《The Superb Lyre》
Chapter One
Valerie would love to have grabbed his neck and watch the life leave his body but when he started to hand out birthday cake, she decided there and then that she wanted to make his life the single most painful existence in human history. How would this happen, different issue entirely. In the meantime, she would have to hand out her cake too.
A simple Victoria Sponge. She wasn¡¯t going to give people her favourite cake. Valerie had made this mistake before. It just started more conversation than one would have liked to engage in. She would get an ¡°OH GOSH! I have never had a cake this good, you have to tell me where you got it from.¡± or a ¡°How do you spell the name of the shop again?¡± or maybe even a ¡°I know of this other one that has even better cakes, I¡¯ll send you an email.¡± That last one annoyed her the most. It¡¯s not like she wasn¡¯t complacent with what she had. Either way, a Victoria Sponge is a good deterrent cake it seemed. Some people were too nice to say it was a simple cake, the rest were simple enough to enjoy it. She was about to finish a smug, victory thought when she heard her name from across the room.
¡°Valerie! Happy birthday! Hope there are many more to come!¡± Gleamed Casper. His face was almost plastic. This would explain why she hasn¡¯t seen any other expression come from his visage.
¡°And you, Casper.¡± Valerie did the classic nod and smiled with her eyes. A skill that she didn¡¯t know she had until just then. She really didn¡¯t want to give him the satisfaction but yet again, Casper manages to bring out a side of her that she didn¡¯t know she had. Previously, he had tested her patience and she managed to pretend she was actively listening, having her nod when appropriate and going ¡°Oh?¡± or ¡°Is that right?¡±. If it¡¯s a particularly drawn out conversation, she brings out the ¡°Aaah, I see¡± followed by her resting her chin on her fist. It is astounding what could pass as a pillow when the story is boring enough.
¡°Any plans for the weekend?¡±
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¡°Nothing in particular, I¡¯ll visit the brother and we¡¯ll catch up.¡±
¡°Not having a night out with the girls or anything¡± he winked
Why the hell did he put emphasis on that and wink? Who still winks? She started to question if she could still wink when Casper interjected.
¡°You should join me and the wife. We¡¯ll be doing the local pub quiz. Grand prize of a grand¡± he gave the head half-cocked look, as if to see that that could win her over.
¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do Casper¡± she held her arms up ¡°No promises though¡± and then proceeded to chuckle. Casper also chuckled. They were chuckling at nothing in particular, but experience has taught her the sudden chuckling could move conversation forward. Almost making the entire conversation mute really.
¡°Well if you get the chance, come to this address.¡± He handed her a leaflet with the pub information on it. ¡°It¡¯ll be a blast!¡±
¡°Great!¡± she said as she sat back down at her desk. This was usually a sign that the conversation has now ended. Pleasantries would be exchanged now, she supposed. ¡°I¡¯ll see you then¡±
¡°Until then¡± he bowed as gracefully as one could with an entire cake in one arm. Which in Casper terms, it¡¯s more of an awkward curtsey. He spun on his heels and proceeded to have, what Valerie could only perceive as, an equally dull conversation. Then it dawned on her. His cake. She had wanted a slice.
In defeat, she dropped the folded leaflet onto her desk. She really needed an outlet. Gym can only take you so far if you have no interest in getting buff. Resting her cheekbones on each fist, something green flashed in her periphery. The leaflet she had placed had slowly unfolded.
Pottery classes, ¡ê15 a session
At the Community Centre on Park Street
7 o¡¯clock to 10 o¡¯clock
Finally. A tall, thin neck she could get her hands on. And legally no less.
Chapter Two
Every two weeks, it felt as though there was something she was forgetting. Something beginning with H. Hat? No, her collection was immaculate, and she¡¯d know if something was different. Home? Best not to even go there. Valerie avoided that subject like the plague. When she and...
¡°Hector¡± she groaned while pinching the bridge of her nose.
