True Colours by Jeanne Whitmee Page A

might be?’
    ‘I didn’t get the chance to find out, did I?’ Katie said. ‘Maybe she’ll tell me at lunch.’
    In spite of what Katie had told Frances, the shop wasn’t busy at all and she knew that Imogene was worried. The turnover had dropped alarmingly since the beginning of the year. So much so that the newest girl Imogene had taken on as a junior had recently been let go. Plenty of people came in to look round but not so many were willing or able to fork out the prices Imogene charged any more. Katie had tentatively suggested stocking a cheaper range or that Fantaisie might start a hire service, mainly for hats and ball gowns, but the boutique’s owner had thrown up her hands in horror at the very idea.
    ‘Things aren’t that bad! I sincerely hope that Fantaisie will never be reduced to
that
,’ she said.
    Katie said nothing but she knew that if she was running the boutique she’d do anything to keep it afloat. She also sensed that some of Imogene’s friends, the ones she was so afraid of losing face with, were as hard up as she was and would welcome help with keeping up appearances.
    In her lunch hour Katie usually went to a little fast food café near the underground station. Tucked into a corner with her panini and coffee she took out her mobile and the card with Fran’s address and landline number on it and tapped it in. Fran answered almost at once.
    ‘Hi, Katie. Thanks for ringing back. I hope I didn’t cause any problems earlier.’
    ‘No, don’t worry. You mentioned making a trip to town for an outfit. When do you plan on coming?’
    ‘Well, next week actually. I thought I’d ring Sophie and see if she’s available to come too and the three of us could meet up – maybe have lunch?’
    ‘That sounds lovely. I get the afternoon free on Thursdays because normally I work all day Saturday. I was only able to come to the reunion because Imogene owed me some time off.’
    ‘That would be great. Next Thursday would be fine for me and as it’s the school holidays Sophie should be free too. I’ll ring her right away and get back to you. I’ve got your number on my phone now.’
    ‘OK. I’ll look forward to seeing you both.’
    Katie felt buoyed up as she walked back to work. She’d been hoping she’d see her two old school friends again and if Fran bought a nice outfit it would earn her a few brownie points with Imogene too.

    By closing time on Saturday Fantaisie had suffered its worst week ever. Katie found Imogene in the office, her shoulders slumped as she pored over the boutique’s accounts on her computer. In front of her on the desk was her calculator, a glass and a half empty bottle of wine. She looked up and hastily tried to adjust her expression as Katie looked in.
    ‘Oh, Katie! I thought you’d gone home.’
    ‘No, I was just putting the dust sheets on and having a tidy round.’ She took a tentative step forward. ‘You look tired. Shall I make you a coffee before I go?’
    Imogene removed her glasses and pulled back her shoulders. ‘I need something a bit stronger than coffee.’ She closed down the computer with a flourish and threw her calculator into a drawer.‘Sod this lot! Let’s go to the pub.’
    ‘Oh!’ Katie was taken aback. ‘Well, OK if you like.’
    ‘I do like, most definitely. I need to talk to you too, so get your coat.’
    It was a pleasant warm evening and The Feathers, the pub round the corner from Fantaisie, had tables outside among a profusion of flower-filled tubs and hanging baskets. Window boxes overflowed with begonias and geraniums and the air was heady with the scent of dianthus. Imogene chose a table near the door under one of the striped umbrellas and disappeared inside the pub to return a few minutes later carrying two double gins and bottles of tonic water on a tray. Katie was mystified. She’d been working with Imogene for three years but this was the first time she had ever showed any sign of cordiality, let alone invited her to share a