CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Roisin busied herself with the children's lunch boxes, they were off to the zoo and she'd rather they had their own food instead of paying ridiculous amounts for burgers and chips.
"I'm not sure about us going without you, are you sure you can't get the time off work?"
"Still Ireland! I'm sure Aiden, things at work are a bit busy at the moment with Nikki off. Look you're only going to be away for a few days, I'll still get lots of time with the kids over the holiday."
"It's just I don't get much time off work and it seems silly to waste it when you're at work."
"Waste, I wouldn't call quality time with our children in their homeland a waste Aiden."
"You know what I mean Roisin we're a family we should do things together."
"I think it will be good for you and the kids to spend some time together, now stop fussing go to work and book the flights." Aiden shrugged and after shouting goodbye to the children who were out in the garden left for work. His car had barely left the drive before Roisin had picked up the phone and dialled Cassie's mobile number. It had scarcely connected before Cassie had picked up,
"Babe."
"Hi sweetheart."
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Roisin hadn't told Cassie that there was a possibility that she might have the house to herself. She hadn't wanted to raise hopes only for them to be dashed.
"I have some very very interesting news." Roisin lowered her voice and Cassie shuddered in anticipation,
"Go on Roche I'm listening."
"I will have the house to myself for a whole 4 days, next week."
"What! Is this a wind up?"
"Absolutely not, Aiden is taking the kids to Ireland and because of work commitments I've got to stay, terrible isn't it?"
"Terrible." Wicked thoughts were bursting into Cassie's mind, "I guess you'll need some company then?"
"I guess I will. Cass I've got to go, I'm taking the kids to the zoo, I'll see you at work and fill you in on the details, I just couldn't wait to tell you."
"Ok, see you at work Roche." Roisin smiled with unadulterated joy as she replaced the phone in it's cradle. She felt slightly guilty at the fact that she was pleased the children wouldn't be in the house but then as the two whirlwinds enveloped her the guilt evaporated. She spent most of her time with the children, especially as they were now on holiday. Aiden hardly ever saw them, because he was always working, he needed the time with them. She had now resigned herself to the fact that her marriage to Aiden was not going to last forever, when they did part the children would come with her. Part of her felt that now she should give her unsuspecting husband the chance to make amends with his children. She handed their children their lunch boxes and watched them as they ran off to find their backpacks. How would they cope without their father, was having two women in their lives a bad thing? Roisin shook her head, she had no idea where this thing with Cassie was going, whether they would last, whether it was serious, whether Cassie wanted any part in her children's lives. All she knew at the moment was, Cassie had awakened a part of Roisin that she hadn't even realised was there. She lived for the moments they had together, they were few and far between but they were everything.
Nikki had settled on a pair of black trousers and a pale blue shirt. A suit was too formal and her uniform unsuitable as she was suspended, with her sunglasses on her head and a bag slung casually over her shoulder no one would have guessed the turmoil in her mind. She crossed the car park smiling and nodding to faces she recognised, a glance at her watch told her as usual she was impeccable with her timing. Any customer wanting to complain would have a job Nikki thought a smile on her face as she entered, Cassie, Yvonne, Selena, Karen and Monica were all vying for space behind and around the small desk.
"What's this then? Welcoming committee for the doomed one?" Monica wrapped Nikki up in a motherly embrace,
"Less of the doomed please Nikki, we're all here for you."
"Yes I can see, you are all quite literally here!" Nikki's bright bonhomie was fooling no one but they all played along.
"I'll call Frances and Neil, let them know you are here, ok?" Nikki nodded at Karen the tight smile on her face becoming ever tighter.
"Well you look gorgeous anyway!"
"Thank you Cass, always the voice of reason." Cassie blushed and squeezed Nikki briefly on the arm before dashing off to deal with the tills. Nikki was touched by Cassie's own way of showing solidarity, in fact she was touched by everyone's show of solidarity. It was just a shame they couldn't all be in the room with her.
"Ok Nikki." Karen put the phone down, "They're ready for you."
"Let's go Nik."
"Von?"
"I'm the bloody personnel manager you're a member of personnel I think I should be there." Nikki nodded and began to walk towards the rear of the store. Karen glanced around as everyone drifted off back to work and grabbed the edge of Yvonne's sleeve.
