Heart of Ice (4 page)

Chapter 7

The atmosphere in the office was downbeat. Almost everyone had seen Sarah's TV appearance, and had realised Milners' chances of survival were almost non-existent. A few of the more optimistic had held off judgement until they had heard Sarah's report. Overnight, she had decided there would be no point in sugar coating things. Cross had made his position very clear. Giving them false hope would serve no purpose. To her relief, no one appeared to blame her or to feel she had let them down. There was a sense of resignation about the place.

"How long do you reckon we have?" Jody asked.

"I'm not sure, but I think it will be weeks rather than months." Sarah was making coffee.

"Cross seems like a right bastard. If I'd have been on that show, I would have decked the smarmy sod." Kathy put her usual three spoonfuls of sugar in her coffee.

"He wasn't so bad off camera," Sarah said, unsure why she felt the need to come to his defence.

"Did you get the chance to speak to him afterwards then?" Jody popped a sugar substitute into her drink.

"Yeah." Sarah hesitated, unsure of how much she should say. "We had dinner."

No one spoke, but all eyes were on her.

"I thought I might be able to change his mind if I could put our case one-to-one, face-to-face. It didn't work."

"You did your best Sarah. Having dinner with that bastard was going beyond the call of duty." Kathy put a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "You deserve a bloody medal."

*******

Stewart had caught her off guard when he called. Normally, she would have had any one of a dozen excuses ready to put him off. Instead, she had found herself agreeing to dinner.

Stewart had a bunch of flowers in his hand when she answered the door.

"Thanks. I'll put them in water."

He followed her into the kitchen.

"I saw the interview. I thought you were great."

"Not really."

"You did everything you could. Everyone knows that."

"It's nice of you to say so."  Sarah was hopeless with flowers - they would probably be dead by the morning.

Stewart had chosen a rather nothing restaurant specialising in bland food. Time dragged as Sarah tried, but failed to care about anything he had to say. When she felt her phone vibrate, she made an excuse to go to the ladies. No doubt it would be a text from Jody, in her matchmaking capacity, asking how the
date
was going.

The text was from Andrew Cross:

I enjoyed dinner. How about a real date next Saturday 8.30pm?

Andrew

How many times had she read the message? How long had she been in the ladies?

'Real date' - what did that mean? Why was he asking her out?

"Is everything okay?" Stewart asked when she eventually returned to the table.

"Sorry?”

“Are you okay Sarah? You look... strange.”

“I'm fine.” She tried to compose herself. “Sorry – I just felt a little light headed. I'm okay now.”

*******

The next morning, Sarah checked her phone again. Had the text message been a dream? No - it was still there. A 'Real Date'. He wanted to take her on a 'real date'.

Stewart had done most of the talking in the restaurant. After she'd received the text, Sarah hadn't been able to think about anything else. She'd been relieved Stewart hadn't expected
coffee
when he took her home. Or perhaps he had, but she hadn't picked up the signal.

Maybe Andrew Cross has asked her out because he wanted to talk about Milners again. Perhaps he'd had a change of heart about closing the place down. She knew none of that was true. Why would he mention a 'Real date' if he simply wanted to talk business again?

What was she waiting for? Why didn't she reply and get it over with? There was no way she could go on a date with the man who was about to take away the livelihoods of all of her friends.

Her fingers hovered over the keypad on her phone. In her mind's eye, she could see him climbing out of the pool, water dripping off his hair onto his chest. She could remember how his hand had felt on hers.

She typed out her reply and hit 'send'.

I can't - sorry

Sarah

She stared at the screen for ages after the message had been sent. It had been the right thing to do - what else could she have done? Why did she feel so bad?

*******

"I was going to ask about the date." Jody collared Sarah as soon as she walked into the office. "But I can tell by your face."

"What?" Sarah couldn't figure out how Jody knew about the text.

"With Stewart?"

"Oh right. Stewart. Yeah - it was fine. We went for a meal."

"Fine? Bloody hell - that doesn't sound good."

