Chapter 7
By the time I reached Settledown, I’d put Callum and Rory to the back of my mind and made the decision to leave looking for a new job until after Boxing Day. I was on my festive break, and as I swung onto the Royal Oak car park, I was damned if I was going to let anyone or anything spoil that.
My leave might have been forced on me, but now I’d got my head around it, I looked forward to a few days lounging around in elasticated sweatpants, cosy oversized jumpers and warm woollen slipper socks.
I could eat my body weight in juicy turkey, and sticky plum pudding, while drowning myself in rich creamy eggnog and the odd boozy Baileys.
Guilt-free, of course, because everyone knows calories don’t exist in Christmas food.
Pulling into a space, I grabbed my bag and climbed out of the car.
I wore a big smile as I made my way into the pub, but it faltered at the sight of Hattie loitering in the middle of the room.
She rubbed her wrist as if plucking up courage to approach the bar and as I paused in my step, my gaze went from her to Alex who was busy serving Ted, the pub’s most loyal customer.
Wanting to bang Hattie’s and Alex’s heads together, I shook mine.
And people wonder why I’d rather be single.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ Like any good friend, I was happy to intervene and bring Hattie’s ordeal to an end. ‘What’re you having? The usual?’ I asked, breezing straight past her.
I plonked my bag down on the bar, but sticking my hand inside I struggled to locate my purse, leaving me no choice but to tip everything out.
‘Three white wines please, Alex,’ I said as I filtered through my belongings.
Miniature Christmas tree, tissues, hand sanitiser, a torch, far too many receipts, car keys.
I seemed to have everything except what I was looking for.
A strip of paracetamol, a hair scrunchie, phone charger, lipstick and a letter I should have posted last week…
Alex laughed as he nodded to my mountain of stuff. ‘Is there anything you don’t carry around with you?’
Tall, dark and handsome, Alex could give any Hollywood leading man a run for their money, and with a warm, down-to-earth personality, he was the perfect antidote to the likes of Callum and Rory.
‘I’ll have you know everything here is essential.
’ Finally spotting my purse, I waved it his way. ‘Better make them large.’
With my body temperature yet again rising, I picked up my hand fan and gave my face a quick waft before scooping everything back into my bag.
I glanced around, taking in the room’s huge Christmas tree with its crimson baubles and gold trimming.
Fellow customers, some wearing festive sweaters, basked in the glow of the roaring open fire.
I was relieved to see Hattie had chosen a table well away from the heat.
I paid for my order and carefully carried the three glasses over.
‘I am so ready for this,’ I said. ‘I’ve had the day to beat all days.
’ I took off my coat, put it and my bag to one side and dropped down in the seat opposite my friend.
Drinking a huge mouthful of wine, I savoured every millilitre.
‘You know that restructure I mentioned?’ I wiped my lips with the back of my hand.
‘Well, it transpires it’s more of a downsizing.
And with too many staff members for the roles available, some team members have been asked to interview.
For their own jobs, no less.’ So much for not thinking about work until after Boxing Day, I realised, but having started on the subject I couldn’t stop. ‘And yes, that does include me.’
Hattie jerked her head, her accompanying frown telling me she was as affronted by the prospect as I was.
‘Apparently, the powers that be have decided they need to make sure I’m still the right fit.
’ I couldn’t believe I was saying that. ‘As it’s come to their attention that I might not be up to the job anymore.
’ My eyes widened and pursing my lips, I dipped my chin.
‘We don’t need three guesses to work out where that information came from.
All lies of course.’ I let out a frustrated sigh.
‘When I think of all the money I’ve brought in over the years. That I still bring in.’
‘Oh, Erin, I don’t know what to say.’
‘Of course, not content with a simple Q and A, they want a full-on presentation.’ Picking up my glass again, I waved it around while I talked. ‘To take place the first week in January, I might add. Which means Christmas is out the window.’
As much as I’d wanted to delay the inevitable job search, I knew I couldn’t.
Whatever savings I had wouldn’t last forever and looking for new employment took time which meant I had no choice but to get on with it asap.
On the plus side, at least I didn’t have to discuss my plans with anyone first. That was the benefit of being single. I could do what I wanted when I wanted.
At home, I often ate takeaway pizza and drank Prosecco while soaking in the bath because I could.
I played music at full-blast and danced like no one was watching because nobody was.
Handing in my resignation and getting a new job was no different.
It was my choice and my choice alone. I just had to hope Mum understood why I’d be spending most of Christmas holed up in my childhood bedroom with nothing but my laptop for company.
Realising Mum wasn’t the only problem, I felt a chink in my confidence. I knew better than anyone that single life freedoms meant sole responsibilities. The chink turned into a big nasty crack. Like putting food in the cupboard, covering the utility bills and paying the mortgage.
But life wasn’t just about money, as Callum had eagerly pointed out.
It was about friends and family and experiences.
My bravado evaporated as Callum’s earlier taunts flashed through my mind.
I hated to admit it, but he’d been right to say my life revolved around work and not much else.