This wasn¡¯t great timing to remember such a thing. She had just ordered takeaway and gotten comfortable. She couldn¡¯t just drop everything she was doing for her brother. It wasn¡¯t like he was going anywhere of note. He moseyed about and watched television all day. And plus, reheating food always made it taste somewhat different. Never better. Except for that time, she had microwaved a frozen Cornish Pasty. It was an irreplicable accident that occurred from a tipsy lapse in judgment.
Valerie sighed. She was going to have to meet up with her brother.
The room was big with a scattering of seats in pairs and groups of four. Was there a word for a group of four? Surely there must be. We have a word for the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of our mouths. The thought was interrupted with a sarcastic laugh that bled into her mind. She turned to see Hector walking towards her. Arms cuffed, he¡¯s placed in front of Valerie.
¡°So, you look¡ somewhat decent¡± scoffed Hector
¡°You were thinner before, prison treating you well it seems¡± the corners of Valerie¡¯s mouth curled. ¡°What''s going on with you?¡±
¡°The usual. Fighting, going to the nurse¡¯s office then solitary confinement. In that order¡±
¡°HECTOR¡!¡± Valerie almost jumped from her seat. She got a few eyes from other people in the room. She took a slow breath through her nose. ¡°You can¡¯t just do that. You need to get out as soon as possible. I didn¡¯t come back to England for fun.
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Hector crossed his arms ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t see this nurse¡±
¡°Falling in love with another guy then?¡±
¡°A woman this time¡± he said looking all smug
¡°Behave or both of us will be out of an inheritance¡±
Smugness leaving his face ¡°Why would Dad do that though? We haven¡¯t spoken to each other in years and now we have to all be at his funeral for a share of his business. Have you found Cassandra?¡±
¡°Yeah. She¡¯s not too far away but she¡¯s settled down.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ not what I expected,¡± Hector''s eyebrow raised in confusion. ¡°She was the worst of us. What is she doing now?¡±
¡°Has a husband, kids and a bakery.¡± Valerie leaned back in her seat
Hector choked on his breath ¡°What!?¡±
Valerie just shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure her husband and kids don¡¯t even know we exist.¡±
¡°That¡¯s very ¡®Mum¡¯ of her.¡± He said solemnly
¡°She knew her the longest. Before she died.¡±
Hector stared daggers at her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to remind me¡±
¡°And with that, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Valerie said as she got up ¡°I¡¯ve got some curry waiting for me¡±
¡°Oh, I could kill for some curry¡± he smirked
Valerie stood tall above his seated position ¡°DON¡¯T go there¡± she pointed at him ¡°Don¡¯t even make jokes like that. You¡¯ll be out soon so stay-¡°
¡°Safe?¡± he feigned gratitude ¡°How precious of you, little sister¡±
¡°- out of trouble¡± she continued ¡°We¡¯re getting close to the reading of the will and you need to be there for it.¡±
A guard came to collect Hector ¡°As always, it¡¯s been nice chatting to you. These talks are always so brief. It¡¯s a shame you keep cutting them short.¡± He blows her a kiss ¡°Until next time, sister¡± The guard guided him away, but she could tell. She could tell he was smiling at that exchange. That annoyed her.
As she was leaving the building, she checked her phone. Quarter past six. Valerie wondered whether she should go. And then she realised she needed to do something that wasn¡¯t work and wasn¡¯t exasperating. She got into her car. Maybe pottery wasn¡¯t the most productive way to spend her time but everyone else had things to waste their time on. Partners, friends, family. It was time she had a thing. To pottery it was then.
Chapter Three
The Community Centre smelt like when it rains after a dry spell. She loved that smell. The signs said that the pottery classes would be on the top floor. Valerie pressed the button for the elevator when someone came up behind her. This man was shorter than her which was impressive in its own right.
¡°Going up then?¡± the man gleamed.
Valerie held in the comment that they were on the ground floor.
¡°Yep¡± she pursed her lips.
They stood there in the refreshing silence.
¡°Are you here for the Pottery Class?¡± he said expectantly
¡°My first time¡± Valerie responded, keeping her eyes forward. This elevator was taking its time.
