Chapter 8: After Six

On Thursday the whole team went to dinner to celebrate the signed order.

I limped in on a wrapped ankle and flat shoes, and Maud screamed with joy.

"She lives! Sit! Eat!"

She pushed me into the seat beside hers, across from the head of the table.

Ivo took that seat last.

He nodded at the team, and then at my ankle.

"Better?"

"Better."

"Good."

That was all. Twelve people were watching, and he gave me exactly the same look he gave the bread basket.

I was not sure whether I was relieved or insulted.

Maud poured me a glass of wine. "Okay, new girl. Toast. What are you celebrating?"

"The kayak order."

"Boring. Try again."

I thought of the red shoes, and the sidewalk, and the velvet box.

"A lake," I said.

"A lake! Yes!" She raised her glass. "To lakes, and to women who leave men in the middle of an office!"

I choked on my wine.

"What?" I said. "How do you know that?"

"The woman at the next desk in Newford is my cousin's roommate. I know everything." She grinned. "Stand up. You were magnificent."

The table cheered.

I felt my face go red, and I laughed, and for the first time in a week it didn't hurt.

Across from me, Ivo set down his fork.

He was not laughing.

He was looking at me with an expression I could not read, and it lasted until the waiter brought the main course.

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