Maxine Morrey - The Christmas Project

‘I think the best thing to do is to start with your office. It’s obviously where you spend most of your time when you’re at home, and you told me yourself you find it difficult to locate anything quickly. Getting that into a better state will make it a better place to work and eliminate the stress of not being able to find things when you’re working to deadlines. If there’s anything work related in any of the other rooms, they need to come into your office now so that we can see exactly what we have.’

He gave me another of those assessing looks.

‘Who says it’s where I spend most of my time? You’re making me sound like some sort of workaholic.’

‘Which, according to Janey, is exactly what you are. And, whilst I can’t help with that, I can at least help you be one in a nicer space.’

‘I didn’t realise you and my sister had been discussing me quite so much.’

I pulled my notes out of bag and gave a little laugh. ‘Don’t worry. It was a very brief conversation when she asked me to do this with you. And she mentioned it again yesterday evening when you put her on speakerphone.’

‘So she did. And what else did she tell you?’

I headed out into the hallway and stepped over what looked like a piece of bike engine and hung my bag from one of the coat hooks on the wall.

‘Is that what you tripped over earlier?’ I asked, stepping back over the item again.

Michael, having followed me, looked down at it and frowned.

‘Probably. Stop changing the subject.’

I shook my head. Add tenacious to the list .

‘For goodness’ sake, what are you worried about? Janey told me you were planning to host Christmas this year, that you got divorced two years ago and since then the house has got into a bit of a state as you’re a total workaholic and – I quote – “a bit of an untidy bugger”. That’s all, I promise. And as you’ve given me little else, that’s pretty much still all I know. Oh, apart from the fact that your one-night stands don’t get given a house tour. There. That is the total sum of my knowledge about you. Happy?’

‘Ecstatic.’ The flat voice was back. ‘Shall we head to the office then?’

‘Absolutely.’

Seriously. The quicker I got this over with the better.

***

Janey was waiting at a table when I pushed my way through the Friday night crowd at the pub.

‘Sorry I’m late. Have you been here long?’ I asked as I leaned over and gave her a big hug, discarding layers of outerwear as I did so.

‘No, not long. Someone was just leaving their table as I got here so I jumped at it.’

‘Well done. Shall we order? I’m starving. My appointments ended up changing today and the last thing I ate was a fun-size Mars Bar about half past ten this morning.’

‘You must be starving! I’d be chewing on my own arm by now.’

‘Hence the long sleeves.’ I winked.

Janey grinned and waved at a waiter. She had the most beautiful smile and, as usual, it did the trick.

‘What can I get you, ladies?’

We quickly ordered, barely looking at the menu we knew so well. The waiter stepped away and was immediately swallowed up by the crowd.

‘So, how’s your week been?’ I asked Janey as another waiter appeared and placed our drinks on the table.

‘Oh, not bad. The kids were both down with this fever thing that’s going around, so that was fun.’

‘Oh no! Are they better now?’

‘Yeah,’ Janey said, taking a sip of her orange juice. ‘Thank goodness. It only lasted a few days but it was pretty miserable for them.’

‘And how are you?’

Janey smiled. ‘Tired, feeling enormous and gasping for a drink. Aside from that…’

‘You are not enormous! You’re like the poster girl for pregnancy – all glowy and blooming.’

‘Blooming uncomfortable, right now. Honestly, I’m sure he’s just doing the bladder bounce for amusement. The men in our family have a mischievous streak. Excuse me. I need the visit the ladies’. Again.’

‘Do you want me to come with you?’

She smiled and I briefly recognised the family likeness. Unfortunately, I’d only seen a glimpse of that same smile from her brother, unlike Janey who smiled easily and often.

‘No darling, I’m fine. Honestly.’

She patted my shoulder as she headed off. I watched, trying to resist the urge to jump up and scoot round my friend, insisting everyone clear a path. And then I laughed when a group of lads, a little worse the wear, did the job for me. Janey flashed them that winning smile and giggled when one of them blushed.

‘Told you I was fine,’ she laughed as she retook her seat.

‘I forgot about your magical powers. I don’t know why I worry.’

‘Because you’re a sweetheart. And don’t think I don’t appreciate it.’

‘No, I don’t think that.’

‘And talking of being appreciated, where is the man of the moment tonight?’

‘Calum?’

‘Unless there is someone else I should know about?’ She sounded almost hopeful.

‘No, of course not. He’s fine.’

‘Not around again tonight though.’

‘No. He’s working on some big project on at the moment so he’s tied up quite a lot.’

‘Right.’

‘Right, what?’

Janey gave me a blank look. ‘Nothing. Just “right”.’

‘I know you better than that by now. Come on, spit it out.’

‘Sure you want to hear?’

No .

‘Yes.’

‘All right. I think you’re wasting your time on Calum.’

‘Wow.’

‘I asked you if you wanted to hear.’

‘You did. And I did. Do you have a specific reason or did you just not take to him?’

‘I take to most people Katie. You know that. And he’s charming and good-looking and all the rest but…’

‘But what?’

‘Where is he?’

‘I just told you, he’s working.’

‘He’s always working. He’s always busy until he’s not and then he expects you to come running. And you do. And honestly? It’s not on.’

‘Everyone’s busy these days Janey. It’s competitive and people have to fight for their jobs.’

‘Has he ever taken you away for a long weekend? Or even a short weekend, come to think of it?’

‘Well, no, but – ’

‘He couldn’t find one weekend in – how long is it now? Six months to take you away for a couple of days.’

‘We’ve had the odd night away.’

‘As part of one of his many business trips! That’s hardly the same thing.’

‘I don’t mind. I’m busy with work a lot of the time too. It’s good to have someone who understands that.’

‘I’m just saying you deserve better. You deserve to be treated better.’

‘He treats me fine Janey. Really.’

‘Oh Katie. You’ve too much to offer to accept “fine”.’

I ran a hand back over my hair, smoothing in some escapees from my French plait, before taking a sip of my drink. Janey laid her hand on mine as it rested on the table.

‘It’s only because I love you. I want you to be happy.’

‘I am happy, I promise.’

Janey gave me one of those looks that her brother was so good at. I tried to hold it.

‘OK. If he’s making you happy, then that’s all I can ask.’

‘He is.’

‘Good. So, change of subject?’

‘Please,’ I grinned and squeezed her hand.

‘How’re things going with our Mikey?’

‘Oh! Yes. Fine, I think. Well, we’ve really only had one session…half a session really. There was a bit of a misunderstanding.’

‘Misunderstanding?’

‘Yes. He assumed that I would be the one coming back after the assessment meeting to do the job.’

‘Oh. So did I.’

‘And I had every intention of doing so. But I know he’s on a deadline and the first space he had worked better for Bernice than me, and she said she was happy to do it, if I didn’t think he’d mind. Which I genuinely didn’t.’