"What are you doing?"
"I'll be damned if I'm going to let Nik face that lot on her own, I should be there." Karen's fingers remained firmly attached to Yvonne's clothing,
"Have you been asked to attend?"
"You know I haven't."
"Then don't rock the boat."
"Karen stop worrying, I'll keep my mouth shut I promise."
"I can't help worrying about you." Yvonne clasped her hand around Karen's detaching her fingers.
"I know darlin' and it's appreciated, but I need to do this." Yvonne ran her thumb across Karen's knuckles and smiled before dashing off to catch up with Nikki. Karen watched her disappear, there was no way Yvonne would remain silent in that room it wasn't in her nature to be a shrinking violet. Then again maybe she'd surprise her, she'd done that already this week.
"Nikki take a seat." Neil Grayling extended a hand and a warm smile, "and Yvonne?"
"I have a few spare moments and I think as the personnel manager I should be here. Is that a problem?" Yvonne pointedly stared at Frances daring her to counter her, it looked as though Frances was about to say something before Neil jumped in.
"Of course not Yvonne, you are right of course you should be here, just unfortunate you were unavailable yesterday."
"Mmm unfortunate." Yvonne mumbled under her breath again directing a look at Frances who was busily flicking pages in her folder.
"Well we're just waiting for Jim, he's had to take an important phone call," Neil smiled again at Nikki, "All this is a mere formality Nikki we just need to run through the details again, but with the appropriate management present. Have you got anything you'd like to say or ask before we get started?" Nikki looked at Frances who returned her gaze unflinchingly,
"No Neil. I'd just like to get this sorted as quickly as possible to be honest."
"Quite, ah Jim, problems?" Jim closed the door behind him and sat next to Neil.
"No, Yvonne didn't expect to see you here." Jim would have liked to keep as many of Nikki's allies out of the room as possible, it was bad enough that Frances seemed to have a soft spot for her.
"Well luckily I managed to clear a space in my schedule."
"Yes very lucky." Neil coughed and looked from Yvonne to Jim, there was a ridiculous amount of tension between the managers in the room, the atmosphere was leaden with it. Something would have to be done, but before that they had to get this investigation completed.
Helen was over an hour early for her shift but there was no way she was going to miss Nikki.
"Helen?"
"Selena, any news?" Selena shook her head,
"They have been in the office for about half an hour now, so they probably won't be much longer. You look nervous!"
"I feel nervous."
"Don't be it's Nik, she always comes up smelling of roses." On cue Helen noticed Nikki at the top of one of the aisles, Nikki noticed Helen and from one end of the store to the other their eyes remained locked on each other. Nikki grinned and motioned towards the clock on the wall,
"If memory serves, you're about an hour early for your shift Stewart!"
"You know exactly why I'm here, so?" Nikki shrugged nonchalantly. Selena could tell that Nikki was in no mood to share details, she settled for rubbing Nikki on the arm.
"I'll call you later Nik, ok?" Nikki nodded thankful that Selena knew her so well, and knew to let her be. She watched Selena move among the tills and the cahiers, giving instructions and juggling innumerable tasks at the same time. Part of her was thrilled to watch her supervisor cope in what was undoubtedly a stressful situation, she'd known when Selena had started that she would be a success. There was a part of her that wasn't sure if she liked to see her department ticking along seemingly not missing her at all. Helen shifted awkwardly, she'd come in early to see Nikki and lend her support, now she felt silly, she was at work an hour early and standing here with someone who didn't want to talk. Nikki whipped around and looked at Helen as if she'd just remembered that she was there.
"So you've got a free hour or so then?"
"Mmm, maybe I'll start early, it's busy enough."
"No chance, come on, come with me."
"I thought you didn't want to talk to anybody?" Nikki smiled and took Helen's hand, she leant down to whisper in Helen's ear.
"You're not just anybody though are you?" Helen returned the smile with a warm one of her own and gripped Nikki's hand tightly as she was dragged out of the store.
Frances stood grim faced with her arms folded in front of the cctv camera monitors, Nikki and Helen had left hand in hand, the image was now imprinted in her mind. She gritted her teeth and swallowed hard to remove the knot which had formed in her throat. Staff on the shop floor looked up curiously as Frances stormed through the store, her dangerously sharp heels clicked loudly and her eyes were like chips of granite. Someone had clearly pissed her off and everyone was hoping that they wouldn't be on the end of a tongue lashing. She rounded a corner at breakneck speed and collided into Colin Hedges.