¡°The name is Theodore¡± he extended a hand ¡°Lovely to meet you¡¡±
¡°Valerie¡± She shook his hand
¡°What a lovely name¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it just?¡± This was an abnormally long handshake, she noted. A sign of desperation maybe.
She¡¯d have to avoid him at all costs. People who give unusually long handshakes mean they¡¯re trying to prove something to you specifically. No one shakes someone else¡¯s hand for a long time and doesn¡¯t notice they¡¯re doing it.
The elevator doors parted. As did Valerie and Theodore¡¯s hands. The ride up four floors was pleasantly quiet. As the two walked out of the elevator, they followed the signs from one side of the building to another. It led to a slightly desolated corner of the community centre. The door opened, the two entered to see a smattering of people around the room. As she stood there, all quiet like, she heard the door close behind her.
¡°Sorry I¡¯m late. Shall we move on to working on last session''s project?¡± said Theodore. He had put on an apron and was hanging his jacket on a coat rack. ¡°Oops. And I almost forgot to introduce the new person.¡± He gestured to her. ¡°This is Valeria. Please make her feel welcome.¡±
In awe of this man''s pure to goodness idiocy, Valerie only in an absent minded way, introduced herself to the rest of the potters.
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One lesson, right? She could simply leave right after and never come back. There was already too much of this kind of person in her life.
With this in mind, she put her belongings in the available cubby holes. She took an apron and sat at a pottery wheel.
Theodore came over, as enthusiastic as before ¡°Comfortable, are we?¡± he chuckled
¡°Positively cosy¡± she retorted, though the hostility in her own voice surprised even herself.
¡°Well, you seem like you¡¯ll do great. Most people only take one lesson and never come back. I say those people are talentless and not worthy of this place.¡±
Valerie¡¯s plans changed as fast as it took for her to blink. This man was testing every fibre of her being. ¡®Talentless¡¯? Valerie could not let this man''s word come true. As much as it pained her to say this,
¡°I¡¯ll be here for a while, don¡¯t worry¡± she chuckled
Theodores arm patted her shoulder ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll personally see to it that you reach your utmost potential¡±
¡°Thank you so much¡± Valerie gleamed
Theodore walked to give a pep talk to someone who started on a project.
Valerie¡¯s own pettiness was her greatest enemy right now. She couldn¡¯t prove this man right. Especially not one that she couldn¡¯t tolerate.
A designated member of the class passed out some clay to those who needed. Valerie stared at the shapeless lump. It was now her responsibility to turn this into the best vase she could make.
Theodore clapped his hands. He got the attention of everyone in the small classroom.
¡°Last few weeks, we were working on your mugs and it was great¡± he cupped his hands together ¡°Fantastic, really! But now that we have finished the basics, we move onto¡¡± he grabbed something off a shelf ¡°Vases!¡±
Thank goodness, Valerie thought. She may not like Theodore but at least she¡¯s doing what she came here to do.
The teacher continued ¡°You¡¯ve been handed out the clay. Just get used to the amount. Work it for a while and we¡¯ll get into¡±
Valerie looked at her clay and at others. She realised that her amount was pitiful in comparison. She didn¡¯t want to do it, but she raised her hand as if she was in school again. This captured Theodores attention.
¡°You don¡¯t have to raise your hand¡± he chuckled ¡°We¡¯re not a primary school¡±
¡°It¡¯s just that I have a small amount. Unless you want me to make a small vase¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I want you to do in a manner of speaking¡± he gleamed ¡°A really wide and short one, that is.¡±
¡°A bowl?¡±
¡°It¡¯ll teach you what you need to do. The bowl is basic yet complicated. You¡¯ll have it in no time¡±
¡°Great¡± Valerie exasperated
¡°I¡¯ll come back to help you out, but I¡¯ll just give the others some tips before they start¡±
As Theodore was walking away, he spun on heel ¡°Oh, before I forget. Do you want to pay per class, or do you want to pay for a months¡¯ worth of classes up front?¡±
Chapter Four
After what Valerie could only call a disaster, she drove herself home. She passed the Indian shop she got her curry from. She became embittered.
¡°Why not?¡± She muttered to herself. She could do with something sweet.
