It's Now or Never (18 page)

I sighed inwardly, feeling I already knew far more about ball bearings than I really needed to know: stainless steel, chrome, quarter inch, half inch, miniature, deep groove, self-aligning, super precision, packs of fifty, packs of a thousand and everything in between. I typed in that many entries into the new order processing system I felt sure I could have chosen ball bearings as my specialist subject on Mastermind and come out with the winning score.

‘When you're done with those ones I've got some additional product details that need to be added here.' She handed me a great fat wedge of print-outs, twice the size of the ones I'd entered already. The sight of them sent me lightheaded. At this rate I'd be here until my dying day, possibly crushed to death under the weight of all those files.

‘Fine,' I said, smiling sweetly. ‘I'll get on to them as soon as I can.' My mobile phone buzzed on the desk and I reached across to see who it was.

‘Oh,' she said haughtily, ‘perhaps I should have mentioned it, Jen, but I'm afraid you're not allowed to take personal calls here.'

‘Excuse me?'

‘Nothing personal you understand, but it's company policy. I'd be grateful if you could put your phone away until your allocated break time.'

Ten minutes at ten-fifty am, half an hour at lunch to be taken between twelve-thirty and one pm, and ten minutes at three-twenty pm. My life had become regulated by breaks and ball bearings in such a short space of time.

On my phone I could see a text message from Angie mocking me. Flashing at me insistently, urging me to tell Kelly to jog on and hurry up and pick up the message. I could almost hear Angie's laughter permeating the room. I turned round and faced Kelly.

‘I haven't actually used my phone since I've been here, but I do like to have it at hand just in case there is an emergency at home. My granddad has been very ill and my best friend is about to give birth so I think you'll understand why I feel the need to keep my phone close by.'

Kelly took a deep breath and clasped her hands in front of her as though she was about to deliver a sermon.

‘In those circumstances what we suggest you do is give the main switchboard number to your friends and family and then if there is such an emergency they can contact you that way. Otherwise, what we've found is that people, especially those working unsupervised, can abuse the time they're supposed to be working here by texting their friends, going onto Facebook and scouring the internet. You'd be surprised at how much company time is lost through such things. Obviously I'm not suggesting you would do that, but you know, just to be on the safe side, I would be grateful if you could respect our company policy and put the phone away.'

Her mouth smiled sweetly but everything else remained coolly disdainful.

My phone, as though it had been listening to this whole conversation, leapt into action again, this time its insistent ringing causing Kelly's over-manicured eyebrows to arch ever skywards. Angie was impatient at the best of times, but today especially so. I grabbed the phone and stabbed at the green button, much to Kelly's dismay.

‘Angie?'

‘Jen! There you are! I've been trying to get hold of you. I think it's started. I think I'm going into labour.'

‘What? Nooo! You can't, can you? Not today. Isn't it too early?'

‘I know that, but try telling that to the sprog. I've got pains, Jen. Really bad ones. Can you come over?'

‘I'll be straight there. Hang on! Do some puffing and blowing or whatever it is you're supposed to do.'

I hung up and grabbed my handbag from the floor, before turning to Kelly, who was hovering beside me like an impatient bumblebee.

‘Sorry, I'm going to have to go.'

‘But it's only three o'clock. You're never going to finish those entries if you pop out now.'

‘No, you're probably right,' I said, pulling a sad face.

‘Well when will you be back exactly?' The hackles were clearly visible on her back now.

I glanced at my watch, my gaze travelling round the little room and landing on the poor little pot plant that was looking as worn down and deflated as I was feeling.

‘I won't, I'm afraid.' There had to be some perks to temping and I'd just discovered the biggest one of them all. I didn't care what Kelly thought and I didn't care what Polly thought. Life was far too short to be worrying about ball bearings. ‘I won't be coming back.'

‘What, today?'

‘Nope. Nor tomorrow. Or any other day come to that. Sorry. I've had enough of this job. Ball bearings aren't really my thing, I'm afraid.'

