“Let’s talk about him later. Why are you here? The last I knew you were in California somewhere and living with some surgeon…” Keren was almost speechless, which was pretty much unheard of unless Scott was making her orgasm for the third time.
Layla shrugged and glanced at Gordon. “Let’s say I’ve had a major change of circumstances that I’ve not publicised on social media. But I’m coming back to the UK. I saw your pic of your pregnancy bump and you and Scott, and then I saw the advert on your website for a dentist to cover your mat leave. It seemed like a sign. That’s if you’ll have me once we’ve gone through the interview.”
Keren looked at Gordon too. He was sitting quietly at the table, pen poised to record notes while they interviewed and he was smiling, as if he took full responsibility for the reunion.
He coughed delicately. “We should continue with the interview, Keren. I know you’ll want to catch up with Layla afterwards, but let’s go through the questions and then we can letallcandidates know the outcome.”
Keren sat down obediently and accepted the sheet of questions Gordon passed her. They started to go through them, following the same procedure as they had with the other six candidates they’d interviewed. For Keren, there was only one outcome, but they had to be fair and also it was nine years since she’d last seen Layla, although they’d been in touch via email and messages. She’d never said anything about wanting to return home though.
“What makes you want to work in a town like Severton?” Keren asked. It was a key question. They weren’t too far from the big northern cities, like Manchester and Leeds, but the town had its unique set of attractions that weren’t for everyone.
Layla smiled, showing the best advertisement for dental hygiene. “My marriage has ended and I needed a change. A maternity cover is perfect to give me long enough to decide what I want to do long term; this gives me a chance to reconnect with my college friend and try a new place. And I like the idea of knowing my patients. Nine years in La La Land has taught me an awful lot, but I’d like a new challenge.”
“You’re swapping celebrities for sheep and you’re good with that?” Keren wrinkled her nose, although in truth, she wasn’t sure which she would prefer.
Layla laughed, the musical, full laugh that had always reminded Keren during exam week that pleasure and fun still existed. “Why not? My work over there means I’ve had really good experience in cosmetic dentistry, which isn’t going to be your main type of treatment over here. However, I covered a lot of children’s dentistry and general fillings, wear and tear – it was busy. We worked long hours. But I want something different.”
There was more of a story there, but in front of Gordon probably wasn’t the right place to disclose it.
“You should come to the big launch of Gran’s Gin later. Meet some of the people you heard about when we were at university. And see what a small town’s like.” Keren had somehow agreed to go, despite not being able to drink anything alcoholic. She’d tried persuading Scott that he should go tee-total with her for the duration of her pregnancy and if she breastfed, but his response had been to smile, walk to the fridge and produce a can of his favourite small brewery beer. Bastard.
Layla pulled back her wavy hair that frequently defied gravity and grinned. “Sounds good. Will Rayah be there?”
“Yep. But she’s no longer twenty and mad. She’s now thirty and mad. So there isn’t that much difference to when she stayed with us for a week.” Rayah had caused her usual level of havoc, just a seven on the hurricane scale. A few men had managed to survived.
There was a polite cough from Gordon. “I don’t want to interrupt, but I’m aware that Layla has just come from the airport and Sorrell is expecting her at the hotel. How about we have our chat, Keren, and you and Layla meet for whatever it is that you girls meet for?”
“Sure,” Layla stood up, picking up her bag. “I’ll head up to the hotel, but before I go, thank you Gordon for arranging this. And letting me surprise Keren.”
She gave Keren one last hug and shook Gordon’s hand, then headed out.
Keren sat back down and sighed, suddenly ready for a nap. “Thoughts on the candidates?”
“I think there’s only one choice.” His eyes twinkled. “The last gentleman we saw I thought…”
“Seriously? You can’t be for real, Gordon! He was totally…”
Gordon laughed. “If you’ve ever let me finish. I thought he wasn’t right for this place, but Layla is. I interviewed her via Skype two weeks ago and I thought she would be good to work with while you were off having my surrogate grandchild and when you returned you’d enjoy working together. She was completely honest – she doesn’t know for sure if she’ll stay beyond your maternity, but Severton has its way of imprisoning people here, like it did me.”
“You love this village.” Keren knew he adored it here. Gordon had lived all over with his partner, Rupert, for the first ten years of their relationship. He’d been a locum wherever they’d lived, while Rupert worked as a contractor for technology firms. But it was Severton where they’d settled twenty years ago, and Gordon had stayed after Rupert’s death from cancer seven years previously.
“I do. But it still sucks you in. I’ll sort out the contract and offer her the job. And I’ll contact the unsuccessful candidates in the morning.” He stood up and stretched. “Exciting times. Lots of things to look forward to.”
Prophetic words.
Given that ‘barn boogies’ were more common in Severton than black tie events, it was strange to see so many people wearing their Sunday best, or Friday night best in most cases. It was a farming town, or had been until the farming industry had become an untenable way to make a living. A lot of houses on the edge of the town still had some livestock or grew something unique, but the bigger farms were part of the Maynard business, and employed people so they had a guaranteed income. This did mean that jeans and work clothes were the norm, with the odd smart shirt and black trousers.
But tonight, in the old factory, Severton was dressed in its finest. Keren had bought a tight black dress that showed off her bump and cleavage and had Scott’s eyes focusing on her so much that he almost tripped over his guitar case. She’d simply given him a very knowing and smug look and walked ahead of him down the stairs, letting her ass have an extra sway.
“I have a problem with you wearing that.” His words were a whisper in her ear, low and subtle. His hand was on the small of her back, just enough pressure to let her know that he was there.
“That’s unfortunate, because I don’t think I’ve ever let any man tell me what to wear.” She tossed her hair hard enough to whip him slightly.
He moved up his hand to the back of her neck and threaded his fingers through her hair. “I love what you’re wearing. You look incredible. The problem is that Gran’s going to take one look at me and know all I’m thinking about is getting you out of the dress and onto my cock. Can’t we just go back home?”
Keren gave him a sweet smile that informed him that right now, he held none of the power. “We’re staying. You can spend the evening looking. Besides, I want you to meet Layla.” She was still on a high from her friend being in Severton and she was looking forward to Scott meeting her.
“Can we go after I meet her? I think my balls will need emergency care if I have to keep seeing you in that dress.” He moved behind her, wrapping his arms around so his hands held her bump. “I never thought I’d have a fetish for pregnant women.”