"Bloody hell Colin! Watch where you're going!"
"I could say the same to you. I don't know who has annoyed you today but don't take it out on me ok?" Colin turned back to the shelves of whisky, and continued his stock count.
"Colin."
"No Frances you're my area manager and that's it, I'm good at my job and I'd like to get on with it please." Frances turned to go but not before delivering her parting shot,
"Board room, 20 minutes Mr Hedges."
"For?"
"Performance assessment."
Frances fished a small mirror out of her bag and checked her make-up, a fresh slick of lipstick was all that was needed. She ran her fingers through her dark hair and waited. Colin tapped sharply on the door,
"Yes. Ah Colin come in sit down." Colin came in and sat down, Frances moved to the door deftly locked it and pulled down the small blind. Colin cleared his throat,
"Look if I was rude I apologise but we're all a bit stressed at the moment." Frances nodded and walked over sitting on the desk in front of him. Colin swallowed hard and tried to keep his eyes on Frances' face rather than her legs of which he could see rather a lot of courtesy of her skirt riding up as she sat.
"Apology accepted Mr Hedges, now about your performance," Frances leant down and ran her nail down the front of Colin's shirt, "I need to think of a way to assess you." Frances watched Colin's expression it was a mixture of confusion and lust, just where she wanted him.
"Well I thought, that is I think, er, that…"
"Shh." Frances put her finger on Colin's lips, "I don't think any talking is necessary in this assessment, do you?" Colin shook his head a smile began to spread across his face as realisation dawned, Frances was the most attractive woman to come on to him for a long time, and undoubtedly the most confusing. Would the next moments jeopardise his career, Colin really didn't care her perfume was clouding his mind and he watched as Frances slowly unbuttoned her shirt revealing a lacy cream bra. Colin stood his palms on Frances' thighs; he bent his head capturing Frances' mouth with his own. As their tongues twisted together Frances pushed images of Nikki out of her head, she was out enjoying herself with Helen it was clear to Frances even if not to Nikki that Nikki's feelings for Helen were growing every day. There was no way she was going to sit meekly at home waiting for Nikki to come home one day and say I've met someone else. Frances needed to be wanted now. Colin bent Frances back over the desk, his mouth moving to her neck, his hands moved further up her thighs his fingertips now touching the lace edges of her underwear. She wouldn't be doing this if Nikki hadn't behaved in the way she had with Helen, Frances reasoned, she closed her eyes and let the feelings course through her. She'd deal with the guilt later, if she felt any.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
"Swap one?" Helen proffered her packet of sandwiches.
"You must be joking!" Nikki was munching her way through a triple layered BLT and the thought of Helen's ham and watercress option wasn't very tempting. "If you want to eat rabbit food that's your call, I'm a growing girl!" Helen shrugged,
"You don't know what you're missing."
"I think I'll survive." Nikki picked up her bottle of water and took a deep swig, she cast her eye over the park. It was packed, the continuing good weather enough to encourage reluctant parents that the park was a better option than Homebase for their children whilst on holiday. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that Helen was looking at her, infact checking her out if that was possible. Nikki had removed her shirt after leaving the store and was now in a vest top, it revealed her toned arms and flat stomach. She turned her head quickly towards Helen who hastily raised her eyes to meet Nikki's.
"How do you stay so slim?" Nicely recovered Stewart, thought Nikki.
"I'm one of those annoying people who have a fast metabolism, I can pretty much eat what I want. Exercise as well, now and again. Running about on that front end tends to keep me fit!" Helen looked at her watch,
"We should start walking back, I don't want to be late."
"You're having lunch with the boss though!"
"True, but I don't think Selena would be that impressed." Helen took Nikki's hand and pulled her off the bench for a moment she considered holding on to Nikki's hand as they walked but her nerves failed her and she dropped Nikki's hand as soon as Nikki had straightened herself. "If you're going to tell me what happened you need to tell me now really." Nikki nodded,
"I know. There's not much to say really, Neil and Frances both believe me it's Fenner that's the problem."
