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, thepowers that behave 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 meanreallylikes 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.
