'What are we going to do?' Emma's question was probably in everyone's mind.
Alice knew her parents would let her move back in with them if she couldn't keep up her rent. Lucy still lived with hers. They were the lucky ones though. Things would be harder for the other women and presumably for most of the men too.
'Maybe it won't be as bad as that?' Alice suggested. 'If he's got a buyer then we might keep our jobs.' She didn't suppose they all would, the new boss would probably want to make changes but it might give them a bit of breathing space.
'Let's get ourselves a drink and go down,' Kath said. 'If he sees we're ready, maybe he'll get it over with.'
Down in the warehouse the men were huddled together, looking just as glum as their office colleagues.
'Do you know what he wants to talk to us about?' one of the forklift truck drivers asked.
'No, but...'
Kath stopped when the driver interrupted with, 'He's here.'
Miles must have realised the women had all gone down to the unusually quiet warehouse, and followed them.
'I didn't realise you'd all be so eager for a chat,' he said.
He was the only one who even attempted to laugh at his feeble joke. Even by Miles's standards, treating this as funny was rotten behaviour.
'Is everyone here?' Miles asked.
'Except for Dave. He's off sick.'
'Really? I didn't realise City were playing today.'
Some of the men shuffled uncomfortably, convincing Alice that Miles was right to be sceptical. What was he planning to do; blame the company's failure on inefficient staff?
'There's no need to pass on any of what I'm going to say to him, I'll speak to him separately when he comes back.'
If whatever he had to say didn't apply to Dave perhaps they weren't all going to be sacked?
Miles said, 'I'll get on with it then. Firstly, thank you all for bearing with me during the last few difficult months. I'm sure you've realised that business had slowed down and that I've been unable to invest in the company as I'd have liked.'
Things had been 'difficult' at work for over a year and Alice couldn't remember Miles ever spending a penny he wasn't pretty much forced to, unless it was on himself, but she nodded along with the rest.
'That's about to change. I've negotiated a big contract which will begin in the new financial year. Until then, money will still be tight, but once in effect I will be in a position to consider personnel matters and make improvements to our infrastructure. I'd like your help in identifying the actions which will be most advantageous to my workforce.'
'Does all this mean we'll get a pay rise?' Kath asked.
'Eventually, yes. Stay with me and your loyalty will be rewarded.'
It seemed like a long time before anyone spoke.
'So you're not closing the company down?' Kath asked.
'No of course not. Why would you think that?' He seemed so surprised that Alice thought maybe he hadn't deliberately let them jump to the wrong conclusion about the reason for the meeting.
Miles continued, with some heat, 'I've built this company up from nothing and invested a great deal of time and money into it. I have no intention of letting that all go to waste.' He took a breath. 'And all of you have put your time into the company too. We all want it to succeed, don't we?'
There were many assurances of that.
'Excellent. Then let's get ready for the next phase. I want a stocktake so we know exactly what we've got. Kath and Lucy, perhaps you could deal with the paperwork side of that? Alice and Emma, I want a real sales push. Get onto all our customers and say there's a ten per cent discount for all orders paid for in full by the end of this month.'
Everyone got to work immediately. Alice didn't even stop to text Kate, to say she had good news, until her official lunch break.
'I'll pick you up from work. Tell me then or now?' Kate texted back.
'Later. Something else to talk about too.'
'Me too.'
'???'
'Laterz!!!'
'So what's the good news?' Kate asked as soon as Alice got into her car.
'Miles has got some big new orders and we're all getting pay rises.'
'Oh! That is good news.'
'I know. When he said he wanted to speak to us all we thought we were all going to get the sack.' She explained about the meeting.
'Did he say how much of a rise, or when?'
'Well no, but I suppose he's got to wait until the orders are processed so he can work it out. He only had it confirmed just before he told us.'
'Ah, right. And the other thing you wanted to talk about?'
'No, your turn. More good news, I hope?'
'Yes, well I think so. I've decided to move in with Pete.'
'It's good, but it's not exactly news. You've been gradually doing that since just after Christmas.'
'Well you know me, I don't like to rush into anything.'
'You've been together quite a while.'
'Not as long as you and Tony were.'
'True, but Pete's nothing like Tony. You knew he was no good for me and I should have listened. I can see Pete is good for you, are you going to listen to me?'
'Absolutely, especially the bit where you explain it to Mum and Dad.'
'Kate, you've been moving in over the last ten weeks, I think they'll have noticed by now... but since you want me to tell them I'll do a big announcement and get Dad to crack open a bottle of wine to celebrate.' Fortunately they'd arrived outside Alice's flat by then so she was able to jump out and make a run for it, leaving Kate to park before she could follow.
'Good idea of yours,' she said as she came in. 'I've phoned Dad and told him to put a bottle in the fridge... and that I'll be driving you over and back so I can't have any.'
'That's just mean!'
'Yes, I know.' Kate adopted a smug expression.
'Tea?'
'Yes please.'
'Arsenic or strychnine?'
Kate blew her a kiss. 'OK, no wine, and you're right I'll just tell them, not make a big fuss about it.'
