Fitting In by Amanda Radley

Author:Amanda Radley [Radley, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heartsome Publishing
Published: 2020-06-18T18:30:00+00:00

26

A Chat over Coffee

Ravi lifted his phone and took a picture of the coffee and brownie in front of him. He’d recently started using Instagram at Nico’s insistence, but the only pictures he ever posted were of his mid-morning snack at one of the coffee shops in the centre.

He didn’t have many followers but told himself that by tagging the business in question, he was in some way helping them with their social media marketing.

It was a long shot. He didn’t really understand how little actions equated to big changes.

“What do you know about autism?”

He looked up as Heather sat down at the table with him, a takeaway coffee in her hand.

“Hi, yes, you can join me,” he joked.

She ignored his quip and sipped at her coffee, looking at him over the top of the cup.

“Not a lot,” he said, picking up the brownie and taking a bite. “Why?”

“I just heard from Leo that Scarlett’s mother—stepmother—thinks that Scarlett may be autistic. I don’t know much about it. I googled it, but there’s a lot of contradicting information.”

Ravi took another bite of brownie and regarded his boss and friend. Heather’s growing obsession with Scarlett was intriguing.

“Why don’t you ask Scarlett?” Ravi suggested.

Heather made a face. “That might not go down too well. I don’t think Leo or Audrey have broached the notion with Scarlett, so it’s hardly my place to do so.”

“You think Scarlett might not know?” Ravi asked.

Heather shrugged. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to offend her by asking. I’m not close enough to her.”

Ravi quickly finished off the brownie and wiped his fingers on a napkin. “Maybe speak to Nico. She seems to have developed a sort of friendship with Scarlett.”

Heather looked surprised. “Nico? Friends with Scarlett?”

Ravi chuckled. “Well, friends might be pushing it a little. But they talk, which is more than Scarlett seems to do with other people.”

Heather looked thoughtful. “That makes sense, Nico does chat with everyone.”

“May I ask why it’s important to you?” Ravi asked.

Heather hesitated a moment, and Ravi wondered if Heather even knew herself. He knew Heather had a big heart. He also knew that Heather was lonely and couldn’t resist a mystery.

“I think Scarlett is struggling,” Heather explained. “And I’d like to help her if I can.”

Ravi wanted to push the point and ask exactly what had given her the idea that Scarlett was struggling. He couldn’t imagine that the cool, collected security officer had gone to Heather seeking assistance.

No, this seemed to be Heather wanting to pull Scarlett into the family environment she had built up amongst Silver Arches staff.

“Are you sure she’s struggling?” Ravi asked. “I’ve tried to get her to socialise with people and she’s declined. Claimed she’s happier to not socialise. I don’t understand it, but I respect it.”

Heather looked thoughtfully at the lid of her coffee. “I don’t honestly know if she’s struggling or not, but I feel that she might be. I’ll feel better once I know either way. I just have a sixth sense that there’s more I can do to help her.

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