Of course there isn’t. If she calls it what it is, or formalises it, then I’d have reason to argue for the pay rise and promotion I deserve.
‘It’s more of a catch-up,’ she continues.
‘Where we talk about my progress?’
‘And other things. All good things, of course!’
‘Thursdays are an Aiden day– I’ll have to move him to one of my Abbingtorn days– are you OK with that?’ I ask. ‘I can see when he’s free and confirm with you over email.’
One perk of remote working is supposed to be the minimal contact with Pippa. The quicker I get her off the phone, the quicker I can get on with my work.
‘God, you two never miss a beat, do you?’ She giggles awkwardly.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s a tinge of jealousy in her tone. I just don’t know whether it’s triggered more by the running of the Summer Splash, or the alone time with Aiden.
‘We’ve got a pretty strict timeline, very little room for missed sessions.’ I am only half engaged as I start typing out a message.
Can we do Tuesday & Wednesday next week? Pippa drama. . .
He views it instantly, typing before Pippa’s even finished her faux-cheery response.
Already blocked out Wed & Thur in my planner in ink. But for you? Anything.
I chuckle involuntarily.
‘Maddison?’ Pippa asks.
Looks like I managed to tune her out to a point where even she noticed something other than the sound of her own voice.
‘Sorry,’ I say, hoping she didn’t hear my little giggle at Aiden’s message. ‘Yes, Thursday’s all good. Anything else?’
‘Well, actually, while I have you here. . . My dry-cleaning? It’s urgent. Sent you an email this morning. . .’
‘Already arranged for me to pick up tomorrow lunch,’ I say instantly.
‘You’re a star,’ she says, before hanging up.
A star that is overworked, underpaid and growing duller by the day, sure.
Thank you!! Pay u back with another trip to Dizzy Days? We never got to ride the Flumes of Death. . .
I vow it will be the last message I send before I get back to my serious work-from-home work. But then he replies, again, almost instantly.
Let’s just call it even.
I write back at once.
Thought so. See u Tuesday.
‘Who are you smiling at?’ Mum asks, making her way through the living room faster than I have time to pray for schools to go back already.
‘No one. I’m working.’ I hope it’s enough of a clue that she should, once again, leave my makeshift office.
‘That wasn’t a work smile.’ She purses her lips in a smug, telling way that only a mother can pull off, then makes herself comfortable, nestling into the sofa and switching on the TV before I can stop her. Usually I’d protest, or take the remote for myself, but between Pippa’s recent attitude, Evie’s promise and all my Summer Splash work, I’m pretty tapped out when it comes to regular Abbingtorn days anyway. So, I leave her to it, stealing glances at her show as I half-heartedly click away at my laptop.
‘Was it that boy you’re seeing?’ she asks, feigning a casual air that I know is nothing but a thinly veiled front. ‘The one who took you out for drinks?’
She’s been dying to know more about Benji since I first brought him up– a thing I only did because she coaxed it out of me. I needed some sort of explanation for that first late weeknight, and the one that followed last Friday after his 11 p.m.U about?text.
