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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ROULALAYONher stomach and thought she had never wanted to call in sick so much in her life.
She was bitter with regret at telling Galen, and raw with shame. And, yes, she’d read all those self-help books, and, no, it wasn’t her fault.
Her very soul felt tainted, though.
She closed her eyes when she thought of some of the more intimate details she’d shared.
Oh, she did not want to face Galen and witness the awkward dart of his eyes.
But then she remembered that, as of now, Galen would be boarding a flight and soon winging his way to Rome.
It was a relief, and yet not... In six short weeks she’d become accustomed to having Galen in her days, and after Friday she would not.
And so she climbed out of the lovely bed—second only to Galen’s—and went into the bathroom. Through sheer will power alone she refused to cave in to the nausea.
Roula dressed in one of her new dresses—a linen dress chosen by Leo, in a gorgeous burnt orange—chose flat shoes today, and arrived just before eight.
‘Good luck,’ Dora said as she walked past. ‘It’s Monday.’
‘He’s here?’ Roula was startled. ‘But I thought he was in Rome.’
‘Clearly,’ said Galen. ‘Given how late you are.’
‘No.’ Roula shook her head, blushing as she turned to face him. ‘Actually, I’m five minutes early.’
‘Oh, so we’re on contract time now, are we?’ he snapped.
God, he didn’t even look at her—just turned on his heel and walked off. And for the hundredth time she regretted baring her soul.
‘Don’t take it personally,’ Dora said, just as she had the first day.
However, itwaspersonal this time. Roula was sure.
Not that she would let it show.
So she held her palms skywards as he stalked off and turned to Dora. ‘What does “on contract time” even mean?’
‘Don’t worry—he told me off too.’ Dora was affronted. ‘I was just checking my horoscope before I started, and he saw and said, “Are you ever going to do some actual work?”’
‘That was mean of him,’ Roula said.
‘I told him this place would fall apart without me,’ Dora grumbled. ‘Well, I didn’t actually say that...’
Roula was trying not to smile. Galen actually had the patience of a saint where Dora was concerned. In fact, he’d created an entire job around her lack of commitment!
‘It’s hisyaya...’ Dora whispered.
‘What?’ Roula stepped in. ‘Was she taken ill?’
‘No...’ Dora motioned for her to close the door. ‘Apparently there was a meeting. I just heard him on the phone to Galilee, asking about a bed.’
Roula swallowed. Galilee was a palliative care home.
‘I think he’s actually going to keep her where she is, but you know Galen—there’ll be a thousand second opinions before he makes up his mind.’ Dora looked up then. ‘Were you there?’
‘Not at the meeting.’ Roula shook her head. ‘I was just dropping off some soup.’
