“So what’s he doing these days?” I ask curiously. “I take it he’s not working here?”
“Hell, no!” Sonya laughs at the thought. “He’s working at the greasy burger bar in the precinct. You know, the one with all the lettering peeling off and the tramp sleeping in the doorway.”
“You’re kidding! Wow, that’s quite a come down.”
“Yeah, well, his reputation is in tatters. He won’t get another management job in a hurry, not when everybody knows that he’s the plonker who brought down Robertson’s. The local paper ran a headline piece on it. I’ve kept a copy for you in the office.”
I smile. “Have you framed it?”
But I can’t help feeling a bit sorry for Stu. I mean, I never really liked him that much, but to think that one little… OK, one huge mistake cost him everything. Well, I suppose I know how that feels.
“It’s all turned out for the best, really,” says Sonya, brushing the lint from her powder blue suit, a new addition to her wardrobe. “After all, this town really is only big enough for the one supermarket.”
“As long as you get to run it!”
“Absolutely! I mean, Bernie’s still the boss for now, but he’s taking early retirement in a few months, so I’m in a strong position to take over.”
“That’s great, Sonya!”
As we take the escalator upstairs, I feel a bit like one of the kids in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My eyes bulge as I see how large the clothing department is, all the different fabrics and designs. You wouldn’t think we were still in a supermarket. This place looks like a department store.
“So, I was wondering – are there any vacancies at the moment?”
I try to keep my tone casual, but I’m hanging on her reply. Despite my innocence, I’ve heard it could be hard for me to get a job now that I’ve been in prison, especially here. Queensbeach is a small town and everyone is still talking about the trial. Not to mention Alicia’s untimely demise.
Sonya leans over to straighten up a display of T-shirts. “I’m afraid there are no junior management positions at the moment.”
“Oh.”
I suppose I should have expected as much.
“But how would you feel about working here in the clothing department? We are currently recruiting a trainee buyer.”
Me, a fashion buyer?
“You mean I’d get to buy clothes for a living?”
Sonya laughs, “Well, there is a bit more to it than that, but I know you’d be great. Here, let me get you a job description. You can have a look through it at home.”
I’m pretty sure I don’t need to see the job description but I take a copy anyway so as not to look unprofessional. I need a job as a matter of urgency, and this one sounds ideal.
Ding-Dong!
“I’m coming,” I yell, from the landing.
A black and white fur ball bounds past me and down the stairs, his little cowbell jingling loudly.
“Hi Kate.”
“Hi Isabel. Hi Fluffy!” She scoops up my cat and strokes his head with affection.
Fluffy purrs, contentedly.
“Mind you don’t get cat fur all over your cocktail dress,” I warn her, but I lean over and pet him too. It’s just so good to have him back.
It was Deacon who finally figured out what had become of Fluffy. I was still feeling a bit freaked out when we got back from Scotland, so he offered to stay the night at my house. But once the taxi dropped us off, he took my hand and led me up the path to Mr Krinkle’s instead.
“Deacon?”
Mr Krinkle answered the door.
“Hello.” It was as though he’d been expecting us. “Just a moment.”
He disappeared inside.
I looked at Deacon. “What’s going on?”
My neighbour returned, carrying a cardboard box.
“He likes to sleep in here.”
I peered inside.
Two large, green eyes met mine.
“Fluffy! Oh my god! Fluffy!”
I scooped my cat up in my arms and held him like a baby.
“I thought you were gone forever!”
I took in his warmth, his smell, the soporific sound of his purr.
Mr Krinkle looked down at the ground.
“It was an honest mistake – at first. I thought he was a stray. His tag must have come off. Then I saw all the posters. I know I should have given him back, but I get so lonely all on my own…”
Poor Mr Krinkle.
I knew I should be angry, but I wasn’t really. If it weren’t for him, I might still be rotting in jail. And besides, if he hadn’t taken Fluffy, it’s quite possible Alicia would have. In a way, his actions might have saved him.
“You can visit him whenever you like,” I said impulsively. “I’m sure he’ll be quite happy to wander between our two houses, pretending he hasn’t been fed.”
Then I looked at Deacon. “I don’t know what to say….”
Deacon smiled.
“You can thank me later.”
“Do you realise it’s snowing outside?” Kate says now, snapping me out of my reverie.
“Is it?”
I run to the window and look outside. Sure enough, small delicate snowflakes have started to fall, coating the drive with a thin, white blanket. She takes off her coat, her bump clearly visible under the midnight blue dress I helped her buy.
“So come on then. Are you going to do my make-up or what?”
“Of course!” I smile. “Let me just open the bubbly. Non-alcoholic for you, of course!”
Fluffy settles himself on her lap as I apply her mascara and lipstick.
“You don’t even need foundation or blusher, you lucky thing,” I say, marvelling at how radiant her skin looks. I finish with a touch of lip gloss and hand her a mirror so she can admire the results.
“Thanks, Isabel. Looks great. But hadn’t you better hurry up and get yourself ready? Rhett and Deacon will be here any moment.”
“That’s OK, I’m almost ready.”
I skip upstairs to my bedroom. My cocktail dress is hanging on the wardrobe door where I left it. It’s the most exquisite shade of green I’ve ever seen, the bodice decorated with delicate black lace. I shiver with delight as I slip into it. The dress was a little on the expensive side, but that’s OK. My new job pays a lot better than the old one. And it’s amazing what a visit to the beauty salon can do. For tonight, at least, my skin has lost that tired, frazzled look. My cheeks are almost as rosy as Kate’s and my hair looks glossy and styled.
I shall go to the ball!
I smile happily at my reflection.
Knock! Knock!
“Can I come in?”
I open the door for Deacon.
“Want me to zip you up?”
“Yes, please.” I pull my hair up out of the way.
“You look stunning,” he tells me, as he closes the zip.
I straighten his bowtie. “And you look like a penguin.”
Deacon smiles. “I’m going to take that as a compliment. I happen to love penguins.”
He reaches into his pocket. “I’m really glad you’re wearing green, because I wanted to give you these.”
He pulls out a little jewellery box and places it in my hands.
“What’s this?”
“Go on, open it.”
I do. A tiny pair of emeralds twinkle in the light.
“They’re beautiful!” I gasp, holding them up to my ears.
“And so are you.”
He leans forward to kiss me and I almost drop the earrings on the floor as I get lost in his embrace.