Page 44 of Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
It’s Lila and she has a furious glint in her eye.
‘I hope you’re not keeping Logan talking. He’s a busy man,you know.’
‘It was my fault,’ he says quickly. ‘I was asking her aboutwriting desks. And I have to say, I’ll be seeing them in a whole differentlight from now on.’
Lila looks confused, as well she might. She lookssuspiciously from Logan to me and back again, pressing her lips together.
Then she says, ‘I hear you won’t be joining us at the spaday, Martha. What a shame.’ She’s smirking openly and anger rises up inside.
‘Actually, I can make it after all,’ I say, making up mymind on the spot.
She narrows her eyes at me. ‘Well, jolly good.’
I glance at Logan to see his reaction, but he’s alreadyturning away to leave.
‘Stay there,’ Lila hisses at me, like a particularlyvenomous snake. ‘I’ve got an important job for you.’
I nod and she spins round with a smile and hurries afterLogan. And as I watch, she catches him up, takes his arm and murmurs, ‘Tell me,Logan, are you a Speedos man or do you prefer shorts? I’m very much lookingforward to finding out on Tuesday.’
He actually laughs, the traitor.
I growl silently as I watch them turn the corner, allsickeningly chummy the pair of them. There’s no doubt about it now. I’lldefinitely be there on Tuesday.
Spa day, here I come!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The day of Dad’s tests dawns bright and sunny, theperfect spring day – a complete contradiction to the black clouds that arehanging over me at the thought of what’s to come.
I know I won’t be able to stop worrying about Dad. His testsare being carried out this afternoon, and he’ll be kept in overnight. True toform, though, we’re both careful to be nothing but positive as I depart afterbreakfast for the spa hotel.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?’ I askhim, casually. ‘I can easily leave the spa early.’
He gives me that look that speaks volumes.Stop worrying!
I shrug. ‘Okay. But I’ll come in this evening to see you.’
He shakes his head. ‘I don’t know when they’ll be finishedwith me, and afterwards, I think I’ll just want to crash out.’ He stands up andgives me a big hug. ‘What would I do without you, Martha?’ he murmurs.
Tears prick my eyes. ‘Same goes, Dad.’
He draws away and smiles, still holding my arms. ‘You’ll bethere to pick me up in the morning?’
‘Of course I will.’ I smile brightly through the tears.‘Just let me know when.’
‘Come here, you. I’m going to be fine, you know.’ He pullsme in for another hug and I cling to him, not wanting to let him go. For now,we can pretend everything will be okay.
But next time I see him, he could have the results of histests...
Trying to push that from my mind, I get in the car and waveat Dad who’s standing at the window. Then I start the engine and head off tothe spa. Compared to what else is happening today, this should be a breeze, Itell myself, while trying to ignore the severe case of nerves that’s making mystomach roll like a washing machine at the thought of seeing Logan at the spa.
It doesn’t help that I’m feeling really tired this morning.
Lila’s taken to giving me extra jobs to do after my officialshift has ended. The first time it was high-level dusting, which took me overan hour, and Katrina was furious on my behalf. I knew she wanted me to tellLila exactly where to stick her mop! But I also know how unpredictable my bossis. If I complain, she’ll find a way of getting rid of me, and I can’t affordto lose this job.
Yesterday, there was more extra work to do, and it occurredto me that maybe Lila was punishing me because she found me chatting to Logan.It’s pretty clear she fancies him herself. But again, I didn’t feel in aposition to argue.
The hotel was closed that day for building work on the café,and Lila said she wanted to take advantage of the rooms being empty.
