Page 75 of All Wrapped Up
‘In comparison with Joanne, I think you’ll find most people are!’
I was now at the front of the queue and carried on listening to Lizzie bemoan her current assistant’s incessant desire to talk, while I scanned my card and books, printed my receipt with the return date on and popped them into my tote bag.
‘There must have been something about her that appealed to you when you took her on,’ I tactfully said as Lizzie checked her own books out.
She looked thoughtful.
‘Um,’ she sighed, ‘I suppose it was actually her bubbliness that secured her the job. Of course, I had no idea how tiring I was going to find her full-on personality when I had to work with it every day, though.’
‘But not for much longer.’
‘No,’ she agreed. ‘Not for much longer. She’s leaving the country during the week between Christmas and New Year, because Aiden’s next contract has been officially confirmed.’
‘And is she excited about that?’ I asked.
‘What do you think?’
‘I don’t know.’ I shrugged. ‘That’s why I’m asking.’
Lizzie was quiet for a minute as she gave Joanne’s reaction to leaving some consideration.
‘Do you know what?’ she then frowned. ‘Now I think about it, since Aiden’s new role in the firm was confirmed and the moving arrangements made, she hasn’t actually gone on about it all as much as I might have expected her to.’
I didn’t say anything further as we walked out of the warm library and into the bracing October air, but I hoped that Lizzie might think more about Joanne’s reaction to the prospect of heading off and perhaps ask her if everything was turning out how she had hoped it would.
‘But however she’s currently feeling about it all,’ Lizzie said after we’d walked a few steps, ‘I am still going to have to replace her.’
‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘I suppose you are.’
Lizzie rolled her eyes and groaned.
‘What?’
‘You’re not very good at taking a hint, are you, Clemmie?’ she tutted.
‘What do you mean? What have I missed?’
‘I wantyouto take the job,’ she then shockingly announced.
‘Me?’ I squeaked, stopping dead. ‘You’re offering me Joanne’s job?’
‘Yes!’ Lizzie laughed. ‘I’m offering you Joanne’s job. And after watching you yesterday, and reading the feedback I’ve had, I’m very much hoping you’ll say yes.’
‘You’re really offering me the job?’
I couldn’t believe it.
‘Yes, I really am.’
We carried on walking along the pavement back towards where I’d parked. I didn’t say anything because my head was spinning. Even though Lizzie had been singing my praises, I hadn’t for one second thought that she might be about to offer me the vacancy she’d soon need to fill.
‘You’re not offended, are you?’ Lizzie asked, when I didn’t say anything. ‘I know it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea.’
‘I couldn’t be further from offended,’ I promised her. ‘I think I’m in shock.’
I had literally just a couple of hours ago been thinking about my financial future and without any form filling or email answering, a job offer had now landed out of the blue. Was this yet another moment proving that taking a risk, as Callum had suggested in his note, could lead to wonderful things? Organising the festival had meant taking a risk, as had helping out in the gallery the day before, and both had already paid dividends I could never possibly have predicted or hoped for.
‘Good shocked?’ Lizzie asked hopefully.