I waltzed out the door and was three steps down the stairs when I remembered something I'd forgotten. I ran back upstairs, past Kelly who was standing there looking as though she was still trying to figure out what had just happened, and into the office – snatching the little pot plant from the windowsill. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving it behind in that miserable office. Like me, all it needed was the opportunity to flourish and grow.

‘I'll take this with me, if you don't mind,' I said, breezily, not hanging around long enough to hear whether she did or not.

***

I sprinted to the car park, jumped in my car and zoomed through the streets of Casterton, cursing at anyone who had the audacity to get in my way. I just hoped to goodness I wouldn't be too late. What if she'd already given birth at home on the kitchen floor? My stomach churned. I really hoped not – I wasn't great with blood and the thought of all that mess made me regret the oozing pulled pork roll I'd had for my lunch. I took a shortcut through Manor Road avoiding the high street but quickly came to a grinding halt behind a white transit van that had decided to stop in the middle of the road, its back doors flung open.

The driver had climbed into the back of the van and was rummaging through his parcels as though he had all the time in the world. I tapped on the steering wheel trying to remain calm, but the longer he faffed about the more I could feel my blood pressure rising. I wound down the window and poked my head out.

‘Are you going to be long? It's just that I'm in a bit of a hurry.'

‘Only doing my job, love. A couple of minutes at the most.'

I wound the window up seething, absolutely furious that he could think his time was so much more important than mine. What was it with men and their overriding sense of entitlement? I could just imagine Mr White Van Man's reaction if I'd done the same to him. He'd have been tooting on his horn and calling me every name under the sun. I sighed and looked into my rear view mirror. This was ridiculous. Now there was a queue of traffic lining up behind me so there was absolutely no means of escape. I beeped my horn three times in quick succession, a car behind me joining in with the melody.

When White Van Man simply laughed and waved, clearly taking great pleasure in my growing annoyance I leapt out of my car and confronted him.

‘Look, move your bloody van now,' I said, channelling my inner bear. ‘I've been called out on a medical emergency. I should be assisting at the birth of a child right now, not waiting on you to get your arse into gear. Show a bit of consideration by parking in a place that's not going to hold up all the traffic.' I gestured towards all the cars behind me just in case he was missing my point. ‘There is a frightened and vulnerable pregnant woman waiting on me and if anything should happen to her whilst I'm stuck here then I'm going to hold you personally responsible. I've taken a note of your registration number. Do you understand?'

‘I'm really sorry, love,' he said, having the good grace to look sheepish as he slammed the doors of the van shut. ‘You should have said. I'm on my way now. You ought to have a flashing light on your car, you know that. Then you wouldn't have these problems.'

‘Yes, well thank you.' I wasn't sure about a flashing light but I felt certain my face was shining a lovely shade of shameful scarlet. ‘I'll remember that for next time.'

Five minutes later I pulled up outside Angie and Tom's little cottage and rushed up to the front door, banging urgently on the knocker.

‘Jen! Ooh, how lovely to see you,' said Angie, as if me turning up was a total surprise. She wafted on the threshold in a cream floaty dress, her skin and hair glowing with vitality and health, her whole being exuding serenity and calm, whilst I grabbed onto the door handle gasping for breath, convinced I might pass out at any moment.

‘What's happening? Have you called the doctor? How close are the contractions?'

‘Oh that,' she giggled, waving her arm in the air nonchalantly, ‘that was a false alarm. Apparently it's quite common in the last few weeks. Still it's so lovely you're here. Come inside and we can have a good old catch-up.'

Chapter Twenty

I was slumped in Angie's armchair, my nerves completely frazzled.

‘You do realise I walked out on my job to come dashing to your side, Angie. I was panicking. From what you said, I thought the baby might have arrived by the time I got here.'

Angie handed me a big mug of tea and a plate of biscuits which went a small way to making me feel marginally better after my mad dash across town and my run in with Kelly and White Van Man.

