Still, she mused, Office Lady looked as though she was right at home amongst the mayhem and decay. Her range of mugs bearing more humorous legends took pride of place on a shelf where she had also stacked boxes of cornflakes, tins of biscuits, overripe fruit and a twelve-pack of cheap cola. If there was ever a three minute warning whilst she was at work, Phoebe knew where she was heading. While the rest of the staff were busy eating each other downstairs, she’d be dining out on peach slices and Garibaldi biscuits.
Her musings were interrupted by Dixon’s entrance.
‘Phoebe…’ He smiled broadly at her. ‘How are you this morning?
‘Apprehensive,’ Phoebe replied automatically, cursing herself even as she said it for not processing her thoughts before she expressed them. It was something she never seemed to master no matter how much trouble it got her into.
Dixon gave a low chuckle. ‘Well, well… I hope to be able to put you out of your misery. Would you like to follow me?’ He gestured to a doorway and Phoebe tramped back into the scene of her lunacy the day before.
‘Take a seat,’ Dixon said.
Phoebe obeyed and he closed the door behind them before pulling up a chair alongside her instead of behind the desk where she would have expected him to. It was a nice gesture, and one that immediately calmed her nerves. She was already beginning to regret not getting this job, because Dixon seemed like a decent guy.
‘How do you think yesterday went?’ he asked.
‘Not very well,’ Phoebe replied, giving him a rueful grin. She hoped her humiliation would be short and sweet.
He nodded. ‘You could say that. Mr Hendry said he didn’t have a clue for most of it what you were talking about and Sue said…’ He cleared his throat. ‘The point is, you’re right in thinking that it didn’t go well. But…’ He paused, ‘we do want to give you the job.’
Phoebe stared at him. ‘I’m sorry, I must have misunderstood.’
‘We all agreed on one thing about yesterday. Mr Hendry summed it up best, I believe, when he said that the fact he couldn’t understand anything you were talking about, together with your very expressive hand flapping, probably means that you’re more in tune with the younger generation than any of us are. And that’s what we need. Hendry’s have been selling toys and games to the children of Millrise for almost a hundred years but in that time we’ve never really moved with the times, relying on local loyalty rather than competitiveness and progress. All the while multinational toy companies and internet traders have opened up and moved in on our business, cutting it smaller and smaller.
‘We need someone to pull our image into the twenty-first century. I have all the experience in PR and the connections but the point of my assistant is to give me the edge, someone to bounce things off and come up with new and fresh ideas. I need a right hand man… sorry, woman… with their finger on the pulse and youth on their side, who knows what’s current and what’s trending. After yesterday, we decided that while you weren’t the best performing candidate you could be worth taking a risk on. So we’d like to offer you a six-month trial. How does that sound?’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Sue will go through the contract we’re willing to offer you this afternoon if you’re in agreement. Feel free to give it some thought until then if you’re not sure. I will speak to Steve about relieving you of your shop floor duties so that you can start with me as quickly as possible once you give us your answer.’
‘I don’t need to think about it,’ Phoebe replied breathlessly, ‘I’d love to work with you!’
Dixon smiled. ‘I was hoping you’d say that. I think we’ll get along well. And please don’t lose the enthusiasm and commitment to the company that you showed at the interview yesterday because that’s exactly what we need. I won’t kid you, Phoebe, we may have some stressful times ahead, but I’m sure together we can pull this business around and get those tills ringing again.’ He stuck his hand out to shake hers. ‘Welcome aboard.’
‘Thank you,’ Phoebe said. ‘I won’t let you down.’
Dixon nodded and then stood up. ‘Come and see me anytime you have questions today. You know where I’m based?’
‘Along the corridor from here?’
‘The attic room. It gets a bit nippy in the winter so bring some arctic grade thermals and soup when you come to visit.’
Phoebe grinned up at him. She was vaguely aware that it might be making her look like the village idiot but she couldn’t help it.
‘Right then,’ Dixon said, ‘I’ll see you later when I’ve had time to get things sorted.’
