Emily stopped, her heart sinking as she watched him stride away, and then dropping like a stone to the pit of her stomach when Fran rounded the gates. She’d forgotten it was her day to come in and clean.
‘He’s got one on him, hasn’t he?’ Fran observed, a disapproving look on her face as she nodded after Ben.
‘He’s fine,’ Emily lied, her voiced strained. ‘He’s just deep in thought about his next project.’
‘Still, he could have said hello,’ Fran couldn’t resist adding.
Gritting her teeth, Emily tried to ignore her.
‘You’re late going in again, aren’t you?’ Fran observed as she followed her towards the house.
She’d obviously noticed that Emily was still in her pyjamas. Her red-rimmed eyes, too; the eagle-eyed cow couldn’t have failed to notice those. Cautioning herself not to lose it and tell her where to stuff her observations, Emily turned back to her. ‘Actually, Fran, I went a bit mad cleaning yesterday. I don’t really think there’s that much to do.’
‘Oh.’ Fran furrowed her brow. ‘You’re not dissatisfied with my services, I hope,’ she said, looking put out.
‘No, Fran.’ Emily gave her a short smile. ‘It’s just that it seems a bit pointless, so you might as well take some time off. I’ll still pay you, of course.’
Fran nodded, placated somewhat, but she had a cagey look in her eye. ‘As long as you don’t have any complaints,’ she said. ‘You have made one or two comments at the surgery in the past – in front of other people, I might add – which I found quite hurtful.’
Yes, because you were doing more gossiping than working.Emily felt bad, nevertheless. ‘I’m sorry, Fran,’ she said. ‘It was wrong of me to reprimand you in public. It won’t happen again.’
Fran nodded once more, a pious look now on her face as she accepted the apology. ‘I do take pride in my work, you know,’ she said. ‘I consider it crucial to the running of the surgery, even if other people do look down their noses at it. Germs breed germs, after all.’
‘It is,’ Emily agreed. The woman might as well be quoting her. She’d always told Fran she was part of the team, that her job was as important to patient safety as theirs was. If only she would spend more time actually doing it, Emily would never have cause to have words with her.
‘It’s not been easy, you know, doing two jobs while bringing a child up on my own,’ Fran went on. Emily really wished she wouldn’t. She was feeling extremely nauseous, despite not letting a morsel past her lips she hadn’t prepared for herself.
‘Some of us don’t have … well, let’s just say theprivilegesin life others have.’
Emily’s jaw dropped. Fran was judging her when she couldn’t possibly know anything about her life. It was quite unbelievable. She was having a conversation on the drive in her pyjamas about her cleaner’s injured pride while her world was crumbling beneath her.
‘I’m not looking down my nose, Fran. I appreciate what you do,’ she assured her with forced patience. ‘I just don’t need you this morning. I’ll pay you, obviously, as I said. Now, I’d better get on. As you pointed out, I’m running a bit late.’
Drawing in a deep breath, she waited, wondering whether it might occur to Fran that she might have her own problems to deal with.
‘Well, as long as you’re sure. I don’t want rumours going around that I don’t do my job properly.’
‘No,’ Emily said weakly. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.
‘As it happens, I could do with going into the surgery at lunchtime rather than this evening.’ Fran checked her watch, and then looked Emily over pointedly. ‘I was hoping to catch Tom and have a quick word with him about something.’
Yes, and if Tom’s worried looks and tendency to walk in the other direction every time he noticed Fran heading in his were anything to go by, he wouldn’t want to be caught.
‘Righto. See you later.’ Emily twirled back towards the house before she was tempted to remind Fran that her contract actually stipulated times and hours to be worked. She’d contemplated not going in today. Since Jake had levelled such serious accusations at her, she didn’t think there was any point. But then, in meekly bowing out of his life, she would be smoothing the way for Sally, wouldn’t she? She had no intention of doing that. Sally had never seen her as anything but amenable. It was time she knew there was another side to her. A side that, if pushed, could be just as viciously calculating as Sally was herself.
Fran was already in, flicking her mop around reception, when Emily finally arrived, having tried to make herself presentable. She hadn’t bothered trying to emulate Sally’s perfectly made-up, flirtily sexy look, ditching the leggings and boots in favour of a smart slip dress that was reasonably figure-hugging. Her make-up was minimal in keeping with her desire to appear professional. Jake probably thought she would be too embarrassed to show her face. But he was wrong. She’d worked side by side with him for years, helping him build up this practice. This was her job. If he wanted her to leave, he would have to sack her.
Sailing through the reception area to her desk, she gave Fran a nod and then smiled brightly at Nicky. ‘Afternoon,’ she said.
‘Afternoon.’ Nicky looked at her uncertainly. ‘Are you feeling better?’
‘Much,’ Emily assured her, parking her bag under her desk, and turning to slide out of her jacket.
‘Ooh, I like the dress,’ Nicky said, sounding like her usual self, to Emily’s relief. She’d imagined that the gossip would be rife. ‘Very smart. Love the colour.’
‘Thanks, Nicky.’ Emily appreciated it. She knew powder blue suited her, enhancing her eyes, which were probably her best feature. She felt a deep pang of sadness as she recalled how Jake had once said how much he loved them. There’d been nothing but seething anger in his own eyes the last time he’d looked at her.
‘Definitely an improvement on the pyjamas,’ Fran commented, her ears pricking up. ‘I don’t know how you managed to get dressed and get here so quickly.’
