‘How can I help you?’ Despite hating the bright orange cap that made up the worst part of her uniform, it had its uses. It meant she could keep her head tipped low and remain incognito.
‘Sarah?’
Sarah whipped her head up. No. Please no. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Lunch, hun. What else?’
Sarah’s heart hammered in her chest. She wondered if she’d die of embarrassment right there and then. ‘What can I get you?’
Miriam pretended to study the menu.In two, three, four. Hold two, three, four. Out two, three, four. Hold two, three, four.The breathing exercises weren’t working. Heat flooded Sarah’s face, her legs turned to jelly. She needed to regain control. It was bad enough Miriam finding out she worked in a burger bar, without also reporting back that Sarah had collapsed under the weight of her embarrassment.
Just in the nick of time, Miriam placed her order. ‘Two burgers, two fries and two cokes.’
‘Coming right up.’
‘Hey,’ Miriam called, as Sarah turned to make up the order.
‘Yes?’
‘I bet Weatherwear doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?’
In two, three, four, hold two, three, four, out two, three, four, hold two, three, four.
‘Here you go,’ said Sarah, placing two bags of food in front of her ex colleague.
‘Oh, sorry, didn’t I say? I wanted those to eat in, not take away. Cathy’s joining me in a minute. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to see you.’
Miriam’s smirk proved too much. ‘Excuse me,’ said Sarah, rushing through the fire door to find Nuts.
‘You all right?’ he asked, dropping his cigarette to the floor and crushing it beneath his shoe.
‘No… no… don’t feel well…’
Panic scoured Nuts’s face as he looked at Sarah. ‘I got a first aid certificate, but I slept through most of the training. I’ll call an ambulance.’
‘No! Please, I just need a minute out here. Can you take over inside?’
‘Course,’ said Nuts, looking grateful to get away. ‘Take as long as you need.’
As the door closed behind Nuts’s retreating body, Sarah crumpled to the floor. She curled up among the bins, tears streaming down her face, her breaths coming in quick, ragged bursts. Pins and needles crept along her limbs.You’re over-breathing,she told herself. It’s happened before. Calm down, calm down.
Sarah wasn’t sure how long she’d been lying by the bins. By the time Nuts reappeared with a glass of water, her breathing had slowed and feeling was returning to her limbs.
‘Lunch rush has died down,’ he said. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Bit better.’
‘I called the boss. She said she’ll come in and cover so you can take the afternoon off.’
‘There was no need to do that.’
‘Come on, babe. I saw the state of you. You should be home in bed, not flipping burgers.’
At that moment, Sarah could’ve hugged the spotty teenager in front of her. ‘Thank you,’ she said, pulling herself off the floor and dusting herself off. ‘I’ll stay till the boss gets here.’
‘No, you get on home. I can manage by myself. Afternoons are always quiet.’
‘Thanks,’ said Sarah. She walked back into the restaurant and straight to her locker. It was only as she headed to the door she realised there were still two customers left in the restaurant.