‘Thank you!’ Phoebe called after as he left. Once alone, she did a little jig in her chair, squealing and stamping her feet in excitement. She’d done it! God only knew how, but she had.
Midnight nudged Phoebe as she looked down the menu board and frowned. ‘Seriously, Clements, if I’d known how long it would take you to choose I’d never have suggested a celebration lunch.’
‘I’m sorry, it’s just that everything always looks so nice. That’s why I never come in.’
‘I think that might be a compliment,’ said Stavros, owner of The Bountiful Isle delicatessen and something of a larger-than-life local celebrity. ‘But I hope my menu does not frighten all my trade away.’
‘Don’t worry, she sends me instead.’ Midnight shot her a sideways glance. ‘While she’s pratting about I’ll have chicken and mango salsa on white bloomer.’
‘Coming right up!’
Stavros yelled a rapid stream of Greek through the beaded curtain hanging over a doorway behind him and then turned back to Midnight with a broad smile. It was a transformation that never failed to amaze and unsettle the observer.
‘Oh, I just don’t know!’ Phoebe said for the third time. She was aware of a queue building up behind her, though Stavros didn’t seem concerned.
‘Just pick something already!’ Midnight sighed.
‘Okay… I’ll have the houmous platter.’
As Stavros fired another instruction through the beaded curtain, Midnight cocked an eyebrow at Phoebe. ‘All that calorific goodness on offer and you go for the veggie option? The concept of celebration seems to have escaped you. You’re supposed to throw caution to the wind and let your hair down.’
‘I happen to like houmous and salad,’ Phoebe replied, her tone a little defensive.
‘Well, if that’s letting your hair down I’d hate to see you being sensible.’
Phoebe grinned and they moved to one side as the customer behind them was greeted warmly by Stavros.
‘Linda!’ he boomed. ‘Beautiful Linda! How is the business of selling greens these days?’
‘Same as it was yesterday,’ Linda replied in a bored voice. ‘Same as it is every day. I’ll have corned beef and pickle on white bloomer please, Stav.’
‘Anything for you!’ He turned and yelled into the back room again.
Linda eyeballed Phoebe and Midnight. ‘You two work at Hendry’s?’
Both girls were wearing t-shirts bearing the Hendry’s logo under open jackets. Midnight glanced quickly at Phoebe before she opened her mouth to reply. Phoebe held her breath, hoping that she’d keep her sarcasm in check, then let it go again in relief as Midnight seemed to decide she’d behave herself.
‘We do, for our sins.’
‘Right…’ the woman nodded and then turned an intense eye on Phoebe. ‘Either of you know a girl named Phoebe who works there?’
Phoebe stared at her.
‘She’s Phoebe,’ Midnight replied, hooking a thumb at her friend. Linda took an even greater interest now as she measured Phoebe with a penetrating gaze. Phoebe could feel the heat travelling to her face. This was the point at which she could do with Midnight’s irreverent and fearless personality coming into play. She recognised Linda from the odd time she had popped into Applejack’s, the greengrocer’s further down the high street, but she was hardly a regular and certainly not on first name terms. Besides, Linda obviously di
dn’t recognise her, as she’d had to ask. But the situation seemed rather odd and strained, and she wondered why Linda hadn’t followed up her enquiry.
Phoebe was about to say something herself as Midnight clearly wasn’t going to do it for her, when Stavros called them to take their orders. The hunched figure of a little old lady slapped two parcels onto the counter with a grunt at Stavros before disappearing back behind the beaded curtain. Stavros pushed the parcels towards Midnight, who collected them.
‘Enjoy!’ he called after them as they thanked him.
With one last puzzled look at Linda, who simply nodded to them, they left the shop.
‘That was a bit weird,’ Phoebe said as they made their way down the street, the fresh spring breeze whipping the hair from their faces.
‘What, that woman from Applejack’s?’
Phoebe nodded.
