Anything but Vanilla(31)

‘Tomorrow?’ Far from being thrilled that she still had a job, Nancy appeared panic-stricken.

‘Is there a problem?’

‘No... Yes...’

‘Which is it?’

‘The thing is, I can’t, Sorrel. Not tomorrow.’

‘Don’t tell me you’ve got another job already? Not that you don’t deserve one,’ she added, quickly. ‘Anyone would be lucky to have you.’ Nancy was cheerful, hard-working and punctual, and it would explain the celebration hairdo. But no one was queueing up to offer part-time jobs to women at the moment.

Nancy pulled a face. ‘Fat chance. Not that I’ve actually looked for one.’

‘Well...’ A day to get over the shock was understandable. And the hair thing might just have been a cheer-up treat.

‘I did buy the local paper, but there was nothing in there. Then I saw an ad for a caravan.’

‘A caravan?’

‘By the coast. On one of those parks with pools and cycling and all sorts of great stuff for kids to do. Mr West had given me some money...I know it was supposed to see me through until I could get another job but when would I ever have that much cash again?’

Cash?

‘You’ve booked a holiday?’

‘It’s just a week, but when I saw it, it came into my head, that thing that Ria is always saying. About seizing the fish?’

‘What? Oh, carpe diem...’ Seize the day. Or as Ria was fond of saying—when she’d taken off without warning to go to a rock concert or to dance around Stonehenge at the Solstice— ‘Grab the fish when you can because life is uncertain and who knows when another of the slippery things will come along...’

‘That’s it. I realised this is what she meant. This is my fish. So I grabbed it.’

‘But what about school? It’s not half term, is it?’

‘I checked with the head teacher,’ Nancy replied, turning from apologetic to defensive on a sixpence. ‘She said a week by the sea would do Kerry more good than sitting in a stuffy classroom breathing in other kids’ germs. She’s had a really rough winter with her chest. I’m taking my mum, too,’ she added. ‘I don’t know how I’d have managed without her.’

‘I know...’ Sorrel wanted to be happy for her. No, actually, she wanted to shake her for being so irresponsible about the money—cash?—but it wouldn’t change anything. ‘Well, I hope the sun shines non-stop and the three of you have a fabulous time.’

‘I can come in next Friday. If you still want me?’ she added, anxiously. Then, with a sudden attack of panic, ‘I won’t have to give Mr West his money back if I keep my job, will I?’

‘What did he say when he gave it to you?’

‘Just that it would keep me going for a while. He went to the bank to get it for me.’

‘Did he?’ She bit back a smile. It wasn’t funny. Not at all. ‘How kind of him.’

‘He was lovely. So concerned. Not at all what I expected.’

‘No.’

‘Only what with the holiday, my hair and some new clothes for Kerry...’

Sorrel had to swallow, hard, before she could speak. ‘Of course I want you, Nancy. And no, you won’t have to repay Mr West. That was...’ Since there was no money in the Knickerbocker Gloria account, that had to have been straight out of his pocket. And she’d yelled at him for not caring... ‘That was a gift.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘I’m certain. And in future you’ll be working for me so we’ll be starting afresh.’ She opened her bag, took out her wallet and handed Nancy a banknote. ‘Give this to Kerry from me. Ice-cream money.’

‘That’s too much.’ Then, taking it, ‘You’re really kind.’

‘Not at all.’ Alexander West, on the other hand... ‘This is work. Research. Tell her I want the full skinny on the competition. Flavours, toppings, colours, the whole works. With pictures.’

Nancy laughed. ‘Right...’ Then, her smile fading, ‘Will you be all right? Who’s going to run the parlour while I’m away?’

‘That is not your problem,’ Sorrel said, giving her a hug. ‘I want you to spend the next week relaxing and having fun. I’ll see you on Friday.’

‘On the dot,’ she said, turning away as the children came streaming out of school.