Page 19 of The Riviera House Swap

‘And I understand that… well, we have to cope with a little more than our male counterparts at times,’ Jemima continued, clearly getting into her flow. ‘If you know what I mean.’

‘Uh huh,’ Nina said, nodding. Although she wasn’t 100 per cent sure. Did she mean periods? Glass ceilings? Sexual harassment? Common or garden misogyny?

‘And,’ Jemima now leaned a little closer, her face now less than a metre from Nina’s, ‘I hope you don’t mind me saying, woman to woman, that I think I know what’s going on here.’

‘You do?’ Did Jemima somehow know about Pierre? Did she know about Nina’s ridiculous plan? Had she been at the yoga class, eavesdropping during her savasana?

Jemima nodded, a sympathetic look on her face. ‘Obviously I know about the divorce,’ she said. ‘But I was thinking more of your life stage. You,’ she lowered her voice ‘have passed a pretty big milestone recently, I believe?’

‘You mean, I’ve turned forty?’ Nina said, her voice with its normal volume sounding shout-loud in contrast.

‘Yes,’ said Jemima, clearly alarmed by Nina’s not wanting to keep this information hush-hush. ‘Yes. And we all know what comes next for women, don’t we?’

‘We do?’

Jemima nodded sadly. ‘It can be a tumultuous time,’ she said.

‘It can?’

‘Yes, hormonally. I don’t mind telling you that I’ve had the odd… eh… hormonal incident myself.’

‘Oh.’ Nina was aching to know what that meant. A hot flash in a meeting? Shouting at a colleague? Making advances on the security guy?

‘Yes. You’ll be surprised, no doubt, to learn I’m actually approaching my mid-forties!’ she announced.

Nina was quick to mould her features into an expression of shock. ‘Well,’ she lied. ‘You don’t look it!’

Jemima nodded sagely, ‘Botox,’ she whispered, as if trying to keep secret that she’d had a little work done despite the evidence being written all over her face.

‘Wow,’ Nina said, again feigning surprise.

Jemima forced her lips into a smile. ‘Look, Nina. I’m going to level with you. I think that this need to travel, or whatever,’ she waved her hand dismissively, ‘might be some sort of crisis, or temporary need,’ she said. ‘I would hate for you to find that you were acting… impulsively.’

Nina sat up straighter. ‘It’s not at all!’ she said. ‘I really want to make a change… I…’

The hand waved again. ‘What I’m saying is,’ Jemima said, ‘and you’ll have to keep this on the down low because it’s not something I can offer to others. But what if we could give you a month off? A little respite after your… hard year and your many years of loyal service. Two weeks paid, two weeks unpaid. You can go to France or wherever, get the experience out of your system and come back refreshed!’ she said. She sat back triumphantly as if she’d made an offer no one in their right mind could refuse. ‘It’s a risk-free way of having your cake and eating it too. Although, when it comes to hormones, diet is important of course. So perhaps that isn’t quite the right expression for ladies in our stage of life!’ she grinned, delighted with herself.

‘Oh,’ said Nina. ‘Thank you. Um…’ She searched for the right words. ‘That’s incredibly generous of you, but I really think I need to make a proper break… I…’

‘Nina, Nina,’ Jemima said, now once again leaning forward and shaking her head sadly. ‘I’m not sure you realise howdifficultthe job market is, especially for someone in… middle age. I just don’t want to see you getting… well, out of your depth.’

‘I don’t think…’

‘Wouldn’t it be better to go with the knowledge that you have a financial safety net, a career safety net, to come back to? To have the security of income, the ability to pay your mortgage, to return to let’s say “normal life” after your… your adventures?’ Jemima, now in the role of ‘helpful friend’, suggested. She looked at Nina meaningfully.

‘Well,’ Nina said, then trailed off. Jasmine was being both sexist, insulting and borderline annoying. But maybe, despite this, she was making a sound point.

Yes, Nina had been determined to take risks.

But the idea of needing an emergency backup sent a cold shiver through her. Despite her patronising tone, was Jemima on to something? Perhaps it was unwise to throw everything away to go on this mad escapade. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that things were waiting for her if she decided to take up the reins again on her return? She could always quit later – by email.

‘Well?’ Jemima prompted, sensing she had snared her prey.

‘Well, well yes. I suppose that would be… a solution,’ said Nina, carefully, already feeling a sense of disappointment in her chest.

This was meant to be her moment of severance. Of handing her letter in and walking away lighter, a clean break. Forcing herself out of her comfort zone. And what had she achieved instead? Two weeks’ additional unpaid leave?

‘Wonderful,’ Jemima said, standing up abruptly and making Nina feel obliged to do the same. She stuck out a hand for Nina to shake. ‘I’ll get legal to draft something. But looks like you’ve bagged yourself a pretty enviable rest!’

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