'You've already told them! Is there something you're not telling me? There's something wrong with Pete? Or... Mum or Dad are ill?'
'No!'
'What then?'
'It doesn't seem right for me to be so happy when you're not.'
Alice had to swallow several times to shift the lump in her throat. 'Oh, Kate. Look, I'm absolutely fine and even if I wasn't, seeing you all loved up would make me feel better not worse.'
They hugged.
'Now, what was your other thing?' Kate asked.
'A couple of things, actually. There have been more hoax calls to the fire brigade and there's nothing other than me connecting where I live to where I work. Do you think someone has got it in for me?'
'What? God, Tony really got you paranoid, didn't he? Oh, you think it might be him?'
'The thought has crossed my mind. He was pretty upset and he's not keen on firemen.'
'He's not an idiot either though, is he? I can't see it somehow.'
That was a relief to Alice; she hadn't wanted to believe it.
'Have you spoken to Hamish about it?'
'No, I haven't.'
'He'd know more about this sort of thing than we would.'
'True, but I don't want to make a big thing about him being a fireman.'
'Eh? I'm pretty sure the guy knows what he does for a living. Those engines and the flames and stuff would be hard to miss and anyway, I thought the big thing about him is that he is a fireman?'
'No! It isn't. Arrrgh. If I can't make you see that, what chance have I got with him?'
'Make my own tea, shall I?' Kate said. She poured the boiling water onto the tea bags Alice had already put into mugs.
'You said you thought I'd get fed up with him once the novelty of him being a fireman wore off.'
'I thought it might. I take it that hasn't happened then?'
'No. I like him a lot.'
&nbs
p; 'Like?' Kate asked.
'Yes. OK, I am totally in lust too, obviously, but I do like him and not because of his uniform or anything.'
'OK.'
Alice narrowed her eyes at Kate.
Kate raised her hands in surrender. 'I believe you, Sis. OK?'
'OK, but I don't know how to convince him. Remember I told you about his friend Louise...?'
'The slave driver at the sanctuary? Oooh that sounds like a scary film. Well anyway, what about her?'
'She said women were always throwing themselves at Hamish just because he's a fireman.'
'She's probably just jealous. From what you said I reckon she'd like to do the same, but is so bony she'd just bounce off.'
Alice, grinning at the image, wondered just how much she confided in Kate without realising she did it. 'Maybe, I'm not totally sure, but I think she's right about this. Actually, I know she is. When we go out together women are always trying to talk to him and touch his arm and things. Can you imagine what it's like when he's on his own or just with his mates and in uniform?'
'Hmm, yes. I've been out with good looking guys, not that Pete is hideous or anything, but some people attract attention and your Hamish is definitely one of them.'
'Exactly. And Louise said he's got hurt before, thinking girls are serious and then finding out any hunky fireman would do. I don't want him thinking I'm another one of those, which he probably does because he knows I've got a thing about them.'
'So you want to show you're serious? Ah, so that's what all the up to your elbows in mud was about?'
'Yes. Well, a bit to start with, but I did like watching the birds and I liked helping them... well, knowing I was helping, not so much the actual work.' She told Kate about the suggested trip to Wales and her intention of not 'throwing herself' at Hamish until then.
'You mean you haven't...?'
'No. We will, but I want to wait a bit, if I can.'
'The bird stuff should help. With Louise around you won't be able to get up to anything. And how about inviting him to a family dinner? Me and Pete are doing one next Sunday; I thought if I invited Mum and Dad they'd see I wasn't abandoning them any more than you did when you came here.'
'D'you think they're wishing we'd just leave them alone?'
'Nah. They'd hide the cakes in that case.'
Hamish rang on Tuesday morning to arrange to take her round to Portsmouth to see the murmurations on Wednesday evening.
'That's fine. Anything in particular you'd like me to cook for you?'
'Would you mind if we ate out and did that another night? William is having car trouble and he doesn't want to leave his wife without hers. Jeff's picking him up tonight, but as I'll be coming past his place on the way back to yours, it makes sense for me to do it tomorrow.'
'OK. That's fine.'
The murmurations were indeed spectacular. Easily as good as the versions she'd seen on TV. Better actually as she could appreciate the scale.
'I can't believe I didn't know about this.' She loved spotting smaller groups gather in the distance and then join up with the main flock. Surely they must communicate with each other somehow to be able to do that without any mid-air collisions?
Even more amazing was to watch birds breakaway from the main group and head, at high speed, for their roosts under the railway station. Sometimes they'd seem to lose their nerve and veer away at the last moment, but not once did they crash into the supports.
The Thai curry afterwards was something of a disappointment. Far too sweet and glutinous. It was almost a good thing they didn't have time to savour it. With William in the car and Red Watch about to go on duty Hamish didn't have long to linger over kissing her goodnight either.
Alice's next date with Hamish was another game of bowling with his friends from Red Watch. At least this time he warned her in advance. She decided a casual look would be best, something warm, comfortable and which wouldn't be too distracting for Jeff. Would her jeans be too tight? She pulled them on and discovered they weren't tight at all! The bathroom scales confirmed she really had lost weight and not just forgotten how well her clothes fitted. That had to be down to the work at Beaulieu wildlife sanctuary.
