‘First of all, your professionalism tonight under what must be difficult circumstances. But also for your honesty. You may not have felt comfortable speaking against your line manager, but these things needed to be said.’
Emma didn’t know how to answer that, but Faye finished her wine and patted her on her arm. ‘Come on, it’s late and you must be shattered. Let’s get you a taxi home on account. It’s far too late for you to be getting on the Tube on your own. And just for the record, I suspect things are going to be very different for you from now on.’
* * *
As she sat back in the taxi, Emma contemplated the day. It had certainly been a day of challenges and surprises, but it had been good to stretch herself and to earn respect from other staff, particularly Faye. But for now, she was more than ready for her bed.
When she walked into the apartment, a light was shining from under the living-room door and she could hear the rumbling of the television. Although she was tempted to go straight to bed, she opened the door and went in.
Jay sprang up from the sofa. ‘Emma, at last! I thought you were never coming back!’
‘The function I was working dragged on,’ she said, not wanting to mention the drink she’d had afterwards. He’d probably jump to the wrong conclusion.
‘Oh, I see. Well, I’ve been waiting for you because I wanted to say I’m sorry for last night and I’d really like us to talk.’
She sighed. ‘I’m sorry too, Jay, and don’t take this the wrong way, but right now all I want to do is go to bed.’
‘Oh.’
‘I know we need to talk, but I just can’t do it now. I’m dog-tired.’
‘Okay.’
He looked so crestfallen, she tried to reassure him. ‘Look, let’s forget about last night. Maybe we both overreacted. Let’s put it in the past and concentrate on the future.’
‘So you still want us to have a future?’
She crossed the room to him and gave him a hug. He hugged her back tightly. ‘Of course I do. We just need to work out how we can manage it around everything else we have going on in our lives. Right now, though, I just need to sleep.’
‘All right. I understand. But you’re sleeping in our bed, right?’
‘Of course.’
‘Good. I really missed you last night.’
‘I missed you too.’
Chapter Sixteen
Jay pushed down the handle on his nan’s front door and it yielded, just as he’d known it would.
‘Hello, Nan!’
‘In the kitchen.’
He walked down the hallway to where Betty spent most of her time when she was at home. She pulled a tray of freshly baked scones out of the oven.
‘They smell wonderful.’
‘Then you’ve timed it just right,’ she said with a broad grin.
‘I certainly have.’
He didn’t dare tell her that he’d just eaten a huge breakfast and wasn’t hungry — he knew better than to refuse any food his nan offered him. Emma was on a late shift again so, determined they should spend some time together, he’d made her favourite brunch dish — shakshuka.
‘This is nice,’ Emma had said, yawning as she’d walked into the kitchen.
‘I didn’t think you’d have had much of a chance to eat last night.’