"Oh?"
"Well clearly there's something going on with him and Shell, I'm not saying conspiracy or anything but he's always wanted me out, this accusation gives him that chance. He ummed and ahhed pretending to be a store manager worried about a cashier, insinuated I'd made a suggestion that I fancied Shell and made her uncomfortable. All crap obviously."
"What now then?"
"Well I honestly do think it will all be ok, my reputation and record are such that I'll be believed. Shell doesn't have the best standing in that store."
"And Frances?" For the first time Nikki faltered and her steps slowed momentarily.
"She didn't say much really, I don't know what to do Helen."
"About what?"
"Do you think I should tell Grayling? I mean he gave me a chance to make a comment but I couldn't not with her sitting there. There's every chance this will be sorted without anyone having to find out about us."
"So?"
"But what if I am cleared and then people find out, it will look like a cover up, but…..
"But if you don't tell people, will anyone you work with ever know who your girlfriend is?"
"Exactly." Nikki looked to Helen pleased she was on the same wavelength and that she wasn't going to have to articulate everything that was swimming around in her mind.
"I don't know Nikki, I wish I had an answer for you. All I'll say is you wear your heart on your sleeve it's your best quality. I think it's desperately unfair that you have to hide your feelings and it's beginning to eat you up." They had reached the car park of Supersavers and were stood by Nikki's car, Nikki unlocked it and opened the drivers door leaning on it as she considered Helen's words.
"You're right, as usual Stewart!"
"Don't say that! It's just," Helen pondered her next words, "I want you to be happy."
"Thank you. I'd better go Helen. See you soon."
"This weekend, any plans?" Helen enquired, it was her birthday the first one without Cerys she didn't think she'd be in any mood to celebrate but seeing Nikki would be nice.
"Might be a bit tied up this weekend, not sure yet, see you soon Helen, thanks." Helen watched Nikki's car leave the car park, she was sure that if Nikki was her girlfriend not a birthday would go by without an elaborate surprise Nikki was that kind of person.
"Helen! Great you're here, till number 4 when you've swiped in, ok?"
"No problem Selena just give me a minute." Helen dashed up through the store rummaging in her bag for her card, Selena looked very much at home as the front end controller. She wasn't fazed by queues or irate customers. She was as comfortable talking to a young cashier as she was senior management and she was well liked by everyone. Helen finally located her swipe card and ran it through the machine quickly, too quickly as it bleeped angrily and the light flashed red indicating that it hadn't been recognised.
"Shit." Helen dropped her bag to the floor which promptly spilt all her possessions and swiped her card again, this time the machine accepted it the light flashing green. "Bloody thing." Helen grumbled under her breath as she sank to her knees picking her belongings up off the floor. As she was on her knees she heard the unmistakable sound of the training room lock turning, ever curious Helen turned her eyes towards the door just down the corridor from her to see who was about to come out of the locked room. Colin Hedges appeared, he looked furtively to his left and then right seeing Helen on the floor he smiled quickly and cleared his throat nervously rushing past her to the warehouse. Helen watched his retreating form noting the fact that his shirt was hanging out at the back. Strange, why was he looking so guilty? Helen picked up the final things off the floor and then turned to go into the locker room. The training room door opened again and Helen could not resist lingering slightly in order to see who had been in the locked room with Colin. Frances appeared, jacketless, but as usual looking impeccable. Her cheeks however were sporting an unmistakable flush and she seemed ever so slightly flustered, very unlike Frances Myers. Realisation hit Helen hard, how dare she! How dare she treat Nikki like that. Frances noticed Helen, bitterness rapidly accumulated in her throat.
"Helen."
"Frances." Frances walked slowly toward Helen, she placed a hand on Helen's shoulder preventing her from walking into the locker room.
"How is Nikki?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"You left with her didn't you? You seem rather close to Nikki I thought maybe you'd gone for lunch?"
"We did yes and she seemed ok, perhaps you should call her and speak to her yourself if you get time between interviews." Helen pulled her shoulder away and marched into the locker room letting the door swing back towards Frances. She could get into real trouble for speaking to the area manager like that but she didn't care she was infuriated. Why would she do that! Helen knew that she wasn't jumping to conclusions, she wasn't a writer for no reason, her powers of observation and deduction were second to none. Putting together Colin's dishevelled appearance and his guilty expression with Frances' flushed complexion, coming out of a locked room, it really didn't take Sherlock Holmes to work out what had been going on. Nikki should be enough, she would be more than enough for Helen, she was already almost everything to her.
