Page 19 of Lost in Love
“What we have planned won’t involve any additional hours, just more responsibility. We’d like for you to become a tour supervisor. If you accept, we’ll hit the button on recruiting two more tour guides, whom you will train and supervise.”
Anna hadn’t expected that. A promotion within three months of a new job, surely that was unheard of.
“There is one further request we have of you — an Abbey guidebook. It would follow the basis of your tour for those that want the information but without the tour itself. I’ve looked at your CV, and you have all the skills and more, I’m sure.”
Anna couldn’t believe it; she’d be able to achieve what she wanted and more, all whilst being paid, and possibly more than she was now.
“The current tour is, I understand, approximately twenty minutes?” Margaret turned to Carrie for confirmation.
Carrie nodded her agreement.
“We’d like to push that to forty minutes. We really need to be more of a destination, keep people here longer, make it more of an afternoon out rather than a passing-by. We’re looking to expand the food and drink facilities to offer meals rather than just hot drinks and snacks; visitors will come for lunch and leave on a cream tea. We’re really excited for our new phase, and we’d really like you on board.”
Anna was overwhelmed, giddy from excitement and nervousness. It wasn’t an opportunity she could or would turn down; after all, she said no additional hours.
“When do I start?” Anna replied with a nervous smile.
“Right away, if you will?” Margaret stood and packed a few papers into a bag. “I’ll leave you with Carrie now, but I look forward to working with you more.”
“Likewise. Thanks for believing in me.”
“You’re well worth it, I’ve been assured.” She nodded at Carrie and smiled.
They shook hands, and Margaret headed to the door.
“Margaret,” Anna regretted speaking up as soon as she said her name, but she had no choice but to continue as Margaret had stopped to listen. “The coffee in the cafe is terrible.”
“Thank you for your honesty. I’ll look into it.”
As the door closed behind her, Anna let out a big breath. “I was not expecting that.”
Carrie laughed.
“What about you?”
“I’ll still be your manager. They’ve basically just moved everyone up a peg to keep the experienced staff and will add another level at the bottom.”
“Dare I ask if a tour supervisor gets paid any more?”
“Yes, and you’ll now be a site key holder,” Carrie said, pushing some keys towards her.
Anna picked the keys up. “That sounds like a bit of a responsibility.”
Carrie laughed again. “You’ll be fine, trust yourself. You’ll be on an on-call roster. It works out about once a week among us all. So far I’ve never had a call out.”
“The Abbey guidebook, when can I start on that?” Anna asked, her eyes alight with excitement.
“I knew you’d be dying to get your teeth into it. Start whenever you like. Once you’ve worked out the text, you’ll be working with a designer to pull it together. Use this room if you need to when it’s free.”
Anna nodded.
“Right, let’s get the boring paperwork out the way.”
Anna was elated; she couldn’t wait to tell her dad. Her new friend Katherine would be another challenge altogether; perhaps it would be best to keep it from her until she could prove the responsibility wouldn’t be too much for her. It wasn’t as if she was likely to see her again until her dad’s next appointment.
* * *
Anna held her dad’s arm steady as they crossed the road to the library. Once a week she would take him over so he could change his books for the following week.