The all too familiar ring of the bell above the door was heard by the woman at the counter. She had been preoccupied on her phone.
¡°Yeah.Yeah, I¡¯ll get the coriander from next door. Has Nicki done her homework? I¡¯ll help her out when I get home. Well, I¡¯ve got a customer waiting. Love you.¡±
She looked up to see the well dressed woman walking around the store on the monitor on the counter. She was picking up bags and packets, putting some in the basket she had also picked up. When she seemed to be content, she made her way to the counter.
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¡°Back so soon, Valerie?¡± Said the woman at the counter.
¡°Just picking up a few things, I need to relax after the day I¡¯ve had¡± she sighed.
The woman nodded as she put the prices into the till. ¡°Is that what the masala is for?¡±
¡°Masala?¡± Valerie asked.
¡°Masala just means spices, for the chai that you''re making.¡± the woman gestured to the bag she was packing. ¡°Fennel, anise, cinnamon?¡±
¡°Oh yeah, for the chai tea.¡±
¡°Just chai. Chai also just means tea.¡±
Valerie was genuinely intrigued by this.
¡°Anything else, can I have some jalebi too?¡± she pointed to the cabinet behind her. ¡°Five should do.¡±
The woman put five in a paper bag and placed that bag in the initial bag. Valerie paid the amount displayed on the till. Bag in hand, she goes to leave.
¡°Thank you Jaya. If I don''t see you in the next few days, Have a good Diwali.¡±
¡°Stay safe, Valerie.¡± Jaya waved.
Chapter Five
In many moments of weakness, Valerie had finished the bag of jalebi. She couldn¡¯t deny her sweet tooth after the day she¡¯d had. Upon arriving at her flat, she dropped her keys, phone, bag and masala on the kitchen table. She headed to the shower.
While in the shower, Valerie had time to contemplate. She had come back from a lavish lifestyle in Montreal only for things she wanted to avoid actually happening. What annoyed her the most was how little thought she had put into it. Almost an impulse. In order to leave and get back to it, she was going to have to stop tiptoeing around the idea of breaking it easy to her sister that they also needed to bring her back from her happy life.
Dried and refreshed, Valerie put a saucepan on the stove and poured water and milk in. She then sprinkled the star anise, the cloves and the cinnamon powder. While waiting for the tea to simmer, Valerie sat at the kitchen table going through her bag. After some searching she found what she was looking for. a battered looking business card with the words ¡°A slice of life - By Katie¡±.
¡°Cassandra, what are you up to then?¡± Valerie murmured.
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She got up, phone in hand and card in the other to go over to check the state of the chai. It was simmering pleasantly with a faint aroma of cloves and anise. Not as much cinnamon as she would have liked. Absent-mindedly, she sprinkles more cinnamon in. She added some black tea leaves into it also.
Doing a quick search online, she finds the bakeries social media. Scrolling down, she looked at the first picture taken on the account. It¡¯s a photo of Cassandra with a young child and her boyfriend. On clicking the tag next to him, she got sent to his account.
Private. However, she did get something. His full name. Peter Kowal¡ cyke? zick?
Valerie just wanted things to go as smoothly as possible. While straining the tea from the leaves and whole spices, she got a whiff of the chai. It warmed her entire body. Finally adding a bit of honey to sweeten the drink up.
Dropping down onto the sofa, she wondered. Just silently sat there. Left with her thoughts. She didn¡¯t want to be left alone with them again. She took a sip of the chai. Valerie just remembered her childhood when she was here. How awful she thought it was then and how much worse she knew it was now.
Something started to well up in her. This felt different. She felt warm inside. Not emotionally but then it spiked and she started to choke on her tea. A bout of coughing followed. Too much cinnamon.
Chapter Six
After the morning run, Valerie made her way to work. The mundane nature of working at a call centre hit her in waves every time she entered the building. In a way, she was grateful for the routine the new job gave her. As soon as she sat down at her desk, she went into autopilot. Taking calls, printing sheets, going to meetings.
A sharp ringing snapped Valerie out from her daze. It turned out to not just affect her. Everyone started murmuring.
