Wednesday.’
Lila shook her head. Opening her eyes, sparkling with tears, she managed a weak smile. ‘It’s just a job. I’m not going to collapse in a heap if I don’t get it. And after Hester’s little dressing-down, I’d say that’s a foregone conclusion.’
‘You don’t have a problem with me being there?’
She even laughed. ‘Of course I do, but I’ve a feelingif I’m going to carry on working here it’s a problem I’m going to have to get used to. I’d better get home. Thanks for sticking up for me in there.’
‘No worries.’
The air was thick with so many unspoken words.
‘What I said on Saturday night—’
‘You meant.’ Lila finished for him.
‘I did,’ he agreed wearily. ‘And I still do. But it’s not that easy, is it?’
*
Declan was right. It wasn’t that easy— nothing was easy. Sitting on her bed, Lila surveyed the piles of discarded clothes. She couldn’t even decide what to wear for her interview. Decisions, changes, her world was full of them.
She’d seen the holiday brochures Shirley had hastily pushed under the sofa when she’d come downstairs. It didn’t anger Lila—all it did was make her feel ever more guilty. Guilty that Ted and Shirley should have to think twice about enjoying their retirement. Guilty that she wished she could enjoy herself, too.
Decisions about her career. How could she take on an appointment with an even higher level of responsibility when she could barely cope with the demands of a full-time job, and that was with Shirley’s and Ted’s support? And as for a relationship…
Refusing to even go down that path, Lila stood up abruptly. OK, senior role, serious clothes. She wasn’t exactly spoiled for choice but the camel-coloured suit was an old faithful. Perhaps the skirt was a tad too short, but if she wore some smart loafers and sheer stockings it would smarten the outfit up. Lila brushedher hair then started to coil it into the usual topknot for work. She stopped. Why not leave it down for once? A generous blob of hair serum and half an hour with the hairdryer saw her blonde waves eradicated, leaving instead a heavy sleek blonde curtain. And not for the first time since Declan had reappeared into her life, Lila took extra care with her make-up, delightedly rediscovering her cheekbones along the way.
Finally, as she stood facing the full-length mirror, a small grin tugging at her lips, she put her hands to each side.
‘The exit signs are located here and here.’ Not quite the gorgeous sleek thing of yesteryear but pretty close. Declan wouldn’t know what had hit him.
Declan.
Was all the grooming, the extra effort for his benefit?
Throwing in a hairbrush, Lila snapped her handbag closed. Of course it wasn’t. She was going to an interview, for heaven’s sake. Anyone would have made an effort.
Still, she grudgingly admitted as she liberally sprayed her wrists and neck, the perfume was hardly for Hester’s benefit.
Making her way down the stairs, Lila brushed off Shirley’s flattering comment as she fed her sister her lunch. ‘You look fabulous, darling, just like the Lila of old, doesn’t she, Elizabeth?’
With a self-conscious smile Lila crossed the room. ‘Hardly, but I thought I’d better make a bit of an effort, I’ve got a few brownie points against me where Hester’s concerned. Here, let me give Mum her lunch. I’ve got a bit of time before I have to go.’
‘I don’t think pumpkin soup would go very well on that suit. Why don’t you go while you’ve got the chance? Surprise that boss of yours by being early for once?’
‘OK, then.’ Kissing her mother, Lila turned to her aunt. ‘Wish me luck?’
‘You don’t need luck, Lila, you’ll get the job on your own merits. But I’ll say it anyway—good luck, darling.’ Putting down the bowl of soup, Shirley pulled her niece into a warm embrace. ‘You’re a good girl, Lila, you always were. We’re all very proud of you whatever happens with the
Lila shook her head. Opening her eyes, sparkling with tears, she managed a weak smile. ‘It’s just a job. I’m not going to collapse in a heap if I don’t get it. And after Hester’s little dressing-down, I’d say that’s a foregone conclusion.’
‘You don’t have a problem with me being there?’
She even laughed. ‘Of course I do, but I’ve a feelingif I’m going to carry on working here it’s a problem I’m going to have to get used to. I’d better get home. Thanks for sticking up for me in there.’
‘No worries.’
The air was thick with so many unspoken words.
‘What I said on Saturday night—’
‘You meant.’ Lila finished for him.
‘I did,’ he agreed wearily. ‘And I still do. But it’s not that easy, is it?’
*
Declan was right. It wasn’t that easy— nothing was easy. Sitting on her bed, Lila surveyed the piles of discarded clothes. She couldn’t even decide what to wear for her interview. Decisions, changes, her world was full of them.
She’d seen the holiday brochures Shirley had hastily pushed under the sofa when she’d come downstairs. It didn’t anger Lila—all it did was make her feel ever more guilty. Guilty that Ted and Shirley should have to think twice about enjoying their retirement. Guilty that she wished she could enjoy herself, too.
Decisions about her career. How could she take on an appointment with an even higher level of responsibility when she could barely cope with the demands of a full-time job, and that was with Shirley’s and Ted’s support? And as for a relationship…
Refusing to even go down that path, Lila stood up abruptly. OK, senior role, serious clothes. She wasn’t exactly spoiled for choice but the camel-coloured suit was an old faithful. Perhaps the skirt was a tad too short, but if she wore some smart loafers and sheer stockings it would smarten the outfit up. Lila brushedher hair then started to coil it into the usual topknot for work. She stopped. Why not leave it down for once? A generous blob of hair serum and half an hour with the hairdryer saw her blonde waves eradicated, leaving instead a heavy sleek blonde curtain. And not for the first time since Declan had reappeared into her life, Lila took extra care with her make-up, delightedly rediscovering her cheekbones along the way.
Finally, as she stood facing the full-length mirror, a small grin tugging at her lips, she put her hands to each side.
‘The exit signs are located here and here.’ Not quite the gorgeous sleek thing of yesteryear but pretty close. Declan wouldn’t know what had hit him.
Declan.
Was all the grooming, the extra effort for his benefit?
Throwing in a hairbrush, Lila snapped her handbag closed. Of course it wasn’t. She was going to an interview, for heaven’s sake. Anyone would have made an effort.
Still, she grudgingly admitted as she liberally sprayed her wrists and neck, the perfume was hardly for Hester’s benefit.
Making her way down the stairs, Lila brushed off Shirley’s flattering comment as she fed her sister her lunch. ‘You look fabulous, darling, just like the Lila of old, doesn’t she, Elizabeth?’
With a self-conscious smile Lila crossed the room. ‘Hardly, but I thought I’d better make a bit of an effort, I’ve got a few brownie points against me where Hester’s concerned. Here, let me give Mum her lunch. I’ve got a bit of time before I have to go.’
‘I don’t think pumpkin soup would go very well on that suit. Why don’t you go while you’ve got the chance? Surprise that boss of yours by being early for once?’
‘OK, then.’ Kissing her mother, Lila turned to her aunt. ‘Wish me luck?’
‘You don’t need luck, Lila, you’ll get the job on your own merits. But I’ll say it anyway—good luck, darling.’ Putting down the bowl of soup, Shirley pulled her niece into a warm embrace. ‘You’re a good girl, Lila, you always were. We’re all very proud of you whatever happens with the
Similar Books
