Page 46 of The Night Before Christmas
Adam: I’m so sorry.
For just a fleeting moment, she contemplated sending both ring and phone to their doom.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Felicity didn’t getout of bed for two days straight. She told Andrea she was sick, but she knew the excuse would only last for so long and Andrea would need help with the cats at some point. So, on the third morning, she hauled herself out of her pit, opened a window to let in some fresh air and picked up her phone for the first time in forty-eight hours.
Six unread messages.
Adam: I can explain. Please let me try.
I’m sorry. I really am. I thought you knew.
Please, please, Felicity Brooks, please can we talk? Please? Is that enough apologies yet? Please let me explain.
Ugh, she thought.
Delete, delete, delete with a jabbing finger.
Sophie: Just checking in. How are things with James after your date? Fancy a coffee? X
Delete, with a sob.
Bex: Darling, I absolutely insist you let me take you for lunch, I’ve got something super important to tell you.
Save, to deal with later.
Andrea: The cats are missing you.
I miss them too. So sorry. I’ll be in shortly.
Nothing, of course, from a certain Penguin Man.
With a sigh, Felicity hauled herself into the shower. She had come to a decision.
‘I’m taking a week off,’ she announced somewhat brusquely when she arrived at work. Andrea-style, if you will.
The real Andrea looked rather stricken, but Felicity was ready for this eventuality.
‘Don’t panic, I’ve asked my friend Sophie to cover for me. It’ll all be fine.’
(She hadn’t but she had made a mental note to do it later, which was almost the same thing.)
Still Andrea didn’t speak, so it was time to administer the final blow.
‘Besides, I haven’t had a proper holiday since I started working here. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that’s actually illegal or something. Probably.’
There was a pause, and then Andrea threw back her head and laughed heartily, her plait bobbing.
‘Fine,’ she said, when she’d recovered. ‘Fine. Bloody employees and their bloody tricksy ways. Your “friend” better be halfway sensible.’
‘Oh, she is,’ said Felicity.
Sort of. Not really.
The next thing to do was get on a plane. Only a very small plane and only for a very short distance but for Felicity this was a mammoth step forward.
‘You’re doing what?’ said Sophie, when she called her that night to explain. ‘How exciting. Can I come? I’m dying to get away.’
