‘I just thought that…’ Vic stuttered.
‘You thought what? It’s the lack of education around it that causes the stigma. You’re no different to me, Vic, from last week to this. It’s really all right. OK?’
Vic felt tears brimming in her eyes once more. ‘Does Penny have to know?’
‘Nobodyhas to know, Vic, and please, no more tears. You’d’ve thought you’d used up your ration for the month with that last outburst.’
Vic gave a watery smile, then Ray became serious.
‘I wanted to talk to you about something, and it actually seems like the right time.’
‘Oh, God, that sounds ominous.’ Vic grimaced.
‘No, far from it. I know I’m lucky to have you. I see your talent, but also know you well enough to see that you get frustrated sometimes.’ He laughed. ‘That face when another cerealpacket brief comes in! I’m thankful I haven’t been knocked out by a flying box of Krispy Wheats.’
Vic managed to laugh too. ‘I do love it here, Ray, you know that, and I love you. I just hoped maybe I’d do more with my art outside of this, I guess. And being very honest, I could have done, but life got in the way, and I’ve been fundamentally lazy, too.’
Ray nodded. ‘We do what we do, but with all this going on I just want to make sure you are doing whatever makes you happy, and I would never stop you following whatever that path may be. You could set up an exhibition, or offer your work for sale online, even.’
‘Nate said that, too. About never stopping me.’ Vic bit her lip. ‘So, I guess that only points to one person who does stop me, then.’ She reached for a tissue in her bag and blew her nose.
‘Look, Vic. You’ve had a terrible shock. And I guess with Nate going… well, you may have stuff to sort at home. Why don’t you take some time out, call it a little holiday… get yourself back on track?’
‘Yes, I do have decisions to make. I can just about afford the flat without Nate’s contribution, or maybe I’ll just move out and get a smaller place. The least of my worries at the moment, to be honest. You’re such a diamond, Ray. If you’re sure, that would help me out so much.’ Vic stood up and smoothed down her dress. ‘I’ll probably just need a couple of weeks, is that all right?’
‘Take as long as you need. Have a think about what you want to do, and let me know what you decide.’ He smiled. ‘But I know what I want to do before you trot off.’
‘Go on,’ Vic urged.
‘How about we go for a nice long lunch at Ricardo’s and put the world to rights over a glass of something cheeky.’
Vic could see Ray typing frantically at his computer as she sat back at her desk. He didn’t look up once. Then she saw an email arrive in her inbox.
Dear Victoria,
I meant for you to receive this before Christmas, but I forgot to press send. On top of your Christmas bonus of one thousand pounds, I’d like to offer you a pay rise of five thousand pounds a year, backdated from December. Your work last year was exemplary, and Jerico Flint assures me he is going to write a series based on your amazing illustrations, so that will cover it!
Cover it! Ha, ha. Get it?
Best regards
Ray Glover
Managing Director
Feeling warm and fuzzy inside, Vic looked directly at Ray through the glass of his office. He sensed her gaze and looked up. Blowing him a kiss, she mouthed ‘thank you’ and in return received her boss’s beaming smile and a shrug.
Whether or not Ray Glover had intended her getting this pay rise before Christmas – or at all – didn’t matter. Because what did matter was that her boss was an angel in human form, and telling him about her situation had suddenly made her feel a whole lot lighter again.
Full of the most delicious lasagne, tiramisu, and a couple of glasses of wine, Vic returned to Orla’s garden flat, feeling incredibly sad about the loss of her six-year relationship with Nate but, amazingly, with the thoughts of HIV banished to theback of her mind. Then she noticed that the dustbin out the front was packed so full that the lid wasn’t able to shut. She went towards it and was confused to recognise the pattern of her duvet cover, which was still on the duvet that had been clumsily stuffed in there. To the side, in a black bag, were two pillows, again from her bed.
On entering the flat, she could hear loud music coming from her bedroom. Wondering what was going on, she walked in to find Orla wearing a mask and rubber gloves, scrubbing the mattress of her double bed. A bowl of water cloudy with a strong-smelling disinfectant was on the floor. On catching Vic out of the corner of her eye, Orla screamed loudly and dropped the scrubbing brush to the floor. Vic bent down and handed it back to her. Then turning off the bedside radio, said calmly, ‘I didn’t think you were home from your event until tomorrow.’
Orla continued to look startled. ‘I got an earlier flight. I’m er… just cleaning your room before Aletta comes back. You know. Umm. And she’s coming back earlier, too, so I’m… er… just getting her room ready and I umm… was going to talk to you when you got in tonight, as I need you to go back to your old flat tonight – and you’re early, too.’
‘Looks like we’re all early, doesn’t it?’ Vic took a deep breath to slow the anger that was rising up within her. She stormed down the corridor to the bathroom, used the loo and was just washing her hands when she noticed that her toothbrush had been taken out of the pot that she and her friend had shared for the past few weeks and placed on the side of the sink.
Orla was in the kitchen, kettle on, two mugs out, when Vic walked in. ‘You had that flu and you said yourself you’d soaked through everything so would probably buy new sheets, so I’m saving you a job,’ Orla gabbled.
