‘Yes, she’s never struck me as flaky.’
‘Flaky?’
‘She may well be tired, but so are we. We all worked hard yesterday, but I don’t see you or I calling in sick.’
‘I thought Fran was your friend?’
‘She is, I just don’t see why she should have a day off when the rest of us have to keep working. Never mind, show me the menu and I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Thank you. I’ll get it for you, then I’ll give Fran a call and double check she’s OK.’
‘Sure,’ said Sarah, grabbing an apron and making her way to the kitchen. Was this why Fran had been training her up? So she could take a day off whenever she felt like it?
Despite her annoyance, Sarah missed Fran. Hattie had drafted Dave the KP in to help, but he wasn’t what Sarah would describe as a conversationalist. She thought working in silence would help concentration. Instead, she felt alone and abandoned. She wished Fran was on hand to ask for advice. When Sarah pulled a coffee cake from the oven, the middle had sunk; the scones were singed on top, and while cake and scones had distracted her, the soup had stuck to the bottom of the pan. So much for being Fran’s protégé.
Sarah set about rectifying her mistakes and by the time the café filled up with hungry mouths wanting lunch, there was more than enough food to go round. Sarah took a break and carried a cup of tea outside. There seemed little point in having a break without Fran to chat to. Sarah tipped her half-drunk tea on the ground and went back inside.
A timer beeped, and Sarah bent down to retrieve a tray of flapjacks from the oven. When she stood, Felix was beside her.
‘That smells amazing,’ he said. ‘You’re doing Fran proud.’
‘Did Hattie speak to her?’
‘Yes, seems like she’s fine, just coming down with something.’
‘OK.’
‘Do you have time for a quick chat?’
‘About what?’
‘Us.’
‘You can see I’m rather busy,’ said Sarah, waving to the tray of flapjacks and half-full mixing bowls lying on the counter.
‘Just a quick chat. Dave?’ said Felix, turning to the KP. ‘Could you give us a minute?’
‘Sure,’ said Dave.
‘I wanted to check you’re OK,’ said Felix once Dave was out of earshot.
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘I don’t know, you seemed a bit off with me last night.’
Sarah let out a mirthless laugh. ‘I bet you’re not used to women resisting your charms.’
‘That’s unfair.’
‘Is it?’ asked Sarah. ‘I think what happened the other night was a mistake. It’s never a good idea to blur the boundaries.’
‘Blur the boundaries? What are you talking about?’
‘We’re colleagues. Anything going on between us affects the entire team.’
‘Sarah, we work in a café, not some Footsie One Hundred company.’
‘I know, but team dynamics are important.’