‘She’s a nosey cow. She knows everything that goes on in the shops around here. I wouldn’t worry about it.’
‘Why would she want to know about me?’
‘She’s probably heard about your rap. It’s already a thing of legend in Hendry’s.’
Phoebe blanched. ‘Oh my God! Seriously, you don’t think…?’
Midnight burst out laughing. ‘Your face! That was priceless! Of course not, you dolt. How should I know? Why didn’t you ask her?’
‘I was sort of hoping you would.’
‘Well then you’ll have to keep guessing, won’t you?’
Phoebe was quiet for a moment. ‘I don’t like it, that’s all. Someone I don’t know knowing something I don’t know about me.’
Midnight looked across at her with a baffled frown. ‘You know that made absolutely no sense, don’t you?’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘Forget about it. All you have to focus on now is how awesome your new job is going to be. No Steve breathing down your neck all day, no brats wiping snot on you… don’t forget your mates when it comes to prime assignments, will you?’
‘I won’t. I’ll kind of miss working with you every day though.’
‘Me too. But we can still hook up at lunch and I can sneak up to your office when Dixon is out. You’ll probably be down on the shop floor a lot anyway.’
‘Maybe,’ Phoebe agreed. ‘Although I’m not entirely sure what they’re expecting me to do yet.’
‘It’s easy street for you now.’
‘I’m not so sure about that,’ Phoebe said, her mind going back to the conversation that morning with her new boss. She felt like there was something she was missing; something he wasn’t telling her, or rather, was trying to tell her without being obvious. She hadn’t really given it much consideration throughout the morning, but now it nagged at the back of her mind, taking the shine from her ecstatic mood. ‘I think it’s going to be harder than I imagined.’
‘They must think you’re up to the job.’
‘They think I’m cool and hip with my finger on the nub of youth or something.’
‘Oh. My. God!’ Midnight laughed. ‘They’ve definitely got you confused with someone else. You’re the most granny-fied twenty-seven-year-old I’ve ever met!’
‘Thanks,’ Phoebe said with a rueful smile. ‘I’m not that bad, surely?’
‘The other day you told me to do my coat up because I might get a chill.’
‘It was raining. And the temperature at this time of year is very changeable.’
‘You know you can come to me and I’ll help with any ideas you’re not sure about.’
‘You don’t mind?’ I’m sure I’ll be taking you up on that so many times you’ll wish you’d never offered.’
‘Probably. Just promise me one thing.’
What’s that?’
‘Make sure you give Steve something really shaming to do for your first promotion.’
Phoebe grinned. ‘It’s the least I can do.’
Phoebe made her way down King’s Road at a half jog. She had been dying to phone Jack to tell him her good news. The whole day had passed in a blur. Once she’d been given the news herself, there were conversations with various managers about when she could begin her new duties, and then breaking the news to her colleagues. She had phoned her mum, who sounded almost as excited as Phoebe and would doubtless be making short work of informing the rest of Phoebe’s relatives, saving her the job. Which just left Jack. But she wanted that one to be special. She wanted to see his face when she told him. He would be so proud and impressed, perhaps even convinced that he was dating a girl who was a worthy equal. Jack always wanted to pay for things when they went out and it wasn’t done to patronise, but out of a genuine concern for her lack of funds. Just for once, she wanted to be able to treat him. It wasn’t a huge pay rise, not yet anyway, but it would improve. And for now, even a little more helped.
At their front door, Phoebe pulled the key from her bag. Her hand hovered over the lock. He had told her so many times just to come in whenever she arrived. He had given her the key to show how much they considered her a part of their family now. But it still felt strange.
Twisting the key in the lock, Phoebe pushed the door open. ‘Hey… it’s only me!’ she called.
Maria instantly came thundering down the stairs at a rate that had Phoebe’s heart in her mouth.
‘YAY! PHOEBE!’ she cried.
Phoebe bent to give her a hug. ‘How’s it going?’
