Dim, but how was I to know? I was just trying to keep things light. Anyway, I wouldn’t worry. From the way he looks at you, he won’t be too concerned about your computer skills.”
Dimity made a frustrated gesture.
“I ran away like a frightened rabbit when I found out who he was. I should have followed my instincts and kept running.”
“I think you are following your instincts, angel.” Sandra patted her arm soothingly.
“Don’t be an idiot. This is professional, not personal. You know I need this job, Sandy, but after all the inefficiencies he’s seen from me, not to mention what you just told him, do you think he’d want me working for his organisation?”
“Right now I imagine he’s more concerned about getting his coffee.”
“Damn! I forgot!” Dimity opened the door and scuttled into the kitchen, relieved to see a percolator of coffee purring away on the counter. Edging around Leigh, who was helping herself to wine, she found a mug in the cupboard.
“Now, you behave,” she whispered threateningly to the still snickering Sandra, heading towards the lounge room with the steaming mug. “I don’t want to be sacked before I start.”
****
Josh didn’t mind how long he waited for dinner. Basking in the comfort of the warm living room he felt more relaxed than he had for a long time. Dimity had seemed a little tense when she returned with the coffee but she soon loosened up, her cheerful banter with Sandra providing a welcome contrast to the corporate talk of the past few days.
He watched her head turn towards the kitchen at the sound of voices raised in argument.
“Just another normal night with the family,” she said, glancing at him apologetically.
Josh was amused.
“It’s a nice change for me.”
“Do you live alone?” queried Sandra, ignoring Dimity’s warning frown.
“Totally. Not even a goldfish. My family’s in Canada.”
“So that’s where you’re from?” Sandra sent an innocent sideways look at Dimity. “Dim said you’re with Global Homes.”
“That’s right. I was looking after the national marketing in Canada, then they asked me to take over the Pacific region. It seemed a good way to see – well, sunny Australia.” He nodded wryly towards the window where the sound of rain had resumed.
Dimity groaned.
“I keep forgetting I have to go out again.”
“Off to a party?” Josh’s tone was carefully casual.
“A party?” She looked as if the idea was totally alien to her. “No, I’m driving Shane to Shenanigans. The nightclub that man, Malcolm, mentioned. Shane works there when they need a part-time chef.”
Josh looked at the bruising around her eyes.
“Isn’t your car out of action?”
She nodded. “We’ll go in Shane’s car. He had an accident in Sydney and lost his licence,” she went on, pre-empting his next question. A shadow of anxiety crossed her face. “It’s caused a few dramas, but he’ll get it back soon.”
Josh hesitated, torn between minding his own business and the image of Dimity in the bus shelter like a half-drowned kitten.
“He can’t get a bus or a taxi?”
“Now there’s an idea!” exclaimed Sandra as if Josh had made a suggestion bordering on brilliant. “I know for a fact there’s a bus stop right outside Shenanigans.”
Dimity ignored her.
“A taxi would cost the earth and it’s a bit of a walk to the bus stop from here,” she said to Josh. “ Shane has an artificial foot. It’s hard for him to walk long distances.”
“And Madam Leigh, of course, can’t make the effort to help,” commented Sandra.
“I’ve told you, it’s easier this way.” From the look Dimity gave her, it seemed to be a sore point between them.
Easier for you or for Shane? Josh wanted to ask, but managed not to.
“I guess he’s not the baseball player, then?” he asked, trying to change the subject. “I noticed a bat back there.” He nodded towards the other part of the house.
“He used to play years ago, before
Dimity made a frustrated gesture.
“I ran away like a frightened rabbit when I found out who he was. I should have followed my instincts and kept running.”
“I think you are following your instincts, angel.” Sandra patted her arm soothingly.
“Don’t be an idiot. This is professional, not personal. You know I need this job, Sandy, but after all the inefficiencies he’s seen from me, not to mention what you just told him, do you think he’d want me working for his organisation?”
“Right now I imagine he’s more concerned about getting his coffee.”
“Damn! I forgot!” Dimity opened the door and scuttled into the kitchen, relieved to see a percolator of coffee purring away on the counter. Edging around Leigh, who was helping herself to wine, she found a mug in the cupboard.
“Now, you behave,” she whispered threateningly to the still snickering Sandra, heading towards the lounge room with the steaming mug. “I don’t want to be sacked before I start.”
****
Josh didn’t mind how long he waited for dinner. Basking in the comfort of the warm living room he felt more relaxed than he had for a long time. Dimity had seemed a little tense when she returned with the coffee but she soon loosened up, her cheerful banter with Sandra providing a welcome contrast to the corporate talk of the past few days.
He watched her head turn towards the kitchen at the sound of voices raised in argument.
“Just another normal night with the family,” she said, glancing at him apologetically.
Josh was amused.
“It’s a nice change for me.”
“Do you live alone?” queried Sandra, ignoring Dimity’s warning frown.
“Totally. Not even a goldfish. My family’s in Canada.”
“So that’s where you’re from?” Sandra sent an innocent sideways look at Dimity. “Dim said you’re with Global Homes.”
“That’s right. I was looking after the national marketing in Canada, then they asked me to take over the Pacific region. It seemed a good way to see – well, sunny Australia.” He nodded wryly towards the window where the sound of rain had resumed.
Dimity groaned.
“I keep forgetting I have to go out again.”
“Off to a party?” Josh’s tone was carefully casual.
“A party?” She looked as if the idea was totally alien to her. “No, I’m driving Shane to Shenanigans. The nightclub that man, Malcolm, mentioned. Shane works there when they need a part-time chef.”
Josh looked at the bruising around her eyes.
“Isn’t your car out of action?”
She nodded. “We’ll go in Shane’s car. He had an accident in Sydney and lost his licence,” she went on, pre-empting his next question. A shadow of anxiety crossed her face. “It’s caused a few dramas, but he’ll get it back soon.”
Josh hesitated, torn between minding his own business and the image of Dimity in the bus shelter like a half-drowned kitten.
“He can’t get a bus or a taxi?”
“Now there’s an idea!” exclaimed Sandra as if Josh had made a suggestion bordering on brilliant. “I know for a fact there’s a bus stop right outside Shenanigans.”
Dimity ignored her.
“A taxi would cost the earth and it’s a bit of a walk to the bus stop from here,” she said to Josh. “ Shane has an artificial foot. It’s hard for him to walk long distances.”
“And Madam Leigh, of course, can’t make the effort to help,” commented Sandra.
“I’ve told you, it’s easier this way.” From the look Dimity gave her, it seemed to be a sore point between them.
Easier for you or for Shane? Josh wanted to ask, but managed not to.
“I guess he’s not the baseball player, then?” he asked, trying to change the subject. “I noticed a bat back there.” He nodded towards the other part of the house.
“He used to play years ago, before
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