“If I’d have found Reece four years ago, before Mia, before the decision to have Mia, before Barrett, I’d have wanted to keep him.”
“But?”
“I can’t keep him.”
“Does he want to be kept?”
Audrey looked away. Her latte was on its way across the cafe. He wanted to marry her. Last night that’d seemed an immense thing, monstrous, a huge mistake. This morning it didn’t have the same capacity to scare her and yet her career was probably bust and her life set to change all over again.
“He does.”
“That’s so. That’s so. I’m incoherent, it’s so exciting.”
The arriving waitress heard that and couldn’t hide her smirk. Audrey attacked her coffee in an attempt to contain how anxious this conversation made her. She loved Reece, but it was confusing. It was too easy to love him because he made her days run smoothly, because he made her nights so thrilling. He’d saved her life again and again and how could you not be a little in love with that, and with the gentle, unruffled nature of him?
Half an hour later, waiting outside Chris’ office she felt nauseous. The next few minutes might determine her future and further complicate her relationship with Reece.
Chris’ door opened and he popped his head out and beckoned. “Audrey, come in.” He gestured to a lounge suite setting by the floor to ceiling window. She had no eyes for the view today.
“You gave us such a scare. How are you feeling?”
“I’m well. I gave me a scare too.”
“I had no idea meningitis could be such a deadly disease. I spoke to your specialist myself. Take a seat, but can I have a hug first. I really thought we might lose you.” He opened his arms awkwardly, he blushed too. He’d once been a much closer colleague and it was easy to forget that he was still a friend.
They hugged, quickly, with more feeling than grace and avoided the lounge to take an armchair each and regain their distance. They exchanged a few more pleasantries about Mia, about the new decor in the office and then he said. “What can I do for you?”
Audrey hesitated. He’d opened a big door. He might have asked what date she was expected back or talked about what workload she’d pick up. He might’ve asked if she was mentally ready to return, if she’d had second thoughts perhaps after what she’d been through. These were the scenarios she’d talked through with Les. That’s what she’d have done in his place, especially if the news wasn’t going to be good, eased into the idea of a redundancy. Instead he’d created space for her to play with.
“You could promote me.”
Chris frowned. She couldn’t take it back. Her heart was pounding in her ears. She’d filled that free space with a very large, pulsating idea.
“I wondered if you were coming in here to resign. You went through the kind of experience that can make a person rethink their life.”
“I’m ready to come back. I miss work.”
The top half of Chris’ face kept broadcasting concern, but he smiled. “Your projects were in a mess when you got sick. Not your fault, but it didn’t endear you to the people who had to take up your workload. You’ve had extensive time off.”
She nodded. She’d had more time off than she was eligible for, but no more than was necessary.
“And we’ve been generous in paying you for leave you weren’t strictly speaking entitled to, and now you want to sashay back in here with a promotion.”
She smiled too. It was either that or fold her hand. “You asked. That’s what I want. It’s what I deserve.” She said that passionately and it helped her not cringe when she went on to say what a man would, despite the boasting that made it sound incredibly self-serving. “I’ll make an excellent director. I won’t give you any reason to regret promoting me.”
He stood up. He was terminating the conversation. At best he’d say something vague that told her nothing. At worst he’d be straightforward and say no. Or maybe it was the other way around. This is not how she expected this to go, she expected to be reading between the lines to understand how likely she was to keep her existing job.
He held his hand out; there’d be no more hugs. “That’s what I want too. I’ve wanted this since we spoke about you being passed over when you had Mia. That was a dastardly piece of business. Being a parent of any sex, single or otherwise has no bearing on your value to us. I meant to redress that, but I was tardy and then you fell ill. We need to make it easier for women coming back after having a child. We need to make it easier for men to take paternity leave. We’re a long way from good on those ideals. You will make an excellent director, and if you give me any reason to regret promoting you, you’ll hear about it.” He smiled. “Plus I’ve been studying voodoo and I’ve got me some pins with your name on them.”
She stood, put her hand in his; it was less a shake than two people holding hands for a moment, sealing their deal. They grinned at each other and Audrey had to stop herself from laughing.
“There are tough times coming. I want you back to help see us through them.”
He’d never guess she had that sussed. “I can do that.”
Chris withdrew his hand. “No more scares like that, Audrey. Screw up on an account, but don’t make me stand in a hospital waiting room wondering if I’m going to lose someone who’s important to the business, important to me personally.”
“I’ll do my best.”