She stood, expecting Jack to emerge from the kitchen, the dimples in his cheeks showing as his face crinkled in a delighted smile. But he didn’t. ‘Where’s your dad?’ she asked Maria.
‘He’s with Archie.’
Jack appeared in the living room doorway. ‘I thought I heard your voice.’ But he didn’t look his usual self. Where his blue eyes were usually full of mischief and barely disguised sex appeal, today they were dull and shadowed; his features were taut and pinched. The smile he gave her was so fleeting as to be almost non-existent.
‘I didn’t realise you had visitors,’ Phoebe said.
‘It’s okay, it’s just my brother. But he’s going now.’
Phoebe held back a frown. Maria, who loved people and visitors more than anything, had been upstairs. And the visitor in question was her nineteen-year-old uncle who had almost enough energy to keep up with her; at least more than anyone else Maria viewed as a playmate. And Jack didn’t look happy at all. Had he sent Maria upstairs to get her out of the way, and if so, out of the way of what? Hard on the heels of that thought, another one crashed in. Phoebe was finally about to meet another member of Jack’s family. He had mentioned his brother, of course, but he had seemed even less keen for Phoebe to meet him than he had his parents. Now there was no escape – for either of them. Her heart began to beat just a little faster.
Another face appeared behind Jack and his brother nudged him aside.
‘So, you’re the mystery woman we keep hearing about? We were beginning to think you were Maria’s imaginary friend.’
Phoebe stared at him. He was undoubtedly Jack’s brother. He looked a lot younger, of course, a little fuller in the face, something more arrogant in his eyes, but he shared the thick black hair and dimples when he smiled.
‘I suppose I must be,’ Phoebe said. ‘And you must be Archie.’
‘That’s me.’
‘Archie’s just going,’ Jack turned to him, ‘aren’t you?’
‘I’m in no hurry. I could stay. Mum’s only got leftovers for tea tonight so she won’t care if I’m late.’
‘It was a rhetorical question.’ Jack gave him a pointed stare. ‘But don’t think that we won’t be talking again later.’
‘Nothing to say later, bro,’ Archie replied with a cocky grin. He dug his hands in his pockets. ‘I’m off then,’ he added as he sauntered down the hall. He gave Maria’s hair a ruffle. ‘See you later, gorgeous.’
Maria giggled. ‘Bye, Archie.’
‘See you around, maybe.’ Archie turned to Phoebe and gave her a wink. She returned it with a weak smile, unable to
shake the knowledge that something in this picture was very wrong. Why did Jack seem so tense around his own brother? She had never seen him like this before.
The door swung shut and Archie’s footsteps sounded faintly down the path.
‘So… that’s your brother,’ Phoebe asked, unable to think of any other remark to make.
‘Archie’s funny,’ Maria said.
Jack’s jaw was still clenched; Phoebe could see the muscles working clearly beneath his skin. She smiled brightly, hoping to somehow diffuse the tension that still lingered. She was beginning to wish that she hadn’t come straight from work with no warning and she was definitely regretting using her new front door key. Of all the times she could have picked to finally let herself in. From now on it was back to knocking – much safer that way.
‘I um… I called in for a menu at the new Chinese takeaway that’s opened up around the corner… thought we might have something from there if you hadn’t already planned a meal…’ Phoebe said uncertainly. ‘You know… because we might want to celebrate.’
Jack seemed to shake himself from whatever dark place his thoughts had taken him to, and smiled. He wasn’t quite back to his usual self but Phoebe was hopeful that with a bit of gentle coaxing he’d be laughing and joking in no time. ‘Celebrate? Does that mean…?’
‘I got the job!’
Jack rushed to hug her and swung her around in his arms. ‘That’s brilliant! You’re so clever! I knew you couldn’t have been as bad as you said you were.’
‘Oh, I was,’ Phoebe replied as he put her down and kissed her briefly. ‘They completely agreed with me on that. But apparently I have “street cred” and that’s what they’re looking for.’
The Spring of Second Chances : An absolutely perfect and uplifting romantic comedy Page 5
