“We’ve accepted their deposit,” Phyll said.
“Unaccept it,” Allie said. “Tarryn’s right. It’s totally the wrong message for Gay Bells. Are there any more like that? Can you check them all, Tarryn.”
Phyll’s chin jutted like a prize fighter. “This business is a leading light in the social wedding set.”
“And they’re a bunch of homophobes and smug enough not to care who they piss off.” Allie stared back at Phyll, not breaking eye contact until she dropped her gaze.
“You’re right,” Phyll said with a sigh. “I admit I went on their glowing reputation and didn’t read the brochure. I’ll return their deposit.”
“Thank you. You’ve a lot on your plate. That’s where I come in—and Tarryn. We’ll manage this between us all.”
Phyll nodded slowly.
“The rest seem okay,” Tarryn said. “While they don’t necessarily show same-sex couples, they don’t have exclusionary language.” She took a bite of cake and chased it with a mouthful of coffee.
“That’s good. Thank you both for being here this morning.” Allie nodded at Tarryn and Phyll. “Anything else you want to discuss, Phyll?” Allie said.
“No.” Phyll’s mouth pursed. “I’ll deal with these.” She scooped the leaflets from the table. “I’ll see you later.” She left, the door closing firmly behind her.
Allie checked Kirra was still busy and then looked at Tarryn. “That was quick thinking on Two Boys Tuxes. Do you actually know the business?”
Tarryn’s mouth formed an impish grin. “Never heard of them. But they had some spark and colour in their brochure, unlike those formal clothes Phyll likes.”
“We have a good mix now. Thank you for your input. But”—she kept her voice steady— “I realise you had something to attend to this morning, but we need to talk about your timekeeping. You were ten minutes late for this meeting.”
Tarryn lifted a shoulder. “I apologised and explained why. My animals are important to me—I couldn’t let them escape to wander the roads. Besides, you must have been here early to get through all you did.”
Allie squirmed inside. As a fairly junior accountant, she’d never needed people-management skills. She’d just plugged away in her office and socialised with her colleagues around the coffee machine. Timekeeping, under-performance, verbal warnings—those had all been someone else’s responsibility. Was she being unreasonable now? Yes, she probably was. “I understand your reason for this morning. I simply want to stress the importance of timekeeping in the future.”
Tarryn’s face was a blank slate. “I’ll leave earlier next time to allow for the unexpected. But anytime I am late—which is seldom—it’s always for a good reason.” She took a slurp of coffee.
“Thank you,” Allie managed.
“Girlfriend, your auntie needs a firm hand.” Kirra bustled back and flopped into Phyll’s vacated seat. She quirked an eyebrow at Tarryn.
“I don’t think Phyll deliberately included those suppliers,” Tarryn said. “She’s just an old-fashioned straight woman who resists change—whether it’s Kirra’s orange cake recipe or same-sex marriage. She’s not homophobic; just a bit…unthinking.” She bit into the ginger slice with even, white teeth.
“She was a lot tougher on the orange cake,” Kirra said. “She’s refused to buy it since I changed the recipe nearly a year ago.”
“She doesn’t seem like the ideal choice to lead the committee.” Allie stared at the door where Phyll had departed. “How did she get the job?”
“How does anyone get a job like that?” Kirra said. “Because she volunteered and everyone else sighed in relief they didn’t get pressganged into it. That’s how she ended up organising the school fete, the weekly chook raffle for the RSL, the Gardens of Quandong open day, and the petition to get bus service to Byron Bay. She’s very good at getting things done.”
“Is that how you got this job?” Allie asked Tarryn. “Because Phyll volunteered you?”
“She asked, yes,” Tarryn said through a mouthful of cake. “Good ginger slice, Kirra. But I would have offered anyway. It’s a paid position, and one of the solar panels on my shouse is broken. That’s an expensive repair, and I need the money. And I have a reputation as a reliable worker.”
“So no other reason. Of course not.” Kirra leaned back in her chair. “We all know how much you love the flounces and frills of weddings. If I ever get married, I’m going to ask you to be my person of honour.”
Tarryn’s horrified expression had them both laughing.
Chapter 7
Allie hurried across Martin Place.Sydney’s CBD teemed with people, and she dodged between them. It was her first day back, and the city felt comfortingly familiar after the peace of Quandong, although her small, dark apartment came a poor second to Kirra’s airy Airbnb. All she’d done when she arrived home late the day before was call Sophie and fall into bed.
She picked up her pace to make sure she arrived first for lunch with Leila. Kirkland & Partners were pedantic about lunch breaks, and overrunning meant a salty email from HR about the importance of timekeeping. Unless it was unpaid overtime. Then timekeeping was an ethereal concept and anyone who logged off on the dot of five was likely to get a lecture from their boss about not being a team player.
Leila had suggested the café, one far enough from the usual staff beat they were unlikely to run into anyone they knew, close enough she could get there and back in her break. Allie sat at a table by the wall where she could see Leila arrive. She hustled in at five past one and straight over to Allie, her arms held wide.