When I wasn’t selling houses, I was flat cleaning, getting on with laundry and food shopping for the week, leaving little time for anything else.
I put down my drink. ‘What am I going to do, Hattie? I can’t lose this job. It’s all I’ve got.’
She reached over with a comforting hand. ‘It’ll be procedure. A box ticking exercise to cover their behinds. You’ll get the job.’
I wished I could believe her, but as much as I appreciated Hattie’s faith, her whole life had revolved around her Gran and The Knitting Nook.
She knew little of how cutthroat life outside Settledown could be.
The biggest problem Hattie had was with her boyfriend Gideon.
I reflected on the brutalness of my so-called colleague’s complaints.
‘Not if Callum has his way,’ I said. ‘He’s been out for me from day one. ’
I furrowed my brow and trying to claw back my prior confidence, reminded myself Callum wasn’t the only man to ever throw me under the bus.
‘I suppose some people just don’t like strong women,’ I said, recalling how I’d survived worse.
As for Rory, what you saw was what you got.
Shallow, dim-witted, easily manipulated…
How he became a line manager was anyone’s guess.
Hattie’s eyes lit up. ‘You could always take over the shop next to me. Settledown could do with its own estate agent.’
‘You mean start again? At my age?’ I let out a laugh.
‘Nice idea, but I don’t think so.’ I played with the stem of my glass.
Spine and Leaf on the high street might provide the perfect location for a new venture, but thanks to my age and a slowing property market, even with my experience, I saw more risk than benefit.
My phone bleeped but much to Hattie’s surprise I ignored it.
‘Don’t worry. It’ll be another meme from Mum.
I’ll, no doubt, get a few more before the evening’s out.
’ I took a deep breath and exhaled. ‘Things with her aren’t exactly helping.
The lad next door may as well move in, he’s round there so often.
’ I hated offloading on Hattie. But that was another downside to being single.
As well as having no one to split the bills and household chores with, there was no one with whom I could share the highs and lows of life.
‘But will Mum hear a word from me about that? Oh, no. For some reason she likes him.’
‘Can’t you speak to his dad?’
‘I’ve tried. He never answers the door.’ I wondered what kind of man let his son befriend an old woman to the extent Jackson had.
Still feeling guilty about Maple Manor, I drank a mouthful of wine.
‘She’s going to hate me for it, but I’ve arranged to take Mum on a tour of that residential home on the way out of town. ’
Hattie’s eyes widened. ‘Without talking to her first?’
I blew out a breath and nodded. ‘Breaking that bit of news is something else I’ve got to look forward to.’ I lifted my glass again. ‘I’m sorry to dump all this on you. Everything’s just so frustrating at the moment.’
‘You’re not dumping anything on anyone,’ Hattie said, appearing slighted I could suggest otherwise. ‘We’re friends remember. I’m here to help.’
I smiled, appreciating her support more than she knew.
‘Listening is the least I can do. You keep talking.’
We could discuss my situation until our mouths were dry, but we both knew that wouldn’t change anything.
The last thing I wanted was to be a killjoy at Christmas, and let my miserable day ruin everyone else’s evening.
‘Nope. I’m done. It’s time to move the conversation on.
’ I shook my woes free. ‘Tell me about what you’ve been up to.
Have you sorted things with Gideon?’ The cynic in me hoped she’d dumped him.
In my view, Hattie deserved better. Gideon wasn’t just unreliable, untrustworthy and too much of a mummy’s boy, he was downright odious.
Hattie rolled her eyes. ‘Yes and no.’
I narrowed mine. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning I’m still none the wiser about Julia and he certainly knows nothing about what happened with Alex.’
Considering nothing had actually taken place between Hattie and our gorgeous barman, my heart went out to her.
As far as I was concerned, wanting to cross a line with Alex wasn’t the same as doing it.
Instead of self-flagellating, Hattie should’ve been congratulating herself.
She’d shown more restraint than I would have done.
‘But he did suggest we spend Christmas with his parents.’
‘And how do you feel about that?’ I asked. ‘Considering last year.’ From what Hattie had said, Gideon’s family weren’t exactly welcoming; especially his mother who’d been an absolute nightmare.
She wrinkled her nose. ‘I don’t want to go, if that’s what you mean.’
‘Don’t tell me.’
Hattie had always been too considerate for her own good.
‘But you agreed anyway?’
Her shoulders slumped. ‘It was the least I could do after you know what.’
I followed Hattie’s gaze as she glanced over at the bar area to see Alex looking back. Both appeared as embarrassed as each other and while he quickly picked up a pencil and began sketching, she lunged for her drink.
I knew Hattie had to figure out her love life in her own time, but their mutual attraction was painfully obvious and as much as I hated to interfere, I couldn’t help myself.
‘You’d have to be blind not to see how much that man likes you.
’ I leaned towards Hattie and lowered my voice.
‘I mean really likes you. In fact, if you ask me–’
‘I’m not asking you anything.’
‘I know. But if you were–’
The pub door flew open interrupting me mid-sentence, and as I looked over, an excitable Joyce raced in.