Page 28 of Ticket Out

“Not yet.” Dominique shook her head. “I’m still just answering the phones. But give it some time. I’ve only been there four weeks.”

“My cousin reads it,” Trevor piped up, setting down his pint of bitters with a sigh of satisfaction. “She’s forever saving up for the makeup recommendations.”

“How’re things going at your aunt’s?” Ben asked.

Trev gulped down another sip of bitters. “They’re all right. A little too clingy, but I can’t complain, and my uncle’s got me in with a good construction company. I’ve been in work since two days after I got here.”

Trevor had been the envy of their little group of working passengers on the way over to England. He had family expecting him, a place to stay, and a promise of a job.

The rest of them had landed hard, by comparison.

“And you, Gabs? How’s life as a traffic warden?” Dominique asked.

Gabriella quirked her lips. “Surprisingly few people like getting tickets. Or FPNs, as we call them in the trade.”

“And they what? Shout at you?” Dominique asked.

“Mostly. If I have to deal with them at all. Fortunately, a lot of the time they aren’t near their cars. I just stick the ticket on the windscreen and that’s it. But sometimes I have a face-to-face.”

“Has anyone tried to do anything other than shout?” Ben asked.

She hesitated.

“They have!”

“Once,” she admitted. “But a policeman stepped in. I wasn’t touched.”

“At least tell us the pay’s good,” Dominique said.

“It’s not bad,” Gabriella said. “Better than a secretary. Not as good as a master baker, but I couldn’t get into a bakery anywhere before my money ran out, so I had to take what I could get.”

“Keep looking,” Dominique said and flicked back her hair in an exaggerated way. “I had that poxy job at an insurance company for a few weeks before my French name and my blonde hair got me in the door at Terrific Teen. Ooh-la-la, don’t you know?”

Gabriella laughed. “I’ll keep my eye out. But I actually quite like it. The hours are better than a bakery would be, and it’s nice being out on the streets. I’m getting to know London well.”

“What about you, Ben?” Dominique asked. “You’re looking good. You obviously found something better than checking contracts at that real estate office since we last saw you.”

“Definitely,” Gabriella agreed. “You’re looking like a proper London lawyer.”

Ben smoothed a self-conscious hand over his tie, tugged a little at his collar. “I got a position as a pupil in the Temple.”

“Ben!” Trev gave his shoulder a thump. “Wasn’t that your dream position?”

Ben ducked his head. “I was lucky. The money isn’t very good, but I’ve got my foot in the door.”

“Look at us, all established.” Gabriella realized she’d missed her crew. They had been inseparable onboard theSS Oriana. All of them had gotten jobs on the ship to pay for their fares, and they had eaten their meals together in the kitchens, shared a bathroom, and relaxed together when they’d had time off. “I must admit, it’s good to hear a proper accent.”

Dominique grinned at that. “God, you clearly don’t live in Kangaroo Valley.”

“Kangaroo Valley?” Trev almost spat out a mouthful of bitters on a laugh.

“Earl’s Court. My lovely neighborhood is full of more Aussies than you can shake a stick at.”

Trev gave another chuckle. “That’d be nice. My aunty’s family claim they can’t understand me. But I can hardly understandthem.”

“What about you, Ben?” Dominique asked. “You still living in that boarding house?”

He grimaced. “My landlady is a busybody, but the house on Victoria Embankment is close enough to Chambers that I can walk to work easily.” He sighed. “She’s very put out I’ve opted not to eat meals with her and her daughter, but I just can’t bear the sniping between them. It reminds me too much of home.” He pursed his lips. “I think she’s going to find an excuse to give me the chuck at the first opportunity.”

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