‘Sorry, Jen. I kind of forget that there's still a whole other world going on out there. I've been lost in my own little pregnancy bubble. Do you think you ought to get back to work then?'

‘No, don't worry. I walked out for good.' Angie's face fell, but I was quick to reassure her. ‘Really, you did me a favour. It was officially the worst job in the world and I was looking for an excuse to leave. Your false alarm gave me that. I'll give the agency a call later and explain.'

‘Are you missing working at Browns?'

‘In some ways. I miss the people, but I was well overdue a change. Besides, I'm committed now to getting my own business of the ground, it's given me something else to focus on and I'm really excited about it. The blog's up and running now, I've been asked to write some gardening features for an in-house magazine and there's a possibility of me running a few workshops down at the local college.'

‘Blimey, Jen, you sound busier than ever.' She grimaced, as she fought with the cushion on her chair, attempting to make herself more comfortable. She took a sip from her chamomile tea and looked across at me. ‘Tom mentioned he ran into you and Alex the other night. What's going on between you two?'

‘Me and Tom? Nothing.' I cringed inwardly, wondering what exactly he'd told her. ‘We didn't really chat for long, just said hello and then we were on our way.'

‘Honestly, Jen, anyone would think it was you who was pregnant. Your head is all over the place. No, not Tom. I meant you and Alex. What's happening with you two?'

‘Oh,' I smiled with relief. From her reaction I was guessing Tom hadn't mentioned our little disagreement which was probably a good thing. I didn't want there to be any awkwardness between us the next time we all got together.

‘We've been out a few times that's all.' I realised a big smile had spread involuntarily across my face and, I suspected, a dreamy expression too, so I quickly rearranged my features into something more perfunctory, but Angie wasn't being fooled.

‘Oh god, you like him, don't you? You really like him. I can tell.'

‘Yes, I do like him actually.' I wasn't going to make any apologies to Angie. Not now I knew her little secret. The one she hadn't chosen to share with me. The one about her having her own particular soft spot for Alex.

'He's lovely. Perfect date material, and he certainly knows how to treat a woman. We're enjoying each other's company and having a good time. That's all. He's got me back into that whole dating scene. I was so out of practice before.'

Despite sounding in control, I knew I was in much deeper than I'd ever intended to be. Alex occupied my every waking thought. Seeing his name on my phone, hearing his voice, spending time with him over a drink, sent butterflies flittering the length of my body, stirring a craving within me for more, much more of Alex. I loved his worldliness, the fact that he seemed to know something about everything and I loved the way he didn't take himself or life too seriously either. The fact that he was probably the most gorgeous man I'd ever set eyes on was just an added bonus.

I gulped, realising I loved pretty much everything about him, but most of all I loved the way he seemed infinitely charmed and amused by me; those deep intense eyes, full of warmth and kindness, were forever appraising me, and the acceptance I recognised in those eyes melted my heart.

I shook my head to rid myself of the soppy thoughts. It was as if I'd been struck by some virulent disease and my immunity was at an all-time low. Was it time to extract myself from this fledgling relationship? Three months was nearly up and I suspected I would probably be going the same way as a dozen other girls before me. I needed to leave with some dignity intact before Alex crushed my heart into a tiny dozen pieces.

‘Yes, perfect date material, but I'm not so sure he's perfect boyfriend material,' said Angie sharply. ‘But don't say I didn't warn you.'

‘You did warn me, Angie, but do you know something, apart from you saying he's a bit of a ladies' man, I can't really see why you were quite so anti us getting together. I know I'm out of practice when it comes to men, but I'm a grown woman. I'm quite capable of looking after myself, you know.'

She glanced across at me and I could see she was taken aback by the sharpness of my unexpected reply.

‘It wasn't that I was anti you two getting together, I just didn't want you to get hurt,' she said, dropping her gaze to twiddle her thumbs in her lap. ‘You have to remember I know what he's like, I've seen the way he treats women.'