‘Start with the lack of references.’
Sarah sighed. There was nothing to be gained from lying. ‘I had the same job ever since I left uni. I quit after pointing out a few flaws in their working practices, so as you’ll understand, I couldn’t ask for a reference.’
Hattie and Felix exchanged a glance. Had they been talking about her behind her back?
‘Where did you work?’
‘At a double glazing company.’
‘You were a window fitter?’
‘No. Office manager.’ Sarah flushed at the white lie of her inflated job title.
‘That explains your coffee making skills, or lack thereof,’ said Felix, chuckling to himself. Sarah flushed a deeper red.
‘Yeah, sorry about that. I did work in a restaurant after leaving my office job, but the coffee came straight from an instant machine.’
‘What restaurant was it?’
‘Oh, just an independent one. You wouldn’t have heard of it.’
‘OK.’ Hattie threw another look Felix’s way. ‘I get why you needed a job, but why so far from home?’
‘My parents are getting divorced and selling up. I live in the commuter belt near London. Rental prices are out of reach for someone earning minimum wage.’ Sarah stared into her pint. These people didn’t want to be her friend, they just wanted to interrogate her and find out some gossip they could discuss behind her back. If she wasn’t reliant on Fran for a lift, Sarah would have walked out there and then.Don’t you ever learn, she told herself,you’re not friend material.
‘My turn,’ said Fran, taking a swig of beer then setting her pint down. She leaned forward on folded arms. ‘Where did you learn to love cooking?’
‘Cooking? I don’t love cooking.’
Fran laughed. ‘We may not have known each other long, Sarah, but you’ve shown more interest in my recipes in five minutes than Dave has in the three years we’ve worked together.’
‘Oh, right? Well, um, I never got the chance to cook at home. Mum always did it. But I love those cookery shows on TV. It’s like magic what they produce from a few simple ingredients.’ No way was she mentioning the successful buffet she’d produced for the very unsuccessful anniversary party.
‘Hmm,’ said Fran, leaning back in her chair and looking pensive.
‘Well, cheers to having Sarah on the team,’ said Hattie, raising her glass to clink against the others. ‘We’ll make a barista out of you yet.’
Chapter 21
Thescreamtorethroughthe forest, sending birds scattering from nearby trees and bouncing off the surrounding ancient trunks.
‘Get out, get out, GET OUT!’ Sarah yanked her towel off the door and buried her face in it.No, no, no, no, no. This could not be happening. She wrapped the second towel in a turban around her hair. With eyes fixed on the ground, she slammed open the shower door and set off through the forest.
‘Sarah, wait. I didn’t mean to do that. I’m so, so, sorry.’
Sarah spun round, sending mud and fallen leaves up in a trail against her bare legs. ‘You didn’t mean to? Do you think I was born yesterday? The shower was on. You would have known I was in there.’
‘I had my headphones on,’ said Felix, holding out his fancy-looking headset. ‘They’re noise-cancelling. I promise you, I didn’t know you were in there.’
‘Bollocks. I don’t care if they were noise whatevering, it’s impossible you didn’t know I was there. I’ve heard about men like you.’
‘Sarah, I was half asleep. Please, it was a genuine mistake.’
‘The only genuine thing around here is my dislike for you.’
Sarah turned and half-walked, half-ran towards her tent.
‘Sarah…’
