait to see it either.”
“I’ll leave you now; otherwise, your breakfast will be cold.”
“I can eat while we chat. What’s going on in ‘Daniel’ land?” I ask, opening the bag.
Daniel and I used to have a very formal working relationship until I lightened up, and now we’re both much more relaxed and friendlier.
“My sister-in-law is due to give birth to twins any day now. I’m pleased our family is growing.”
“It was just you and your brother, right?”
Daniel nods. “Yeah, until Debbie came into Tom’s life. She didn’t have a family either, so we’re all excited that the family is expanding.”
“I’m happy for you all. I expect to see pictures when the babies are born.” I really am happy for Daniel and his family, but it reminds me of the fact that Kean and I are still childless.
“I’ll spam you with pictures when they arrive,” Daniel says, standing up. “Right, I'm off to my desk. See you later.”
“You will,” I watch as Daniel walks out, closing the door behind him.
I slump back in my chair and pick my coffee up. One day, I say to myself.
This meeting is driving me nuts. I sit back in my chair and watch three of the ministers shout at and over each other.
They have been like this for over an hour.
I look to the side and see another minister sat there quietly, making notes.
He looks up and catches my eye, shrugging and shaking his head.
I rub my head, then raise my hand, flicking it at the shouting ministers, and there is sudden blissful silence.
They stare at me in horror, trying to talk, but nothing comes out.
“Yes, I took your voices. This is stupid and frustrating. These policies should have been amended months ago. I swear the three of you are just shouting at each other for the sake of it. Now, we will get these policies sorted out today, before any of us leave this room. If you have a sensible comment to make, raise your hand and I’ll give you your voice back.
If you want to act like children, I’ll treat you like children. ”
One of the ministers raised his hands.
I flick my fingers. “You can talk.”
“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” he shouts.
I flick my fingers at him again.
“No, I’ve not lost my mind. Look, we all have more work than we can deal with at the moment. I refuse to keep having these meetings where literally nothing is achieved, except Reggie and me leaving with a headache.”
“I agree with Titus,” Reggie, the only minister who still had his voice, says.
“I’m due to go on paternity leave any day now.
I don’t want to come back to more pointless meetings.
So, let’s go through these policies one at a time.
Raise your hand if you agree with them. If you have sensible comments or questions, hold your pen up. ”
I internally sigh, another soon to be happy family. I pull my mind back, and we get back to work.
“Thanks, Reggie. Alright policy one…,”
Four hours later, we are finally done. All policies are now sorted. Daniel will have the happy task of typing all these changes up and sending them to us for final approval.
I wave my hand and unmute them.
“Thank you, folks,” I say, smiling at them.
“You, Titus Compton, are a bloody arse,” an angry minister spits out before he stomps out, the other two ministers agreeing, then following him.
“So that was the most fun I’ve ever had in a meeting,” Reggie says, laughing, as he collects his things up.
“It had to be done. I was sick of these meetings. But I am liking muting people,” I say, grinning.
Reggie laughs. “Me too.”
“You can go on leave now, knowing these are pretty much sorted,” I say, standing up and collecting my things.
“I can. I can’t wait. We already have a sixteen-month-old boy. I’m secretly hoping this one will be a girl, but I’ll be happy with either.”
We walk out of the room together.
“Well, I hope whatever you have is happy and healthy.”
“Thanks, Titus,” he says, with a hand on my arm and then walks off in the direction of his office.
I walk back to mine. Daniel is hard at work but looks up when I’m near. He grins. “So, apparently, I work for the biggest arse in the building. What did you do?”
I burst out laughing. “Took their voices away so they would stop shouting and we could sort everything. Here,” I say, handing over the notes. “You get the happy task of sorting them all out. Once typed up, can you send them to us for any last-minute changes?”
“Nice,” he says, taking the papers. “Timeline?”
“As soon as possible, before Reggie goes off on paternity leave.”
Daniel nods. “Consider it done. Monica dropped by and said she can see you at four, so you have time for something to eat.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in the canteen if you need me.”
I make my way to the canteen and pass three pregnant women. Seriously, is the universe just rubbing my nose in it now?
I know my family thinks I’ll make a good father, but maybe the universe doesn’t agree.
I mean, it wasn’t that long ago I was pompous, maybe this is my punishment, but then what about Kean?
He deserves to be a father. He’d make a wonderful one.
I sigh, sighing again when I realise how many times I’ve sighed lately.
I pick up a tray and see what I fancy. The food here is lovely, and the fish and chips look tempting, and if I eat now, I won’t need to when I get home.
“Hello Titus, long time no see,” the server greets, smiling at me.
“Hi Fiona, can I have the fish and chips please? How’re things?”
Fiona picks up a plate and starts putting food on it. Fiona is a happy looking older lady; she always reminds me of Mrs Claus. She works here part-time and loves it. “Life is good. Can you believe Easter is just around the corner, though? One minute it was Christmas and now, bam Easter.”
“I know what you mean. Time does seem to be flying by at the moment.”
She hands me my plate, and I notice she has put two chunks of bread on the side.
“Thanks, Fiona.”
“No problem. Do you want a hot drink?”
“A white coffee, please.”
She makes my coffee, chatting about this and that before handing it to me. “Enjoy your food.”
“I will, thanks, Fiona.” I go to the till and pay before walking to an empty table.
This canteen should really be called a restaurant as everything in it screams luxury, from the padded seats to the linen tablecloths.
As I eat my late lunch, I pull my phone out to message Kean.
Hey handsome. Finally got the policies sorted… yay. Have a meeting at 4, I’ll text you when I’m leaving. Hope your day was as interesting as mine. Love you x
I then check the town group chat. Ernest set this up a while ago, I think literally the whole town is in this group. We also have a family one, a town witches one, and a true witches one. I also have one for my brothers and one for my brothers and Kean.
I’m scrolling through as I eat and notice that pretty much everyone is talking about the auditions for the play.
I shake my head. I can think of nothing worse than going up on a stage.
Thankfully, I can’t sing. I’ve never been so glad of that fact until Ernest mentioned the play and Nora guilted us all into helping.
My phone pings, and I see Kean has replied.
Hi Honey. My day was OK. Congrats on getting the policies sorted. How did you manage that? I’ll make some sandwiches for you for when you get home. Love you more.
I smile, even now, I feel a warm glow inside of me whenever Kean says he loves me.
Ernest will love this. I took the three annoying ministers’ voices. If they had a serious question or issue, I unmuted them, but otherwise they stayed muted. As for sandwiches, no thanks, I’m eating now. Love you x
I hit send and finish eating. It doesn’t take long for Kean to reply.
You’re awesome. OK if you’re sure about the sandwiches. Off you go to your meeting, have fun x
I glance at the time. Yeah, I should get going.
I’m sure. Off now x
I pocket my phone, collect my bits up, and leave them tidily on the tray and go off for my meeting with Monica.