‘Ballet?’ said Niamh, unable to control her raised eyebrow.
She might as well have addedand now look at you.Bugger that, Ally thought. As a matter of fact, after rushing around from early morning these days, she was feeling decidedly more toned than in her previous job.
‘The truth? It was my mother who had the fantasy of being a dancer, not me. I say to anyone, at any age: whatever it is, go out and do it – it’s never too late.’ She smiled at Niamh.
The woman looked at her in surprise, unsure exactly what had happened but unable to detect any hostility.
‘Oh, right, thank you,’ she muttered and made her best effort at a dignified exit.
Ally felt unaccountably good – perhaps it was a tiny strike for allowing kids everywhere to be themselves.
Just then the door opened and, oh God .?.?. there was Pete, wearing his familiar aviator jacket, prompting a painful lurch in her heart. Overcome with confusion, she instantly glanced away, pretending not to see him, and busied herself with an imaginary order, but she continued to track him from behind her hair as he disappeared into the storeroom.
You’re being weird, she inwardly shouted at herself, why won’t you just smile and say good morning like any normal person? But it was genuinely awkward. They’d shared intimacy, and she knew him better than she was supposed to. Plus, hehadn’t been in touch since the previous morning, when he’d charged out of her apartment, so what was she supposed to think? She certainly wasn’t going to creep around, pathetically trying to catch his eye. If he wanted to explain what had happened, then great – fantastic – but in the meantime, lie low, she urged herself. Despite that, her hands were shaking. She caught Evelyn watching her.
‘You like him, don’t you? I’m not blind.’
‘Is it that obvious? I don’t know whether to give him a chance or to run for my life.’
‘Dave speaks highly of him and that says a lot, but let’s say .?.?. some men can get very tangled up in their lives. Mind yourself.’
She gave Ally a pat on the arm as she walked away.
There was no pretending – this was miserable. She sought refuge in the cupboard-sized staff loo, where she competed for space with a mop and bucket, everyone’s coats and the new guy’s – Ronnie – folded e-scooter. She had a pee and a good bawl, then dried her eyes with loo paper. She felt a surge of warmth towards Evelyn, with her thrift-shop wardrobe and homely wisdom. There was nothing to be done about Pete, that was a fact. She raised her palms in a gesture to mentally let go of the situation, or try at least, then reapplied plenty of eyeliner and lipstick, which surprisingly cheered her up. Her heart might feel like a punchbag, but whatever she had to face, it’d be done while looking slightly fabulous.
Just as she was emerging, she heard a ringing middle-class voice.
‘I’m looking for my daughter – she’s the barista, you know.’ Oh no.
‘Mum, sssh! Listen, I’m notthebarista – that’d be Dave, the owner.’
‘Lovely. Well, look how cosy this is, like a little hobbit hole, and it’s quite trendy, isn’t it? The perfect little fill-in spot foryou.’
Ally was cringing.
‘Mum, look, just sit down .?.?. Sit down, I’ll bring you a lovely coffee – and this is Evelyn, I can highly recommend her latticed apple tart and cream.’
Mum was enjoying herself far too much to sit down. She rarely went out, and when she did, she behaved as though she were at an Oscars party.
‘Scrumptious .?.?. I’d adore that, darling, and so what if it’s nothing but celery tonight?’ she tittered, oblivious to Evelyn’s even gaze. ‘I have to be good .?.?.’
Ally managed to produce her order in record time, in the hope it might distract Mum from making any more loud gaffes.
‘Now, the reason I’m here is very important .?.?. I’ve a new job for you.’
‘Mum, sssh! I have a job. It isn’t that stress-leave job you mentioned before, is it?’
‘No, I mean a proper job. This is a lovely law office – it’s a pal of Maeve’s and all they want is a nice, well-spoken receptionist who won’t scare the clients.’
She mentioned the salary, which was half what she had been earning at Celtic Concrete. It wouldn’t even go near her mortgage. God, Mum hadn’t a notion.
‘And the super thing is, I said you could start next Monday, but they said the following week, assuming you pass the interview. Much more suitable. Pop out and buy yourself a few nice little outfits so you look your best – none of this tatty lot. Now, I’ve to fly and pick up Allegra Carmichel, who’s just finishing up with her gallbladder man. Bye, darling. And say thank you to that little woman – I’m just being good, it’s nothing personal about her baking.’
Mum took a sip of her coffee and gaily wavedciaoat the room to universal indifference.
Ally slunk back behind the counter with Mum’s barely touched order, hoping to God everyone would just forget about her – plus, she still hadn’t spoken to Pete. Just then, she saw Dave heading for the door while announcing he was going to visit the bed-bound Fia, but not to worry, as Pete was still there, prompting yet another heart spasm. Dammit. Forty-eight hours ago, she was in no way obsessed with Pete, but now she infuriatingly was and couldn’t seem to knock it on the head. Bugger anyway – what happened to their lovely, fun, carefree vibe, when they could make stupid puns and flick coffee foam at each other? Which was precisely why you shouldn’t mess around with your workmates. Hah, as if that wasn’t the most ignored piece of advice in history.
No matter how bad it is, face it, she told herself, before taking a deep breath and stepping into the storeroom where Pete was making pencil marks on the wall, his back turned to her.Now, look relaxed and say something interesting.
