Page 75 of Last Christmas in London

‘No?’ I pondered, surprised she would ask. ‘Pim definitely won’t be joining us.’

The idea of Pim, the woman who lived in the Savoy, ate chef-cooked meals every evening and thought cocktails were acceptable as dessert choices, coming to eat burned turkey, sausage-meat stuffing, and bottled Buck’s Fizz in Kent was laughable.

‘I meant a young man.’

‘What?’ I grinned because usually the idea was laughable – and laughing was my go-to reaction whenever Denise or Bob mentioned my love life.

But maybe this year there was, or had been, a chance of bringing someone home.

Simon.

‘I’m not bringing anyone else,’ I said, with a tone of finality that I hoped Denise would catch.

She didn’t say anything right away. Just gave me that look – soft around the edges, like she was trying not to push too hard. But there was something behind it too. A quiet hope perhaps. Or just parental worry.

‘All right, love,’ she said eventually. ‘We always have room if there is anyone.’

‘She means the air bed, not your room,’ Bob shouted from the other room.

‘Bob!’ Denise and I both said, her sharply and me with embarrassment.

‘There’s no one,’ I said again.

‘Fine,’ Denise said, nodding into the camera as she folded the last of what looked like tablecloths and tea towels. She held my gaze for a moment longer than before, as if checking something beneath the words.

‘You know you don’t have to wait until things make sense before you talk to me,’ she added gently. ‘You never have. Even if it’s just to say you’re tired, or there’s something wrong and you don’t know why yet.’

My throat tightened at that, the way she offered it without fuss or expectation. I nodded, grateful and a little undone by how mothering it was.

‘I know,’ I said quietly. She nodded again but said nothing further as she picked up the pile of tea towels and pushed them off-screen.

‘How’s the last few weeks of the job going? Aside from the Michael Holland thing?’ she asked, changing the subject and her tone smoothly.

‘Oh, fine,’ I said, happy by the easy change of subject. ‘Busy, but there’s only a few more days and it will be done.’

‘Have you managed to find your replacement?’ Denise pressed, slight concern in her voice as she dropped the last of the folding and placed her hand on a hip to have a rest. She looked as if she’d earned it, still wearing a flush from over-exertion.

‘I think so. Her name’s Alison, she’s great, but I’m having a hard time finding an opportunity for her and Pim to meet.’

‘You’ll manage it, just bring her in when Pim least expects it.’

‘Like just before the show?’ I asked and Denise frowned.

‘Maybe not just then, she might not appreciate it at that moment, but the party after?’

‘I’m going to try and introduce them to each other tomorrow, I think. Pim’s got a lone afternoon tea so it seems like a good moment.’

Denise nodded supportively. ‘You know best. Trust your instincts and you’ll be fine. Not long until you can have a break and then start your new job.’

‘Well, funny you should say that,’ I muttered, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I felt a pressure headache building, when I remembered I had still not opened the email attachments from Elijah at Salient Studios.

‘They’ve sent you work, haven’t they?’ Bob stood next to Denise to chat.

‘How did you know?’ I asked, with a low attempt at laughter.

‘I don’t understand companies that do this, it’s a blatant disregard of your contract.’ Bob, a retired HR executive for an advertising agency, had strong opinions when it came to recruitment and team management. I could never tell him anything about my contract with Pim for fear he would travel across the world to collect me and bring me home. He was protective in that way. ‘You know you’re not obliged in any way to complete that work before your start date.’

‘I know,’ I said. ‘But it’s good form…’