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She watched as Beth stood up and went to top up her coffee.
“Leave some for Mom.”
But Beth’s head was back in the job she didn’t yet have and wasn’t being paid for. “The way I see it, my audience is divided broadly into two groups. Those women who have never worn makeup, and those who have worn it in the past but lapsed for some reason. Those lapsed users are going to be a key audience because they have greater potential. I have some great ideas, and I’m almost ready to present them to the team. And for that I need a reliable signal. I can’t have it cutting out the way it does when I’m talking to Melly and Ruby.”
“It’s pretty good from the top of the henhouse.” Posy eyed her sister’s boots. “Or you could stand on the far wall of the field Socks is in, but you might need to change your footwear.”
“You know what? Maybe I’ll do that.” Beth sipped her coffee. “Whatever it takes to get the job done, right? I’m going to prove to everyone I can do this. Corinna is going to be blown away.”
Posy thought to herself that if her sister stood on top of the henhouse to make her call she was likely to be the one blown away. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s great that you’ve been at home with the girls. Lucky them, I say. And lucky you, being able to do it.”
“I know, but before I had Melly, my career was equal to Jason’s. We were earning the same. And now he’s pulling ahead.”
“Is it a race? I assumed you were a team, rather than competition.”
“He’s doing better than me.”
“That depends on how you define ‘better.’ You’re a good mother.”
“Am I? How do you measure good performance in parenting? You don’t get a raise or a promotion. My girls aren’t exactly saintly.”
“But they feel loved and secure.” Posy flushed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Family is the most important thing in the world to you—we all know that. That, and the climbing, is the reason you’ve never left here and you never will. And I understand that, but I think I need more.”
Posy took a deep breath. “Actually, on that subject—”
“You don’t need to explain it or excuse it. We all want different things, and that’s okay. I understand the importance of family, too. You’re there for all those special moments. You’re there to catch them when they take their first steps, to listen when they say their first words—”
Posy gave up. Right now it was impossible to get her sister to listen to anything except the sound of her own voice.
“If being there is so important, why are you in such a hurry to go back to work?”
“I’m ready for something more. I’m feeling such an incredible buzz it’s almost a physical thing.”
“It is a physical thing. It’s called caffeine.” Posy removed the mug from her sister’s hand. “Enough.”
“It is so great to be working again.”
Working?
As far as Posy could see, all her sister had done so far was put on makeup and high heels and stalk around the house with a notepad, muttering to herself.
Were people programmed to want the life they weren’t living? Was it natural to question your choices?
Beth tilted her head and studied Posy. “Can I do your makeup?”
“Only if you can do it while I’m moving. I have a ton of things to do.”
“No problem. You’re on the go and too busy for makeup.” Beth grabbed her bag. “That is the USP of this range.”
“USP? What does that mean?” Posy put the milk back in the fridge. “Unbelievably Stupid and Pointless?”
“Unique selling point.” Beth pursed her lips. “You’re not taking this seriously, but I am not going to fight with you. Nothing can annoy me today.”
“It’s only seven o’clock. The day is young. If nothing is going to annoy you, then this is a good time for me to tell you you’re making supper. The ingredients are in the fridge.”
“I’m giving myself a break from cooking. I cook for the girls and Jason every night—”
