‘Well, I won’t be going to Prague!’
‘They do say it’s beautiful at this time of year. My secretary went last year. There was carol singing, Christmas markets in the Old Town Square, she drank mulled wine. I was very jealous when I heard what a great time she’d had while I was stuck in the office.’
I remember when I loved all those things – but no longer.
‘Yeah, well. As I say, I’d rather stay home.’
‘As you wish. But there is quite a large estate at stake here, so I would urge you to consider your choices carefully. You are due a very substantial amount of money for one short trip to Prague. She’s even thrown in spending money. What is there to think about?’
Eventually, I tell him that I will consider it. At least it gets me off the phone for now. That is what I always do when someone won’t take no for an answer and pressurises me into something. Like when you bump into someone you haven’t seen for years, for good reason, and they suggest a reunion.
He was also going on about the snow globe and how it should arrive this afternoon by special delivery. At least I can keep that bit of the estate.
I have only just put the phone down when it rings again. I have a good mind not to answer it as I presume Dewi has thought of another way to force me to leave Willow River Mill. However, I decide to pick it up to stop him from bothering me further. He is probably the type of person who will ring incessantly until he gets a response.
‘What is it?’ I answer.
‘Olivia, have I rung at a bad time?’
‘No, I’m so sorry, Charlotte. I thought it was someone else. A nuisance caller.’
‘Oh dear, you know you can speak to your phone provider nowadays and see if you can field calls.’
‘Yes, it’s okay. It’s nothing I can’t handle. Anyway, sorry about that.’
‘No problem at all, as long as you’re okay. Anyway, the reason for my call is that we need to know whether you’re coming back to work. I know I said I’d give you until the end of the week, but I’ve just been told that I have to be on a course on Thursday and Friday, so today’s my last day for me to inform head office before the deadline. Have you had any more thoughts at all? Sorry to pressure you. I hate to do this.’
‘Um, no. I haven’t, to be honest. My aunt just died, and things are a bit up in the air. I can’t think clearly at the moment.’
‘Oh, Olivia. I’m so sorry to hear that. I know it doesn’t sound like the best of times but if you could have a think. Is there any chance you could call me back by, say… four-thirty and give me the answer. Otherwise, we will need you back in on Monday morning.’
Monday! My heart starts racing and I feel that panicky feeling once again. I can’t possibly face everyone next week. It’s impossible. So, I make my mind up there and then.
‘I’m sorry, I won’t be coming back in. I don’t want to mess you around, but right now, I can’t face coming in.’
‘Well, I’m very sorry to hear that, but I’m glad you’ve decided what to do. Perhaps you’ll feel better once you know that this is a weight lifted off your shoulders.’
‘Yeah, sure.’
‘I’ll arrange your P45 and get that in the post to you, okay? We’ll also need your uniform back. Can you pop that in… or post it?’
‘I’ll arrange to send it, thanks.’ I suppose I will have to face my fear of the post office unless Ken can arrange postage for me.
I put the phone down and make myself some tea and toast. There is nothing like tea and toast in a crisis. Although, I begin to realise that this isn’t really a crisis. In fact, it is a good thing as I have made my mind up, finally! I told the truth and stopped making excuses. It feels liberating. Now all I have left to do is sort Dewi out before he comes back and gives me a hard time. But that’s enough tough decision-making for one day. I crunch down on my toast with a sense of satisfaction. I made the right move.
I spend the rest of the afternoon pottering around the garden. I stop to admire the pink and purple cyclamen that have flowered in the corner near the pond. There are no fish in there, but sometimes, I spot tadpoles and frogs if I am lucky. There is so much wildlife here, which is another reason I love it so much. Badgers and hedgehogs, and all the other animals love the garden of Willow River Mill.
I check the bird feeders and realise I will have to add some bird food to the bi-weekly shop. One of my pleasures is looking out the window and watching the birds the garden attracts. I have seen kingfishers, owls, herons, buzzards, and doves who come in pairs. There is so much nature around here.
When I head inside, I go online to start my next supermarket delivery. I make sure I add all the bird food first and then carry on with my shop of frozen food. I enter my card 1details and get an error message on the screen. I have still been getting payments from work until now, so I know there is money in my bank account. Still, I check to see if I can work out what the problem is. My eyes open wide as I see that, despite my humble and self-sustainable existence, the balance is very low. In fact, so low that it won’t pay for the shop. No wonder my card has been refused! Fortunately, I have a small savings account that I can transfer money from, but as I look at the balance, I see that it won’t take me long to get through that with all the birdseed I buy. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so hasty on the phone to Charlotte.
I put my head in my hands and wonder how I can continue living like this when there is a knock at the door. I was so distracted by my lack of bank balance that I hadn’t even heard anyone coming up the lane.
It is a delivery guy that I haven’t seen before.
‘Alright, can you sign this for me?’
‘Sure.’
