Chapter 27
I was in no rush to get to The Royal Oak for our Crochet Club meet-up.
But while I’d so far managed to avoid Alex since his visit to The Knitting Nook, unless I wanted to explain to Joyce why a venue change was called for, I knew I couldn’t hide from him forever.
Already ten minutes late, I was determined to delay the inevitable for as long as I could and sauntering along, I ignored the cold in favour of ensuring Joyce and Erin would be there upon my arrival, drinks at the ready.
Reaching the pub, I took a deep breath and pushing on the heavy door, let myself in. Scanning the room in search of my friends, my stomach sank. Erin and Joyce were nowhere to be seen.
In the middle of topping up Ted’s pint, Alex looked my way, making it impossible for me to flee even though I wanted to.
Buying myself time, I headed for a table in the corner to dump my bobble hat and coat and taking them off, I scolded myself.
If I hadn’t complained about Gideon working too much, I wouldn’t have set off the chain of events leading to the mess I’d got myself into.
Rubbing my wrist, I braced myself for a hard yet necessary conversation with Alex.
As I stepped forward, the pub doors burst open, and I spun round to see a flustered Erin charge in.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ Clocking my presence, she hurried straight past me. ‘What’re you having? The usual?’
Grateful for the last-minute reprieve, I watched her plonk her bag down on the bar and unzipping it, stick her hand inside. Unable to find her purse, she groaned and tipped everything out to continue her search. Menopause, work, or both, Erin had clearly had a bad day.
I headed back to the table and sat down.
Despite the clear view I had of Erin and Alex, I resisted looking over.
Trying to act natural, I picked up a beer mat and instead, focused my attention on that.
Hearing laughter, my resolve broke and my gaze landed on Alex just as his landed on mine.
My cheeks reddened and I quickly diverted my eyes back to the piece of cardboard, which I pretended to read until a drink was placed in front of me.
‘I am so ready for this,’ Erin said. ‘I’ve had the day to beat all days.
’ Taking her coat off she plonked herself down and drinking a huge mouthful of wine, she seemed to savour every millilitre.
‘You know that restructure I mentioned?’ She wiped her lips with the back of her 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.’ She bristled. ‘And yes, that does include me.’
I stared at Erin, horrified on her behalf.
‘Apparently, the powers that be have decided they need to make sure I’m still the right fit.
As it’s come to their attention that I might not be up to the job anymore.
’ Erin shook her head, her expression pinched.
‘We don’t need three guesses to work out where that information came from.
All lies of course.’ She sighed. ‘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 her glass up again, Erin waved it around while she talked.
‘To take place the first week in January, I might add. Which means Christmas is out the window.’ Finally, she fell silent and put her drink down.
She sighed and looked at me direct. ‘What am I going to do, Hattie? I can’t lose this job. It’s all I’ve got.’
I reached over with a comforting hand. ‘It’ll be procedure. A box-ticking exercise to cover their behinds. You’ll get the job.’
Erin didn’t look convinced. ‘Not if Callum has his way. He’s been out for me from day one.’ Her brow knitted. ‘I suppose some people just don’t like strong women.’
‘You could always take over the shop next to me?’ I said, trying to raise her spirits. ‘Settledown could do with its own estate agent.’
‘You mean start again? At my age?’ Erin let out a laugh. ‘Nice idea, but I don’t think so.’ As Erin played with the stem of her glass, her phone bleeped.
Usually one to respond straight away, I was surprised to see her ignore it.
‘Don’t worry. It’ll be a meme from Mum.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘I’ll, no doubt, get a few more before the evening’s out.
’ She took another 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.
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.’ Erin stared down at her hands. ‘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.’
My eyes widened. ‘Without talking to her first?’
Erin screwed up her face and nodded. ‘Breaking that bit of news is something else I’ve got to look forward to.’ She drank another mouthful of wine. ‘I’m sorry to dump all this on you. Everything’s just so frustrating at the moment.’
‘You’re not dumping anything on anyone. We’re friends remember. I’m here to help. Listening is the least I can do. You keep talking.’
Erin straightened herself up. ‘Nope. I’m done. It’s time to move the conversation on.’ She shook her woes free. ‘Tell me about what you’ve been up to. Have you sorted things with Gideon?’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Yes and no.’