¡°Everyone,¡± Julia the safety officer exclaimed, ¡°calm down and please head for the designated meeting point in the car park.¡± She pointed towards the fire exit.
Valerie did as she was told and calmly moved towards the exit. A small hand grasped her arm. Julia¡¯s concerned face looking up at her.
¡°Safety officers with me.¡± She said solemnly ¡°We need to make sure everyone is out.¡±
Taking a health and safety course in order to skip out on work had not gone as intended.
Putting on the hi-vis jacket, which woefully mismatched what she had put on today, she awaited further instruction.
¡°Andrew, take the second floor and Valerie take the third. I¡¯m sure all are out, can¡¯t be too sure¡±.
Valerie nodded and made her way up the staircase. She had always taken the lift up so it was her first time in the stairwell. Ever since she saw Casper crying in there. With anyone else, it would lead to awkward exchanges and not talking about it but Casper would use it as an excuse to bond in his grief, God forbid.
Checking the rooms, she saw no one in them. Recently vacated. She entered the women''s toilets. all the cubicles were empty. Men¡¯s toilets, same deal but an assault on the nose. Done with the third floor, she went to leave when she passed the disabled toilet. The lock said OCCUPIED. Never as simple as it could be.
Valerie used her thumbnail to unlock the door from the outside. What welcomed her was a elderly woman in the fetal position with headphones on. A plume of smoke exited the room at the same time. Wafting it away, Valerie stepped in to feel under her shoe what caused it. A mixture of cigarettes and blunts.
¡°Maggie?¡± she shook her a bit. She seemed to jump when Valerie touched her shoulder.
¡°Val-¡± Maggie¡¯s smoking seemed to catch up to her ¡°Valerie?¡±
¡°Hiya. I think your hotboxing caused the fire alarm to go off.¡± she picked up the teary eyed woman¡¯s headphones. ¡°Is that Stankonia?¡±
¡°You know your early 2000s albums. Andre 3000 always made me feel better.¡±
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Valerie was getting teary eyed herself, the smoke pierced her eyes like menthol. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here before you start listening to Coolio.¡±
One arm around her waist, she hoists the elderly woman up.
It was admittedly an awkward walk down the flight of stairs but Valerie did not mind it. It allowed her to figure a few things out along the way. She was sure she could use this as a way out of work for a few days.
They were about to leave through the emergency exit when Maggie dislodged herself from Valerie.
¡°What are they going to say when they find out it was me who caused it?¡± Maggie slid down against the wall.
¡°Well,¡± Valerie scratched her chin ¡°probably reprimanded, few weeks off no pay. Couldn¡¯t be more than that since this is probably the first time this has happened since you started. How long have you been here?¡±
¡°18 years.¡±
¡°Yeah, you should be fine. They¡¯ll probably make you do the health and safety course though. What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡± Valerie sat down on the flight of stairs in front of Maggie.
¡°I could be fired.¡±
¡°So? Get fired and you¡¯ll just get a job. Life is just a perpetual cycle of work and not work. Work somewhere else, make new friends. Forget this place.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been here for so long. Everyone here are my friends.¡±
¡°Then that¡¯s on you.¡± Valerie sprung back up ¡°If you are more attached to the place than you are to the people, you¡¯ve just gotten comfortable with the routine of coming here.¡±
Maggie didn¡¯t know what to make of this. She thought she¡¯d initiated pity mode. However, what Valerie said rang true to her. She propped herself up and took a deep breath.
¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t get complacent. I¡¯ll tell them I quit.¡±
¡°No, don¡¯t do that.¡± Valerie put her hand on her shoulder
¡°I know I could probably keep my job. But it¡¯s time for me to finally come out of my shell.¡±
¡°Come out as much as you want but if you¡¯re going to leave anyway, you might as well get fired.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Look you quit, that¡¯s it. However if you get fired, you get severance pay. Let¡¯s see how much that would be.¡±
Valerie took out a pen and started jotting down on a receipt. She started mumbling to herself. Maggie was only getting every third word.
