Page 14 of Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
‘Really?’ Cynthia looks like she may cry, and Lorraine feels vaguely flattered.
She grins. ‘Yep.’ Ah, that’s where her smile was all this time: waiting for a friend. ‘Just don’t take off overseas again because I might get used to having you around.’
Cynthia’s face clouds briefly. ‘I … I don’t know if I’m staying.’
‘Sure you are.’ Lorraine nods again, like she’s decided the matter. ‘This is where you belong.’
‘Maybe.’ Now Cynthia smiles. ‘Thank you.’
‘No need to thank me. Now – are you eating? I could do with a cheese toastie.’
Cynthia laughs breezily and Lorraine remembers that sound from when they were carefree.
‘Me too,’ Cynthia says.
And they spend the next few minutes deciding whether to have ham or tomato on their toastie, and the minutes after that working out when they can catch up again, and finally Lorraine feels like she’ll have something to look forward to that can keep her going through the flurry of her life.
CHAPTER NINE
‘Thatwas a good day today, Kathy.’ Hans smiles down at her, slightly stooped.
Kathy always wants to tell him to stand up straight. That’s what she’s told her son for years. Once Grant hit puberty and shot up above his classmates he started stooping, like he was apologising for being taller than them. Kathy – all of five foot four – wanted to say thatsome peoplewould give an eye tooth to be tall, so Grant should embrace it. Instead she told him to stand up straight, put his shoulders back, let people talk up to him. It didn’t work. He’s twenty-eight now and the stoop is part of who he is. Maybe it’s not too late for Hans, though; she could start working on him. Once she knows him a little better.
‘Yes, it was.’ She smiles. ‘I love it when it’s busy.’
Hans nods vigorously. ‘Many happy customers. That makesmehappy.’
Kathy runs a hand through her hair, some of which has escaped from her tight ponytail. No matter how careful she is about slicking it back, strands make their way out of the elastic. She hopes she hasn’t looked too messy; her standards have always been high when it comes to how she presents on the job. Then she yawns. One of those yawns that come upon a person with little notice and make them look rude.
‘Ooh, sorry,’ she says, clamping a hand over her mouth. ‘Guess I’m more tired than I thought.’
‘Please, go home,’ Hans says. It sounds abrupt but his face is soft.
Kathy is getting used to how clipped he can be when interacting with staff, and she knows it’s just his manner.
‘Rightio,’ she says and walks towards the broom cupboard where the staff keep their bags.
‘What are you doing tonight?’ Hans says as he sorts the receipts at his desk.
She shrugs. ‘Dinner. Telly. Nothing much.’
He glances up. ‘Alone?’
She pauses. He’s not yet asked about her personal life, nor has she about his. Have they been working together long enough for them to become familiar? Or even on the way to being friends? She likes him; they get along. They could be friends. Certainly she should make some friends here. But friendship means trading information and there are some things she still needs to hold on to. She has no intention of lying to him, though.
‘Yes,’ she says. Then thinks she may as well return the favour. ‘You?’
His eyelids flutter and he looks a little abashed. ‘Yes. But that is for the better – I have more to do here, then I think I will fall asleep straightaway.’
Adjusting her handbag to a more comfortable spot on her shoulder, Kathy smiles. ‘See you tomorrow.’
‘Wait! I forgot.’ Hans turns in the direction of the kitchen as Kathy does as instructed. She knows what he’s doing; he’s taken to doing it every afternoon.
‘Here.’ He returns, triumphant, with two takeaway containers. ‘Chef put some food aside for you.’
‘Now, Hans, I’m sure that’s becauseyouasked him to do that.’
‘Better than it goes to waste,’ he says matter-of-factly.