Erin narrowed hers. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning I’m still none the wiser about Julia and he certainly knows nothing about what happened with Alex. But he did suggest we spend Christmas with his parents.’
‘And how do you feel about that? Considering last year.’
I wrinkled my nose. ‘I don’t want to go, if that’s what you mean.’
‘Don’t tell me.’ Erin put a hand up. ‘But you agreed anyway?’ She knew me too well.
My shoulders slumped. ‘It was the least I could do after you know what.’ Without thinking, I glanced at the bar area to see Alex looking back at me. Both of us clearly as embarrassed as each other, he quickly picked up his pencil and I fast looked to Erin.
‘You’d have to be blind not to see how much that man likes you.’ Erin leaned towards me and lowered her 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, and interrupting Erin mid-sentence, Joyce raced in. Charging towards us, she wore a beaming smile.
‘At least one of us is happy,’ Erin said, straightening herself up.
‘Sorry I’m late. But I had some news to break to Richard.’
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen Joyce so energised and there was no denying her excitement was contagious. ‘Good news, I see.’
‘Do tell,’ Erin said. ‘I need cheering up.’
Unable to contain herself, Joyce put her coat to one side and took a seat. ‘Remember me saying if Richard continued insisting he’s Gordon Ramsey, I’d have to act? Well, he finally pushed me over the edge.’
I stared at Joyce, confused. After all her talk of murdering the man, I struggled to reconcile her words with her demeanour. ‘And that’s a good thing because…?’
Erin chuckled. ‘What did he do?’
‘Only the worst thing imaginable.’
With his spaghetti bolognaise still fresh in my mind, I couldn’t see how he’d top that.
‘He informed me he’d be making Christmas dinner.’ Joyce laughed, furthering my confusion. ‘Leaving me no choice but to do the only thing I could…’ As if waiting for us to guess what that was, her gaze went from me to Erin.
‘Pack your bags?’ I asked, tentative.
‘See a divorce lawyer?’ Erin added.
Joyce shook her head.
‘You’ve put him on a flight to Nial’s like you suggested?’
‘Even better.’ Joyce clapped her hands. ‘I’ve booked us on a cruise.’ She squealed. ‘A festive cruise. We leave on Christmas Eve.’
‘I’m impressed,’ Erin said.
Pleased for Joyce, I put a hand up to my chest. ‘Me too. But how? At such short notice.’
‘Sally at Elite Travel found it for me. Through one of her special contacts, of course.’
Erin tapped Joyce’s arm. ‘I hope you’ve got a couple of posh dresses. You know, for when you dine at the captain’s table.’
‘How does Richard feel about this?’ I asked, curious.
‘Unless he’s prepared to lose a whole lot of money, it doesn’t matter how he feels.’ Joyce wiggled her shoulders in excitement. ‘I waited until it was arranged and paid for before I told him.’
‘A woman after my own heart,’ Erin said.
‘I’m so excited, you wouldn’t believe. It’s years since I’ve had a holiday.’ Joyce rose to her feet. ‘I think this calls for a celebration, don’t you? Cocktails all round, is it?’
I’d never seen Joyce with a spring in her step before and as she headed to the bar, I couldn’t help but smile. ‘I’d rather a cruise than Christmas at the Mayhews,’ I said.
‘Think yourself lucky. At least you’ll get to celebrate. Apart from watching the King’s College Choir with Mum, which she insists on every year no matter what, I’ll be spending mine making PowerPoint slides.’
Joyce returned to the table. ‘How does a White Christmas Mojito sound? Rum, mint, lime, and coconut cream. And a couple of other things that I can’t remember.’
‘Delicious,’ Erin said.
Joyce turned to Alex and gave him a thumbs up. ‘He’s going to bring them over. Oh, and I said he should join us.’
My heart skipped a beat. ‘Why?’
My question appeared to bemuse Joyce. ‘One, because when it comes to saying cheers, the more the merrier. Two, because it’s lonely over there on his own. Three, because as your soon-to-be tenant, he’s an honorary member of our Crochet Club.’ Joyce shrugged. ‘How many reasons do you need?’
I looked to Erin for assistance, but none was forthcoming. Instead, she picked up her wine glass and raised it.