¡°See,¡± Valerie almost shoved it in her face ¡°look at how much they¡¯d LITERALLY hand over to you if you got fired.¡±
Maggie put her face really close up to the piece of paper. She smiled a bit, ¡°A decent amount.¡±
¡°Now,¡± Valerie grabbed a box and gave it to her. ¡°Take these and pretend you have an attitude problem. They¡¯ll see you caused it.¡±
¡°Why do you have these? You don¡¯t smoke.¡±
¡°They¡¯re for my brother but I think he¡¯d want you to have them.¡±
¡°Valerie, I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, insulting their mums or something. That might work.¡± Valerie shrugged
¡°No, I mean why are you doing this.¡±
¡°It feels right. When I hear stories of people who get away with things when they shouldn¡¯t, I guess I wish I was a part of it. Life would be that little bit more interesting.¡±
¡°Okay, I¡¯m ready.¡± She had pulled a cigarette out and lit it up
¡°Now when you¡¯re out there, pop off. Be mean, be aggressive and if you need a little bit of material, just say that Casper¡¯s cake was as dry as camels'' arse.¡±
Chapter Seven
¡°So you gave a woman you¡¯ve talked to a handful of times my cigarettes?¡± Hector was giving all kinds of stink eye.
¡°No,¡± Valerie got all defensive ¡°I only remember talking to her a handful of times. I''m sure we¡¯ve spoken more.¡±
¡°Was this your plan? Get me hooked on them and then take them away from me.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I had hoped one of the inmates got you hooked on something that would make you slow and weak and that you were too tired to come visit me today so that I could have stayed home while complying to the last will and testament of our egocentric, megalomaniacal and dead dad.¡± Valerie paused for emphasis but then realised she had finished her speech.
¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to know that you think about me at night.¡±
Valerie leaned to get something from her bag. ¡°Here.¡± She chucked a book at him which he managed to catch in his lap.
¡°Pages 8, 22, 64, 65, 118 and 203 are particularly¡¡± Valerie paused for effect ¡°spicy.¡±
Hector flicked to those pages and dangled a sachet of ramen spice up in front of them, visible disappointment on his face.
Valerie deflated. ¡°What?¡±
¡°Not exactly what I thought of when I asked for spice.¡±
¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t going to spend good stuff on you. That should do you fine.¡±
¡°Yeah, the¡¡± Hector put his glasses on and looked closer. ¡°Chicken Ramen liquid spice will make my bread taste great.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know you baked.¡±
¡°Vals, there is a lot we don¡¯t know about each other.¡± He put his glasses back in breast pocket. ¡° I don¡¯t expect we¡¯ll learn much worthwhile anyway.¡±
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¡°Last time I¡¯ll try small talk.¡±
¡°We aren¡¯t small talk people. To each other anyway.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a boldfaced lie.¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m a banter man. I like a bit of meaningful banter. The occasional remark.¡± He paused, probably for effect. ¡°But us, our relationship is routine. We talk because you don¡¯t want to talk to others. We¡¯re brother and sister but that''s it.¡±
¡°I really hope you get out soon,¡± she leans in and whispers ¡°I hope you live a long and prosperous life and then you find a trailer to the movie you''ve been waiting to watch, I hope you die a slow death just as you get comfortable in that cinema seat with your popcorn. Preferably choking on a kernel as the trailers finish.¡±
¡°There it is.¡± Hector signals for a guard ¡°News on Cassandra?¡±
¡°Nothing right now but I¡¯ll be heading over to her shop while she¡¯s gone. Should be able to walk in and learn something though.¡±
¡°Walk in? Sounds like a plan.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see innit?¡± Valerie got up and was prepared to leave when Hector placed his hand on her shoulder. A guard moved in to stop anything that might have happened.
¡°You don¡¯t know her like I did,¡± Hector says with concern in his eyes ¡°You have to make sure she doesn¡¯t kick off. She won¡¯t come back otherwise.¡±
The guard guides Hector back to his seat. Valerie looks her brother in his eyes.