"I don't think I was very good company."

"He really likes you Sarah. He told me."

"Does he? I'm not sure we are a good match."

“You need someone in your life. You've been by yourself for too long since...”

“David? You can say his name. I'm okay about it now.”

“Stewart is a really good guy. Why don't you give him a chance and see where it leads.”

“I...”

“Have you seen the paper?” Geoff came charging into the office. If his expression was anything to go by, the news wasn't good.

Geoff's entrance had saved Sarah from having to explain why she didn't think Stewart was the man for her, but she wasn't thrilled by the headline in the front page of the paper which Geoff had laid on the desk.

MILNERS TO CLOSE

“It's hardly news.” Kathy was looking over Sarah's shoulder.

“According to this we'll be closed within six weeks.”

“Six weeks?” Jody had forgotten all about matchmaking now. “Can they do that? I thought there had to be a period of consultation or something.”

“They can do what they want,” Kathy said. “They don't give a flying fuck about us. That bastard Cross won't lose any sleep because a few peasants are out of a job. You really should have given him a slap while you had the chance Sarah.”

Sarah smiled. She was finding it difficult to reconcile the two sides of the man who was behind the closures.

“Are you okay?” Sarah had found Jody in the stationery store – she was in tears.

“What am I going to do Sarah? Eddy can't find a full time job, and I've got no chance. We will lose the house.”

“It won't come to that. There's lots of help available – you should make an appointment with the Citizens Advice – they will be able to tell you what you can claim.”

“I'll still need a job though. Who's going to employ me?”

“You'll find something. Is your CV up to date?”

“What CV? I wouldn't know how to make a CV.”

“I could help.”

“Would you?”

“Sure. Why not. What are you doing after work tonight?”

“Just the usual.”

“Why don't you call Eddy – tell him to see to the kids' dinner. You come back to my place. We'll have pizza and I'll help you to knock up a CV.”

“That would be great. Thanks Sarah.”

“Here. Wipe your eyes. I'll see you after work.”

*******

“Bloody hell Sarah.” Jody said. “Stewart must be really keen.”

Sarah stared at the enormous basket of flowers which was standing outside her door. She knew immediately they weren't from Stewart. They must have cost a small fortune; there was only one person who would have spent that kind of money.

“I guess so.” Sarah unlocked her door, and carried the basket inside.

“Aren't you going to read the card?” Jody followed Sarah into the kitchen.

“Later.”

“Oh right – private. I get it. I told you that you've got a good one in Stewart. Don't let him get away.”

Sarah smiled, and made them both a cup of tea.

“You need to list all of your skills in this section.” Sarah pointed to the screen. She had downloaded a CV template for Jody to use.

“What skills? I don't have any.”

“Don't be daft. Of course you do. Think of all the different jobs you do at Milners, then think of what skills are needed to do those jobs. Make a start while I go and order us a Pizza.”

“I'm not sure.”

“Give it a go. What topping do you want?”

“Anything – surprise me. No anchovies though.”

Sarah opened the card.

Please reconsider. One date – what do you have to lose?

Andrew

She looked over her shoulder to make sure Jody hadn't followed her into the kitchen.
What did she have to lose?
That was an easy question to answer. All of her friends. Andrew Cross was public enemy number one in Oakhampton. She threw the card in the cutlery drawer.

By the time Jody left, she was in a more positive frame of mind. Sarah had printed her a dozen copies of her CV, and had copied the file onto a memory stick.

“Thanks Sarah. I owe you one. Maybe you and Stewart can come around for dinner again?”

“I'll have to think about it.”

“Stewart's a good catch.”

“So you keep telling me. You should think about opening your own dating agency when you leave Milners.”

*******

Jody was so thrilled with her CV that she told everyone she knew at Milners. Sarah wished she hadn't. Over the next few days, she was inundated with requests for similar help. Sarah didn't have the heart to refuse anyone even though some of her
clients
had almost nothing worthy of inclusion on a CV.