Page 8 of One Month's Notice

Simon grumbled in response but said nothing more, returning to his meal with a slightly discontented expression.

The rest of their dinner passed in strained but polite conversation, away from any topic that might be controversial. Nat knew her brother was still stewing over her 1950s comment. She cleared the plates from the table, noticing Louis was covered in sauce. She held him at a slight distance as she lifted him up out of his highchair.

“Time to get you clean.” She wrinkled her nose as he swiped his grubby hands towards her.

“I’ll do that.” Simon offered his arms out to take Louis from Nat. “Why don’t you get the laptop set up at the kitchen table and get your CV ready? As soon as I have put him to bed, I’ll be back down. Maybe I can help you send some job applications off?” He put his arm around Lucy’s waist and kissed her on the cheek. “Maybe we could have a look at yours as well so you can think about that promotion you’ve talked about before?” He threw them both an apologetic smile.

Nat was surprised at Simon’s realisation that his words might have hurt both of them. Emotional intelligence had never been high on the list of his abilities.

“Thanks.” She gave him a nod of forgiveness, then began loading the dishwasher.

Chapter five

Monday 18th April

“The interview is in a coffee shop?!” Lexi’s voice echoed from Nat’s phone speaker.

“Yes,” Nat said, with a sigh. “And I have absolutely no idea what to wear.” She flicked through the sad selection of clothes that hung in her wardrobe.

“Remind me which one this is again.”

“It’s the PA job for the CEO of a small tech company.” Nat couldn’t hide the disappointment in her tone. “They run a social media platform aimed at people with an interest in health and fitness.” She pulled out a flowery dress, held it up to herself and looked in the mirror. She decided it was too short and changed it for a navy shift dress.

“Oh. I can see why you’re not jumping up and down with enthusiasm. That doesn’t sound like your cup of tea at all. And it is pretty unusual having an interview in a coffee shop.”

“I know, but I’ve had five interviews for different jobs now, and no luck so far.” Nat pulled the dress over her head and smoothed it flat across her stomach. She noticed something in the reflection and looked down. There was an obvious stain right in the middle. She sighed and lifted it up again before tossing it into the corner of her room and the growing pile of cast-offs. “And that’s not even counting the number of jobs I’ve applied for that I haven’t even got to the interview stage.” She slumped down onto the bed. “I don’t think I’m in a position to be choosy. Anyway, at least this pays good money.”

“Well, whatever you do, don’t order a cappuccino.” Lexi burst into laughter, snorting loudly. “You always get foam on your face, and you’ll never get the job if you sit there with a milky moustache!”

“Thanks for the advice.” Nat took in a long breath, then exhaled. “I’d better finish getting ready. I’ll call you later.”

“Good luck!”

Nat ended the call and threw her phone on the bed.

“How are you getting on?” Lucy popped her head around the door.

“I’ve got nothing to wear.”

“Give me one minute…” Lucy returned a few moments later and handed Nat a black pencil skirt and cream silk blouse. “These should fit you.”

She buttoned the blouse up and tucked it into the skirt. They fitted perfectly, although they didn’t feel as comfortable as her usual relaxed choice of clothing. She took comfort in knowing it was only for the next couple of hours.

“I don’t suppose you—” Before Nat could finish her sentence, Lucy held out a pair of black high heels.

“You are a lifesaver. Thank you!” Nat beamed and gave her a big hug.

“Shhh, I’ve not long put Louis down for his nap!”

“Oh, sorry!” Nat whispered, taking the shoes and creeping downstairs. She took a last look in the hallway mirror at her hair and make-up and left the house.

The bustling coffee shop was in the heart of Shoreditch and Nat felt out of place as soon as she stepped through the door. The air was thick with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warming pastries, further unsettling her queasy stomach. She scanned the trendy décor. Artsy black and white photographs punctuated exposed brick, dotted with plants that made an extravagant show of their foliage cascading down the walls. She wondered who they had hired to do their design work. It was very… fashionable. Perfect for the Instagram crowd.

People engrossed in their laptops occupied sleek wooden tables. They chatted occasionally with their companions, creating a soothing melodic hum. The place exuded effortless cool—a stark contrast to how Nat felt at that exact moment. She looked at the chalkboard menu suspended from the ceiling. As suspected, this haven for hipsters offered an almost endless choice of drinks, and endless variations on those choices. There were cold brews, matcha lattes, avocado espressos, beetroot cappuccinos—Nat had never heard of most of them and hoped they would offer just a simple coffee.

As she stood near the entrance fidgeting with the strap of her bag, she couldn’t help but notice a man in the corner deep in conversation on his phone. He was wearing a dark grey jacket with slim black jeans. The top buttons of his crisp white shirt were undone, revealing a silver chain that rested on smooth tanned skin. The man ended his call and looked up, catching Nat’s eye. She quickly turned to walk to the counter, realising she had been watching him for so long it almost bordered on inappropriate.

As she approached the barista to order her drink, the man appeared by her side and touched her arm.

---