‘Room service.’ He produced a cup of coffee and a sandwich. ‘I’ve just seen the wicked witch gossiping with Sandy from the spa and thought you’d be hard at it.’
Emma laughed, and took the mug and plate from him gratefully.
‘Thank you, Nick, that’s very kind of you.’ For the second time that day she felt tears welling in her eyes. What on earth was wrong with her?
‘My pleasure. I do have an ulterior motive, though. How did Jay get on yesterday?’
She smiled. ‘Great. He got through to the next round.’
‘That’s brilliant news!’
‘Yes, it is, isn’t it?’
‘Isn’t it?’ He sat down in Heather’s chair. ‘You don’t sound so sure.’
‘Oh, don’t listen to me.’ Emma waved her hand towards him. ‘Of course I’m pleased for him. I’m just being silly.’
Nick frowned. ‘In what way? If you don’t mind me asking?’
Emma paused. She wasn’t sure she should confide in someone she hardly knew, but she couldn’t speak to Jay about it and Liz had her own problems at the moment.
‘Oh, I’m just feeling a bit pushed out, that’s all. Like I said, silly. And I really do want him to succeed.’
‘Of course you do. And I don’t suppose it helps having to work with her ladyship.’
‘She doesn’t make things easy, that’s for sure,’ Emma said with a sigh.
‘Tell you what, there’s a bunch of us from here going for drinks tomorrow night. Why don’t you join us?’
‘Yes, I’d love to,’ Emma said. She was on a day shift tomorrow and a night out could be just what she needed. Jay was working, so she’d only end up sitting in the flat on her own. Again. And it would be good for her to get to know some of the other staff, too.
‘Great, I’ll let you know the details, then.’ Nick stood back up and put his hand on her arm. She looked up. He was staring down at her intently. She’d never really noticed before how green his eyes were, but the way he was looking at her made her feel uncomfortable.
* * *
The morning after the competition, Liz came into the kitchen, where Jay was already working. ‘So come on then, tell me all about it.’
‘No, you first,’ Jay said. ‘How did you get on yesterday?’ He watched as the smile spread across her face, and felt a wave of relief.
‘It was wonderful. Do you want to see a pic?’
‘Of course I do,’ he said. She reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope containing a black-and-white photograph.
Jay made out the shape of the baby and grinned at her. ‘So everything’s okay, then, is it?’
‘Couldn’t be better.’
‘I’m so pleased for you.’
‘There’s still a long way to go, and I am a bit worried about Alex, but it is a relief to know that there are no problems so far. Now, enough about us — tell me all about yesterday.’
Jay launched into everything that had happened the day before and heard her gasp when he told her about Louis being a judge.
‘How on earth has he managed that?’
‘I don’t know, but it does feel as though the other judges don’t like him very much. They did contradict him quite a lot yesterday. And they weren’t very impressed when Ben and I declared our history with him, especially as he hadn’t said a word himself.’
‘I bet they weren’t. Are they going to do anything about it?’