¡°I remember her clear enough. I used to look up to her. I wanted to be like her and when I finally felt like we were a family, she left. There isn¡¯t anyone else who understands her better.¡± She gestured at the guard and he backed off. ¡°I just want to find out if she found what she was looking for.¡±
In her youth, Valerie did not understand boundaries. Rooms were just places she wasn¡¯t in and nothing would stop her from getting in. This was an issue when she¡¯d walk in on her parents or Hector.
Cassandra had never gotten angry when Valerie walked into her room though. She was always either reading a lengthy book she had borrowed from the library or she was writing an equally lengthy book herself. In the time it took Valerie to read one of her own books, Cassandra was onto the next.
One day, Valerie decided to pick up a pen and notebook herself to write down her own adventure. It took her a year to complete and there were errors every which way. She knew Cassandra wouldn¡¯t mark her down for it. Valerie had grown in writing this book.
She left the book by Cassandra¡¯s door. Had she gone in, she would not have been welcomed by her sister.
Chapter Eight
It takes a lot to match a generic hi-vis jacket with any item of clothing. At some point, Valerie just had to walk out of her car with undeserved confidence.
With the disguise out of the way, she strutted with all the authority she could muster. Into the storm. Or rather, into the ¡°Cookie Cove Caf¨¦¡±.
A jingle came from above as chimes were rung and Valerie was hit with sickening sweetness radiating throughout the caf¨¦. All around here was branding for the shop ¡°You get a slice of life when you come to Cookie Cove¡±.
There wasn¡¯t a line and there weren¡¯t too many people in the caf¨¦. Just the right amount of ambiance and aromatics, if you could call the smell of baked goods aromatic. Before she fell into that spiral, Valerie moved to the till and waited by it as a very furry man came hovering over the till.
¡°What can I get you?¡± Said the man Valerie already knew as Peter.
¡°Nothing for me.¡± Valerie scribbled on a clipboard she brought in ¡°I¡¯m simply here as part of the Health and Safety Commission. We sent out a letter two weeks ago detailing that I¡¯d be here.¡±.
¡°I had no-¡±
¡°No, neither did I but we get sent out to these appointments on a ¡®need-to-know¡¯ basis. Now if I could take a look at the back rooms to make sure the correct signage and fire suppression equipment is in place, that¡¯d be great.¡±
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¡°I¡¯m not quite sure about this. Would it be alright if you came back another time? My wife is away delivering some produce at the moment and she didn¡¯t make me aware of any health and safety checkers.¡± A little bit of venom in his voice.
Valerie was losing ground but all she had to do was throw the ball back in his court.
¡°Mr¡ Peter, was it? These things need to be checked out at the earliest convenience. I¡¯ll happily wait for both of you but it does need to be done today. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to write that there were mitigating factors in stopping my health and safety checks today which may lead to fines, and neither of us want that paperwork, right?¡±
Appealing to people''s desire to avoid paperwork was a tactic Valerie used to get out of many a parking fine but never to get away with something like this.
Eventually Peter relented and said ¡°I¡¯ll call Katie,¡± he unlocked a latch and invited Valerie behind the counter ¡°we have a staff room around the corner.¡±
¡°Lovely¡± Valerie couldn¡¯t help but smile. The audacity, pushing herself out of her comfort zone. And she was rewarded for it. Now, she still had a lot of work to do and this was in no way the most productive way to see her sisters but at least Valerie went ahead with the plan. Nothing like a good plan coming together to bring the spirit up.
As she was being navigated through the tight corridors to the staff room, she could hear the sounds of Swedish pop music.
¡°Oh! Someone¡¯s a fan of ABBA then.¡± Valerie said in delight.
Peter opened the door to reveal someone huddled up in the staff room watching Pierce Brosnan sing his poor heart out to Meryl Streep.
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s our little girl Erin. Can¡¯t get enough of it.¡±
The dimples, the hair, the smile. Valerie couldn¡¯t believe it. The spitting image of not just Cassandra but of Erin herself. Cassandra¡¯s late mother, Hector¡¯s late step-mother and Valerie¡¯s late adopted mother.
She whispered ¡°Of course.¡±