Frances stood her nose almost touching the recently closed door, she should demand an apology for that. Helen should not be speaking to senior management in that way, it was no more than she deserved though. She ran a hand through her dark hair and found herself walking towards the canteen. She picked up a plastic cup and waited as it filled with water from the filter, she drank it all and then promptly filled the cup again. How could she have been so bloody reckless, she slumped at one of the tables in the thankfully empty room. She winced as she sat her body still tender from Colin's very masculine touch, nothing like Nikki's. The two Julies bustled into the room, one had a bucket, one had a mop Frances didn't know which was which.
"Oh hello Frances love." The shorter one smiled, "get you something can we? Got some nice pastries left 'aint we Jue?"
"Yeah Jue, nice Danish ones."
"No thank you."
"Tea?"
"Coffee?" Frances sighed, they were well meaning,
"Ok, strong black coffee please. Make it an Irish one if you can." Frances smiled wanly. The Julies nodded in unison and the taller of the two began bustling about in the kitchen.
"Bad day love?" Frances hadn't realised that Julie S had quietly sat at the end of the table, she was now looking at her with a face of true concern.
"Every day is a bad day at the moment, and I've just made it so much worse." Frances wrapped her long fingers around the warm mug that had appeared in front of her, Julie J sat next to Julie S,
"Must be 'ard you being a manager and all."
"If only that was all! Have you ever done anything you knew you shouldn't I mean something you really knew was wrong but you did it anyway?" Frances was looking from one to the other, the question hadn't been addressed to either woman in particular and as a result they both considered her comment. Julie S grinned,
"I have love, loads of times now I've got my David! Sometimes even though you do something you think you shouldn't it works out for the best."
"Even if people get hurt?" Julie J nodded vigorously,
"People always get hurt darlin' all you can do is try your best. We all heal though, and pick ourselves up eventually."
"You've been hurt then?"
"Her bastard of an 'usband, cheated and schemed, but you're alright 'aint you Jue?"
"Yeah Jue, I'm alright." Julie J stood abruptly and picked up her mop, there was a sadness behind her eyes that betrayed her words and Frances suddenly felt ill. She was the one cheating and scheming.
"I'm stopping you ladies from working, I'll leave you to it." Frances finished her coffee and left the room with a quick glance at the two ladies, Julie S had her arm wrapped protectively around Julie J, it must be nice to have someone looking out for you like that.
Selena watched Helen from her position on the supervisor desk. She was perfect for the job, Selena could tell that she was in a very bad mood but she hid it cleverly from customers. She smiled, chatted and twinkled her way though the queues, in the pauses though a darkness descended across her face. Selena looked about and assessed her front end. Helen really didn't need to be on a till anymore and Selena could do with getting her off then she wouldn't have to deal with supervising and customer service at the same time. She put a closed sign at the end of Helen's till.
"Come on mate, what's up?" Selena led Helen over to the desk.
"Nothing!" Helen tried and failed to grin broadly producing something a gargoyle would have been proud of.
"Yuk! Well now I know something's wrong because that face you just made was truly disgusting! Look I know we don't know each other that well, but I just wanted you to know that you can talk to me if you need to."
"Thanks Selena, I saw something today I wish I hadn't and now I don't know what to do."
"Ah to tell or not to tell, one of those is it?" Helen nodded miserably,
"Either way I think I'll upset someone."
"Catch 22, it depends on the person Helen. Some people will thank you for trying to protect them, others would want to know whether or not it's painful and would do the same for you. Look someone at the desk you stay here and collect your thoughts and I'll deal with it, ok?" Selena squeezed Helen's arm, she didn't like to see the sensitive scot troubled, especially with her birthday coming up. A carefully constructed network of texts and furtive phone calls along with some truly creative work with the rotas meant that Nikki and Selena had managed to arrange for most people to be at Helen's surprise party. Selena hoped that Helen had dealt with whatever was bothering her by then, she personally couldn't wait, getting better acquainted with Helen's lovely brother was top of her list.