Page 54 of The Midnight Bakery
Something in Tam’s tone must have registered with Chris because his expression instantly changed from wary to downright uncomfortable. ‘I do, as it happens. But like I said, you’re welcome to come in.’
Tam wasn’t about to give him the courtesy of an answer. They stared at one another for a moment, silent in the dark, empty street.
‘Oh, hang on a minute.’ Chris’s face grew suddenly animated as a thought occurred to him. Something he no doubt hoped would ease the conversational difficulties. ‘Another letter came for you today, I’ll just go and fetch it.’
He left the door open, disappearing back down the hallway and, without his bulk standing in the way, Tam could feel the warmth from the house seeping towards him. He wasn’t the sort to wish ill on anyone, but vague thoughts flitted through his head – like how much he would love to drag Chris from his complacent, smug life and lock him out of his house – see how he liked a night in the cold. Except that people like Chris would never have to suffer like that – there’d always be someone, somewhere he could take advantage of.
‘Here you go.’ Chris attempted a jovial grin which Tam would have dearly loved to wipe from his face. ‘Not working today?’ he asked.
Tam silently shook his head.
‘Day off then. Been up to anything nice?’
‘Nope, no day off.’ Tam stared at him, hoping Chris could feel his seething contempt. ‘In fact, I was there earlier. I had my review meeting today, the one where they should have appointed me to permanent staff now that my probationary period is over. But you know what, Chris, they didn’t do that. Instead they… I believe the kind term for it is “let me go”. Sacked. Terminated. Call it what you like. I don’t have a job any more.’
Chris’s face registered shock. ‘Mate, that’s awful. I don’t know what to say…’
Tam regarded him coldly. ‘No? How about I’m sorry?’
‘I don’t understand… I…’
‘Don’t you? Are you sure about that, Chris? Because the funny thing is that when my boss explained that she’d had to fire me on account of me being homeless, I wouldn’t have given the question as to how she came by that information much thought. Not until she mentioned that it would have been far better for me if I hadn’t lied to them in the first place. If I hadn’t given them a false address when I started. And as soon as she said that, I began to wonder…Because how would they know that, Chris? How could they possibly find out when no one else knew, apart from you? I thought you were a bastard before, but now…’ He turned away in disgust. ‘I don’t even have the words for what you are.’
Chris’s face grew hard. ‘It was an easy mistake to make.’
‘A mistake? Is that what it was?’
‘Yes!’ Chris glared at him. ‘I was trying to do you a favour. A letter came and it looked important, so I dropped it off at the care home. I didn’t know she was your boss when I spoke to her…’
‘What did you say, Chris?’ Tam’s tone carried a warning.
‘I can’t really remember,’ he replied, looking flustered now. ‘But maybe I did mention you didn’t actually live here, I don’t know.’
It was all beginning to make perfect sense to Tam.
‘Oh, I think you do know, Chris. I think you remember exactly what you said.’
‘So what if I did? I’ve done you a favour, mate, but you’re so pig-headed you can’t even see it.’
‘You’ve done mewhat?’
‘A favour. I asked you before to come and work for me, well, now you can. It’s a proper job, Tam. You wouldn’t have to degrade yourself any more, you could do something you enjoyed. Get back to how you were before.’
Tam closed his eyes, more angry than he could remember being in a long while. ‘I don’t believe this. How could you even think I’d be remotely interested after what you’ve done? Once was bad enough…’ He shook his head furiously, clenching his fists by his side.
‘You and your stupid pride,’ muttered Chris. ‘For heaven’s sake, man, can you not see where it’s got you? Nowhere, that’s where, and withnothing.’
‘I have my honesty and my integrity. They might be nothing to you, but they’re the only things that have been keeping me warm at night.’
‘See? That’s exactly what I mean. You say those words like they’re the holy grail, Tam, but it’s bollocks. They’remeaninglesswhen you have nothing. I’m offering you a real job. A job with good pay, solid prospects. A job which I know you’d give your eye teeth for. Back in the game, doing what you love.’
‘Don’t you dare kid yourself you’re helping me, Chris. Not when the truth of it is that you’re talentless. You don’t have it in you to run a business. Look what happened when you were left to your own devices the last time. I trusted you, Chris, and I’m not about to make the same mistake again. You only want me on board because you know you’ll fail without me. There’s nothing altruistic about this. Just selfish need, same as always. I’m just gutted I never saw it before until it was too late.’
‘You’d be mad to pass this up.’
Tam’s mouth gaped open. ‘Or surprisingly sane,’ he hissed, and walked away.
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