This Could Change Everything(22)

Now, facing Essie across the broad scrubbed-oak table in Zillah’s kitchen, Conor shrugged and said, ‘That was four years ago. I learned about gardening as I went along, and it turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I haven’t regretted it for a minute.’

‘Apart from the time that rat was hiding in one of your wellington boots,’ Zillah chimed in, ‘and when you tried to put it on, the rat bit you on the toe.’

‘Apart from that time.’ Conor looked rueful. ‘Yes.’

‘I love that story,’ Zillah said happily. ‘Makes me laugh every time I think of it.’

‘If anything traumatic ever happens to you,’ Conor told Essie, ‘she’ll probably find that funny too.’

‘But in a kindly way.’ Zillah’s dark eyes glinted with mischief. ‘And Essie’s already had her share of trauma, don’t you think?’

‘True,’ said Conor. Essie had already relayed the story of how she’d come to be here. ‘Anyway, I thought I’d tell you what happened to me, just so you know that these things can sometimes turn out well.’

Essie said, ‘Thanks, good to hear. Let’s hope everything works out for me too.’

‘Exactly what I thought.’ Zillah poured herself another cup of tea. ‘The two of you have that in common, both of you leaving your jobs a bit more speedily than most people. It’s a bonding experience.’

Amused, Conor shook his head. Zillah’s modus operandi was one he’d grown to recognise. It meant she was wondering if there could be a match to be made here, if maybe the two of them might hit it off in the romantic sense. He adored Zillah, but she was like a singularly pushy fairy godmother, always keen for him to find the right girl and settle down.

They’d been chatting now for over twenty minutes and he already knew he liked Essie Phillips. She was funny and forthright and undoubtedly attractive, but he also knew that the essential spark that needed to exist between two people was lacking, on her side as well as his. It was either there or it wasn’t; you couldn’t click your fingers and magic it out of thin air.

Basically, he and Essie weren’t each other’s types.

‘By the way,’ Essie said suddenly, ‘I saw the two of you coming home late last night. Well, this morning really. Did you go somewhere nice?’

And now it was Zillah’s turn, when Conor glanced across at her, to discreetly shake her head and mouth, Not now. Because it wasn’t that it was a secret, but to explain what they’d been doing took time. It wasn’t something you could rush, and Zillah was on her way out to meet up with members of her book group.

‘I spent the evening at a friend’s house. Conor picked me up and gave me a lift home.’ She finished her cup of tea. ‘I’m going to head off now; it’s almost midday and Audrey will roll her eyes at me if I’m late for—’

‘Oh God, midday?’ Essie stared in horror at her watch and leapt to her feet. ‘I had no idea it was that late. I need to go too.’

Essie hurried across Percival Square, weaving her way ninja-style through an obstacle course of prams, pushchairs and children’s trikes. Like Cinderella in reverse, she reached the Red House just as the bells of Bath Abbey began to chime twelve in the distance. Having raced up the stone steps and in through the glass doors, she saw Jude serving behind the bar and waved to catch her attention. ‘Is Lucas here?’

‘Hi! He’s in the office. Do you want to go on up?’

‘Thanks.’ Essie made her way along the corridor to the staircase. At the top, she knocked on the closed office door and waited, catching her breath.

She heard Lucas call out absently, ‘I’ll be with you in a minute.’

After ninety seconds, she knocked again. This time he opened the door and raised his eyebrows when he saw her. ‘Oh. Hello.’

‘I’ve changed my mind.’ She still despised him for what he’d done, but refusing to work here would definitely be cutting off her nose to spite her face. And her ears and mouth too. ‘I’d like the job.’

‘Ah. You had until midday to let me know.’ Lucas glanced at his watch. ‘It’s now two minutes past.’

‘That’s because I’ve been waiting out here for you to answer the door.’

‘Sorry, I was busy on the phone to the Job Shop, asking them to send over their best applicants.’ But as he said it, his expression was playful.

‘Were you really?’ Essie surveyed him steadily. ‘Or were you standing at the window, watching me head over here across the square?’

‘I suppose that’s another possibility. You looked as if you were in a bit of a hurry. I thought you were going to trip over that little kid on the scooter.’

‘I thought I was too. If they’re going to ride those things, they should learn how to do hand signals. So, is the job mine?’

He dropped the pretence. ‘Of course. I told you that last night.’

Phew. Essie nodded. ‘Did you think I’d be back?’

‘I hoped you would be. Can you start straight away?’

‘Yes. Busy here this afternoon?’

‘It will be. There are a couple of office parties booked in.’ He paused. ‘Any news on the boyfriend front?’