As I go to follow Rob out, Anders asks, “Cora, can you stay?”
I glance at my watch. I’m going to be late for Effie. But I nod and close the door quietly once Rob has left.
“Tea?” Anders prompts. It’s not a question for Ginny; it’s an instruction for me.
Although the workers have a communal kitchen and as much as Anders would like to practise what he preaches, if he uses it, he never gets any work done. He has his own mini-station in his office, where he can make as many caffeinated beverages as he desires. While Ginny sobs on Anders’s sofa, I make two cups, one for her, one for Anders.
He looks up as I place them on the table, eyebrow raised, and I shake my head once. We’ve worked together long enough that’s all it takes for him to understand I don’t want to be later than I have to be. He turns back to Ginny. He’s gentleness itself as he puts a hand on her arm and guides her to the tea.
The tissue Ginny is using to mop up her distress is close to total disintegration, so I busy myself with the practical task of retrieving a box from my desk and bringing it back to the sofa. Ginny has calmed enough to take a sip; her hands wrapped around the warm mug as if it is a lifeline.
“Oh, God,” she sighs. “I shouldn’t be here.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Anders counters, the tinge of his American accent making the words feel genuine.
She sniffs twice before she continues. “He actually said, ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ I mean, of course it’s me.I’mnot good enough for him.” She ends in a choked sob.
I sit beside her. I’ve been where she is. All these years later, I realise it was a good thing, but I did not understand that at the time. To have been shackled to Mike for years, watching him destroy Effie’s self-confidence would have been a far worse fate. But back then, I was devastated, much as Ginny is now. It’s a journey, and Ginny’s not ready to hear those words of wisdom yet. Although she does need to understand this is not her fault.
“Bollocks!” I say, quailing a little at using strong language in the presence of my boss, but something has to cut through to Ginny. “You’re beautiful and warm and kind.” I halt before I say, “And he’s not.” I can’t bad-mouth Piotr, especially with his employer sitting close by. Besides, Ginny will only defend him. After all, she loves him.
“But he’s perfect!” she wails. Clearly, not. Or he wouldn’t have dumped her at work.
“Nobody’s perfect,” says Anders. This is news to me. I strongly suspected Anders thought Anders was.
“One day you’ll be able to look at him and see that,” I add.
Ginny crumples with a groan, dropping her head down to her hands. “Oh, my God!” Her words come out muffled. “What am I going to do tomorrow morning? How can I look at him?”
I catch Anders’s eye over Ginny’s curled up body and give him a look that I think plainly says, “See. This is why you don’t date your boss.” But Anders merely smiles serenely back.
“Take tomorrow as compassionate leave,” he says to the messy head of red hair. “Cora will sort it for you.” It’s a kind gesture. Then, Ginny has the weekend before work on Monday. Hopefully, it will give her the time she needs to find some composure. Or, possibly, a new job.
Ginny sniffs her thanks.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Anders asks.
She shakes her head. Then, in a small voice, she says, “I just want to go home.”
“Get her a taxi,” Anders instructs. “Bill it to Cerium.”
I leave the room but keep the door ajar as I call a cab. When I return, Ginny is standing. “Can you get my stuff?” she asks.
I understand her reluctance. What if Piotr is still around, working late? I hurry to her desk, but no-one is in her section. Before anyone catches me, I grab her coat and bag and scurry back as fast as I can. Ginny’s already waiting by my desk, Anders by her side.
“Will you be okay tonight?” I ask as I help her with her coat.
“I’ll be fine,” she says, biting her lip.
I take her at her word, although I feel like a bad friend. If books and films are to be believed, I should cancel my arrangements, take tomorrow off and turn up at Ginny’s home tonight with a bottle of gin and a tub of ice cream. But I’m a single mother and Effie takes precedence. I can't play bestie to Ginny.
Dramatic as Ginny’s breakup is, it’s not at a crisis level where I’d want to burn through emergency favours. Those are reserved for things involving hospital stays and life or death situations. And every day of annual leave is precious, used to cover Effie’s school holidays. A day spent with Ginny is a day not spent with Effie. I harden my heart and keep my lips shut as I walk Ginny down to the entrance foyer.
The taxi is already waiting. I hug her and whisper, “Take care of yourself.” I want to say, “Call if you need anything.” But I can’t. Then she’s gone.
Upstairs, Anders is waiting. “I’m so sorry,” he says as I close down my computer and drop my notepad into my desk drawer, locking everything away.
I glance his way as I slip out of my court shoes and into the flats I wear to and from work. “It wasn’t your fault. No need to apologise.”
