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He smiled. If he was about to make some comment about how that hadn’t been so difficult to agree to, then she was going to throw him out of her office.
‘I want him for more than a couple of weeks. I reckon it’ll take him a little while to earn enough to pay you, and he’s going to have to do all the boring jobs that no one else wants. When he’s earned it, he’ll get the chance to choose something that interests him. I’ll be reviewing things with him every month, and if he decides on a study path then we’ll support him in that. If he wants to look for employment then he’ll get the experience he needs, and I’ll write him a great reference.’
‘This is too much, Alex.’ Marie couldn’t think of a reason why it was too much, just knew that it was.
‘That’s what I’m offering. Take it or leave it, Marie. But know this—I’ll think less of you if you turn down an opportunity for Zack just because of your own pride.’
She felt herself redden. Alex had just stripped her of all her excuses, and the loss of that armour made her want to shiver. If it had been anyone else she wouldn’t have been able to countenance it.
‘I’ll take it. Thank you, Alex.’
‘It’s my pleasure. Is tomorrow too early for an interview? Or do you need a bit more time to convince your mother and Zack?’
‘Tomorrow’s great.’ Marie frowned. ‘He won’t be wearing a suit, though...’
Alex chuckled. ‘Good—neither will I. Will nine o’clock suit him?’
‘He’ll be there.’
‘Right, then.’ Alex looked at his watch. ‘It’s nearly five o’clock now and I guess you’ll be needing to go.’
It would have been nice to stay a little longer. Zack was difficult to contend with at the moment, and Marie wanted Alex’s company. She loved the give and take that had developed between them, which made her feel that it was possible to step into new territory.
But she did need to speak to her mother, and to Zack. If he was going to make the best of this opportunity she needed to prepare him, convince him that this was an opportunity and not a punishment.
‘Yes, thanks. I’ll...um...see you tomorrow, then. With Zack.’
‘You will.’ He got to his feet, a satisfied smile on his face. ‘You’re doing the right thing, Marie.’
‘Yes, I know...’
She wanted to hug him again. For caring and for being the tower of strength that had given her a way to really help her brother. Alex had been a true friend.
‘You were right. Thank you.’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘I think we’ll never mention that again.’
Alex’s dry humour always made her laugh. ‘Yes, okay. It’ll be our secret.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
MARIE HAD DONE her part. She’d convinced her mother that this was exactly what Zack needed, and then the two of them had hauled him out of his room and given him little choice but to accept the plan. Zack, as always, had been accommodating and cheerful at the prospect of working for his keep and paying back the money he’d taken. Whether he would stick with it for more than a week would be the real test.
She’d called round to her mother’s house at seven-thirty the next morning and found Zack sorting through shirts, throwing them onto the bed. Marie gathered them up, putting them back onto their hangers.
‘Mum’s ironed all these.’
Sometimes she felt like a broken record, nagging Zack about everything. Like the grumpy big sister who squeezed all the joy out of his life.
‘Sorry, sis.’ Zack gave her a winning smile. ‘I just want to make a good impression. I don’t want to let you down.’
‘I’m not your problem.’ Zack knew she loved him, even though he did make her want to scream at times. ‘This is about not letting yourself down.’
‘Okay...’ Zack frowned at the line of shirts that Marie had put back into the wardrobe and then whipped out a checked shirt with a plain tie that matched one of the colours. ‘What about this?’
‘Perfect. My handsome little brother.’
‘I don’t want to look handsome. I want to look...contrite. Hard-working. That kind of thing.’ He pulled a face that indicated deep sorrow.
