“That’s an understatement.” Olive smiled and tilted her head towards Courtney. “So, tell me dear, are you all ready and prepared for your baby arriving?”
Courtney looked away, feeling embarrassed. “Uh, I still have a few things to buy, but… yes, I think I’m ready, more or less.”
“Good for you, dear. And are you still working? Because I’m sure once you finish for maternity leave, you’ll have time to sort out any last bits and bobs you need to take care of.”
“Uh, yes, I suppose you’re right…”
Courtney glanced towards the elderly lady and saw only kindness in her eyes, a kindness that kicked her own scrambled emotions into play once more. Before she realised it, she was speaking again, the truth tumbling out.
“Actually, it’s been a bit of a rotten morning so far. I turned up for work this morning and found out the company I work for has gone bust.”
Olive’s eyes flew wide in shock at this news. “Oh, my goodness! That’s terrible! Where were you working?”
“It was a family-owned furniture shop in Southampton. I’m not the only one out of a job, obviously. There are a couple of dozen of us, between the sales people and the back office staff and the warehouse and delivery workers. No one had any idea the business was in trouble. To be honest, I’m still reeling.”
“Of course you are, dear. How could you not be, after such awful news?”
Courtney offered the lady a smile, keen not to dwell on the subject. “Getting out for a nice walk to the park has helped make me feel a little better.”
“Good. Well, that’s something at least. In your condition, the last thing you needed was a fright like that. To find out your job was gone just a few weeks before your baby arrives? Awful, just awful. I’m very sorry for you, dear.”
“Thank you. That’s kind of you.”
“What did you do there at the furniture shop? Were you a salesgirl or were you in the office or something else?”
“I was an administrator in the office. Over the last few months, I worked extra shifts, sometimes on the sales floor, to earn more money before my baby comes, but I preferred the office work. I liked keeping things in order and organising the paperwork and dealing with the customer correspondence and all that stuff. I think I was good at it, too.”
Olive sighed and gave her a sympathetic look. “I don’t doubt for a second that you were good at it, dear. But I’m sure you have some wonderful skills under your belt and it won’t take long to find another job.”
“My aunt and uncle suggested I wait until after the baby is born before jumping into any job-hunting, and they’re very kind to me and have offered to help. But not working isn’t an option for me financially, even this close to the baby coming, and I don’tfeel right about accepting charity. Once I’ve cleared my head after this lovely walk and I’m feeling better about things, I’ll start looking at the online job sites and see if I can find something temporary to tide me over for the next few weeks.”
“Well, if that’s your plan, I hope it works out for you, dear.” Olive gave her a thoughtful look before adding, “I shall keep my ear to the ground in case I hear of any jobs that might be in your area of expertise. As a regular old busybody around Hamblehurst, nothing much gets past me.”
Courtney laughed. “Thank you, I appreciate that, but you don’t have to go to any trouble.”
“My goodness, it’s no trouble. As it happens, I have a bit of a track record of finding temporary jobs for people who need them. Just last summer, I helped the sister of a neighbour of mine earn a little extra money by putting her in touch with another neighbour who was moving house and needed the assistance of a young strong person to move boxes around and what-not.”
“That was nice of you. Although I doubt I’m up to the challenge of moving boxes right now.”
Olive laughed. “Of course you’re not. But perhaps something else will crop up? At any rate, I shall be sure to let you know if I hear anything. Did you say you were staying here in Hamblehurst for a little while?”
“I’m at my cousin, Rosie’s, house on Foxglove Street, for now anyway. But listen, you really don’t have to put yourself out for me. We only just met!”
“Nonsense. If I hear of anything that might interest you, I’ll let you know. That’s hardly going to put me out, is it?”
Touched by this kind gesture from the elderly woman she’d only met ten minutes ago, Courtney felt herself welling up. Much thought she would’ve liked to chalk it up to another onslaught of pregnancy hormones, the truth was she was moved by Olive’soffer of help. Nothing would likely come of it, but that didn’t matter. It was the gesture that counted.
Between the much-needed safety net offered by her aunt and uncle, and the roof over her head at her cousin’s house, and now this wonderful kindness of strangers, Courtney realised that things were nowhere near as bleak as they might have been.
There were good people in the world, helping to make things feel a little less dark for those who’d tumbled into hard times. She clung to this thought and was grateful for it.
“Well, much as I’d love nothing more than to sit here in this wonderful spring sunshine and chat with you some more, I’m afraid I have to go,” Olive said, getting to her feet. “Our book club is having a special event at the library this afternoon and I don’t want to be late.”
“It was nice chatting with you, Olive.”
“Likewise, dear. I’m sure we’ll bump into one another again. I live on Foxglove Street and am often out and about. Come on, Elsa, let’s get moving.”
The scruffy dog enjoyed one last sniff at the grass beside the bench before joining Olive, who tucked the loose length of lead into place between her hands.
