did feel special, very special indeed, and she could imagine how well Mark was going to take care of her and their newly conceived child. And if it crossed her mind what she was going to do all day after she had stopped work, and was waiting for the birth, it was only fleeting, for the alternative of ignoring Mark’s advice and miscarrying was far too awful to even contemplate so she struck it from her mind. She would type a letter of resignation as soon as she got into the office. A month’s notice from today meant that she would only be nine weeks pregnant when she left work, which would be well within the twelve weeks danger time Mark had said. She knew she couldn’t afford to take any chances, she might never get a second opportunity.
With new resolve, Aisha plunged the spoon into the pulpy cereal and started eating again. If she could get used to this brown mush, she could get used to anything. She just needed to accept the fact that her life was going to be very different for seven months and would require planning to fill her days. Once the baby was born, she would be fully occupied, of that there was no doubt, and before then she could catch up on reading and seeing her parents, both of which had slipped, what with work and married life.
One month and two days later, the entire management team and departmental staff left their desks early on Friday afternoon and gathered in the conference room with drinks and savoury nibbles for Aisha’s leaving presentation. Dave Trent, the area manager, spoke very highly of her in his speech – dedicated, loyal, committed and unfailingly conscientious. He said there would be a gap created by her departure which would be impossible to fill. Everyone clapped as he presented her with Mothercare vouchers worth £150, bought with a collection from all the staff.
When Aisha rose to her feet to thank them, she suddenly found she was overcome and had to swallow hard before she could speak. She said how much she’d enjoyed working for the company and being part of the team. She thanked her boss for his kind words and said she would miss them all dearly. She then recounted how, on her first day at the bank, as an overzealous and naïve graduate wanting to make a good first impression, she had signed all her colleagues’ letters hoping to save them the trouble. They all laughed, hardly able to imagine that naïve graduate compared to the confident business woman who stood before them now. Dave Trent called out that at least she wouldn’t have that problem in her new role and they laughed again.
But later, when she was alone in her office, as she packed away the last of her personal belongings and prepared to leave for the last time, Dave Trent came to find her. He closed the door and stood awkwardly, his hands thrust deep into his pockets. ‘Any time, Aisha. If you find bottles and nappies aren’t enough, there’s always an opening for you here.’
She kept her head down and concentrated on clearing her desk. ‘Thanks. I appreciate that, Dave, but you’ll find a replacement soon enough. I’ve heard Bill Hutchings has applied. He’s more than capable of doing my job.’
Dave took a couple of steps towards her. ‘I dare say he’ll get the post if you’re definitely not coming back. But it takes more than business acumen to run an outfit like this; it requires diplomacy. Do you know that since you’ve been manager here we haven’t had one disciplinary or head office complaint? That says a lot about you, Aisha. I hope that Mark appreciates just how lucky he is.’
She looked up. ‘Thank you, Dave. He does, he really does.’
Of course Mark appreciated her, he told her every minute of the waking day. He fussed and worried, petted and waited on her, and wouldn’t let her do anything that could be deemed detrimental to her or the unborn child. He telephoned Aisha from work, two, three, four times a day. ‘Just to make sure you’re not overdoing it,’ he would say.
With new resolve, Aisha plunged the spoon into the pulpy cereal and started eating again. If she could get used to this brown mush, she could get used to anything. She just needed to accept the fact that her life was going to be very different for seven months and would require planning to fill her days. Once the baby was born, she would be fully occupied, of that there was no doubt, and before then she could catch up on reading and seeing her parents, both of which had slipped, what with work and married life.
One month and two days later, the entire management team and departmental staff left their desks early on Friday afternoon and gathered in the conference room with drinks and savoury nibbles for Aisha’s leaving presentation. Dave Trent, the area manager, spoke very highly of her in his speech – dedicated, loyal, committed and unfailingly conscientious. He said there would be a gap created by her departure which would be impossible to fill. Everyone clapped as he presented her with Mothercare vouchers worth £150, bought with a collection from all the staff.
When Aisha rose to her feet to thank them, she suddenly found she was overcome and had to swallow hard before she could speak. She said how much she’d enjoyed working for the company and being part of the team. She thanked her boss for his kind words and said she would miss them all dearly. She then recounted how, on her first day at the bank, as an overzealous and naïve graduate wanting to make a good first impression, she had signed all her colleagues’ letters hoping to save them the trouble. They all laughed, hardly able to imagine that naïve graduate compared to the confident business woman who stood before them now. Dave Trent called out that at least she wouldn’t have that problem in her new role and they laughed again.
But later, when she was alone in her office, as she packed away the last of her personal belongings and prepared to leave for the last time, Dave Trent came to find her. He closed the door and stood awkwardly, his hands thrust deep into his pockets. ‘Any time, Aisha. If you find bottles and nappies aren’t enough, there’s always an opening for you here.’
She kept her head down and concentrated on clearing her desk. ‘Thanks. I appreciate that, Dave, but you’ll find a replacement soon enough. I’ve heard Bill Hutchings has applied. He’s more than capable of doing my job.’
Dave took a couple of steps towards her. ‘I dare say he’ll get the post if you’re definitely not coming back. But it takes more than business acumen to run an outfit like this; it requires diplomacy. Do you know that since you’ve been manager here we haven’t had one disciplinary or head office complaint? That says a lot about you, Aisha. I hope that Mark appreciates just how lucky he is.’
She looked up. ‘Thank you, Dave. He does, he really does.’
Of course Mark appreciated her, he told her every minute of the waking day. He fussed and worried, petted and waited on her, and wouldn’t let her do anything that could be deemed detrimental to her or the unborn child. He telephoned Aisha from work, two, three, four times a day. ‘Just to make sure you’re not overdoing it,’ he would say.
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