Follow My Lead Episode 25
Lydia yawned and stretched, squinting as she opened her eyes to see sunshine slanting between the curtains.
What time was it? She picked up her phone from the bedside table and peered at the screen.
“Quarter to ten!”
Instantly wide awake, she sprang out of bed and headed for the shower.
She was still towelling her hair dry as she glanced into the living-room on her way back to her room.
The sight of Danielle sitting at the table made her pause. Shouldn’t she be at work at this hour?
The table was a sea of paperwork. Danielle’s head was propped on her hand, and there was something in the angle of it that spoke of dejection.
Lydia tightened the sash on her dressing-gown and went to stand behind her.
“Morning, lovely,” she said softly. “Busy?”
“Morning!” Danielle made an effort at a bright smile.
She swept a hand dismissively over the paperwork.
“Just balancing the books,” she said, tapping her pencil on the calculator. “Or trying to, at least.”
She tugged at Lydia’s hand.
“Never mind all this. Tell me about your trip.”
Lydia stifled a yawn and grinned.
“Sorry. Can I grab a cup of coffee first?”
She was only away as long as it took to boil the kettle.
Danielle grinned at her.
“Late night?”
“Not as late as you might think.” Lydia sat down at the table. “In fact, I was home before you.”
She took a sip of coffee.
“Where were you? Out with friends?”
A rosy blush coloured her goddaughter’s cheeks.
“Actually I was out with Stu. For dinner.”
“A date?” Lydia squealed, but Danielle looked uncertain.
“I’m not sure.”
“I see. Tell me about it.”
Danielle recounted the tale of how the date had come about and expressed her uncertainty about how it had ended.
Lydia thought about it for a moment.
“It could have been a date. Could be that Stu was simply treading lightly so as not to scare you off. You know, given your history and all.”
Or, she thought, he was resigned to being just good friends, though that wouldn’t be what Danielle wanted to hear.
In any case, Lydia’s gut feeling was that he was simply trying to play it cool.
“If I had to put money on it, I’d guess he’ll be in touch on some pretext within the next two days and ask you out again.”
Her words seemed to do the trick. Danielle looked pleased and relieved, until her gaze grazed the calculator again, when a frown creased her brow.
It was the opening Lydia had been waiting for.
“Trouble?” she asked.
It poured out of Danielle like a dam bursting: the rival dog-walking service, the recent mishaps, the cancellations cropping up amidst her own clients . . .
“I could lose everything I’ve worked for,” she finished, “unless I do something, and soon.”
“Like what? Sit cats instead?”
That made them laugh.
“Maybe I should branch out into grooming,” Danielle suggested.
Catching sight of the clock, Lydia stood up.
“We’ll talk about this more later, but right now I’m going to be late for yoga with Cyrus.”
Even so, she paused.
“I know I’m a do-er, but I’m also a fatalist, and I believe what will be, will be. Which I realise is neither practical nor helpful.”
She stooped to give Danielle a quick hug.
“Let’s keep thinking about a solution, but I’ve a feeling it’ll sort itself out. I’d better get dressed.”
“But you haven’t told me about your date yet,” Danielle protested.
“Or, should I say, your date that maybe was, maybe wasn’t. Honestly, we are a pair, aren’t we?”
Lydia sat down again and rested her chin on her hand, thinking over the previous day and evening.
“I had a lovely time,” she mused. “Basil and I always were good friends. But he had just been made redundant. He was told right before he met me. He was in shock.”
She had never seen him so unsure and vulnerable. He’d desperately needed her sympathetic ear, all of which had made it hard to treat it as a date.
“Romance was the last thing on our minds,” she said, sighing.
She thought back to the evening.
“He reminded me of me, when I phoned you in a panic and dumped myself on you,” she mused. “It really knocks you for six.”
She toyed with a pencil lying on the table.
“I still feel adrift, but I’ve been thinking about the hall,” Lydia continued. “I know it’s not a paid post, but do you think I’d be any use as a manager in the short term?
“That would give me something to do for the time being, at least.”
Danielle’s eyes lit up.
“Stu and I have been hoping you’d offer!”
“That’s settled, then.” Lydia grinned. “You and Stu can talk me through what’s needed.
“It’s a good excuse for you to phone him,” she added with a wink of mischief.
She was aware of Danielle looking thoughtfully at her.
“I know you said short term, but are you thinking of sticking around for a while?”
Lydia had stood up, but she sat down again.
“Honestly? I really don’t know.” She reached out her hand. “But is it all right if I stay here while I figure it out?”
Danielle’s smile was reassuringly immediate.
“Of course!”
“Then I want to start paying my way.”
Again Danielle’s reaction was instant.
“I don’t expect you to pay rent! I love having you.”
“That’s lovely of you, but I won’t hear any arguments,” Lydia retorted.
“I was given a generous redundancy package, and it isn’t right that I’m not paying my fair share.
“I have my pride, you know,” she added, joking yet serious at the same time.
She jumped to her feet.
“Right, it’s yoga time.”