Again the bowling evening was fun. William brought the image of his wife Sandra's latest ultrasound scan to show her. Although Alice wasn't overly fascinated by the blurry black and white picture of the developing baby, it was sweet how excited William was at the prospect of becoming a father.
'His wife begs us to take him out to give her a break from him going on about it and sitting with his hands on her so he can feel it kick,' Jeff said.
'You're just jealous,' William said.
'Nah, I get my hands on your missus all the time.'
William just shook his head. It was clear he didn't believe a word of it. Nor did Alice. She thought it far more likely William was right and that Jeff would like to be in a similar position. She guessed Jeff's over the top humour and inappropriate comments were a cover for his insecurity when it came to women and that if he were to meet the right girl he'd be better behaved.
Almost as though he could read her thoughts, Jeff said, 'How's your sister?'
'She's fine, but I'm not introducing you.'
'Aww, why not?'
'I like her.'
Jeff pretended to sulk, sticking his bottom lip right out as Hamish and William laughed.
'That reminds me, Hamish,' she said when Jeff got up to take his turn. 'Kate has invited us to lunch on Sunday, with our parents. You're working though, aren't you?'
'I am, but on lates, so I could make it if you don't mind me eating and running.'
'No, that's fine.'
'I've got an invitation for you too, actually.'
'Oh?'
'From Louise. She said if you wanted to join her any weekend she'd be delighted to work you mercilessly until you passed out face down in the mud. She said something about being sure she could pass it off as an accident?'
Alice grinned but didn't explain. She had no intention of saying anything which might suggest she and one of his oldest friends hadn't hit it off straight away. Being friends with Louise might be a good move and the work which would be involved offered benefits too, including filling her time whilst Hamish was at work. Sometimes she'd hear a siren and worry he was on the way to a dangerous situation.
At the end of the evening, Hamish again gave Jeff and William a lift home, so she had no choice but to contain her sexual desires. Her plan had been to raise the subject of the hoax calls when he walked her to her door, but they'd only got as far as agreeing that he'd pick her up at twelve on Sunday, to go over to Kate's, by the time they got there. Further conversation would have taken up valuable kissing time, so she kept quiet except for a moan of pleasure as he held her tight and let her feel that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
On the drive to Kate's, Alice told Hamish about the hoax calls to work. 'Maybe I'm being paranoid, but after the one at the flat I can't help thinking they're connected to me in some way.'
'There haven't been any more to the flats.'
'No, I don't think so. Oh...' He'd been telling her, not asking her. She should have realised he'd know. He must know about the ones to Tatisuz too and probably wondered why she hadn't told him. 'Do you think they're connected?'
'I doubt it. You don't like your boss much, do you?'
'No.' Where was this going?
'Is it personal, or do other staff feel that way?'
'No one likes him, well they didn't anyway. You think someone has got it in for him? Yes, that's much more likely!' Gosh she had got herself into a state over it; of course it was more likely that a disgruntled employee of Miles's was responsible. 'Perhaps it's all over now then?' She gave him a brief summary of the staff meeting.
'Let's hope so.'
Alice thought about telling him that she'd spent a few hours at the wildlife sanctuary the previous day, but decided not to. He'd probably find out from Louise, but if he didn't that woul
dn't matter. Surprisingly, Alice realised she intended to carry on giving up some of her time and it wasn't just to win his approval.
She'd got the bus over, taking spare clothes with her. It was clear that Louise hadn't expected her to show up. Alice couldn't tell for sure whether she was pleased or not to have had her challenge accepted. Having no intention of being pushed to exhaustion again she'd made it clear she could only stay for two hours.
'Is there anything useful I can do in that time?' she'd asked.
'More rubbish clearing, if you're up for it?'
'Absolutely.' She couldn't hide her dismay though when they went to exactly the same area they'd worked in before and she saw a fresh load of litter waiting to be collected.
'It's an ongoing job,' Louise said. 'More gets brought in on the tide every day.'
'We'd best get started then.'
Alice had worked as hard as she could for two hours.
'Got time for a coffee before you have to get going?' Louise asked at the end of the time.
'That'd be great.'
Louise made the coffee as Alice got changed, and chatted quite pleasantly as they drank it. She wrote her number out and gave it to Alice. 'It's fine to just turn up and help. As you've seen there's always rubbish to clear, but if you let me know in advance maybe I can find you something more interesting to do another time.'
'Huh! You just want me up a tree or something so you can give me a shove.'
'Damn! Didn't think you'd cotton on to that.'
Alice left with a grin on her face. She'd worked hard, done something useful and seemed to be on the way to making a new friend. And surely she'd already burned off the calories she'd eat at Kate's?
The meal was a success, despite the accompanying carrot wine. Her dad's vinification 'skills' were something else Alice hadn't told Hamish about. Fortunately for him he'd refused any alcohol due to having to drive and then going onto a late shift. He probably learned all he needed from everyone else's expressions as they drank theirs though.
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