Warpaint by J J Maya

Author:J J Maya [Maya, J J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Socciones Editoria Digitale
Published: 2020-04-02T22:00:00+00:00

16

Earl Grey and Cucumber Sandwiches

JACKSON AND I arrived at D’Arcy’s ten minutes earlier than usual. It had been a sleepless night for me, fraught with tossing and turning, unable to find a soft spot on the hard couch or the solace I was searching for. I had listened all night long for the sound of the alarm, telling me it was now time to get up and get on with the day. When the alarm finally went off, I felt an instant sense of relief that the day was beginning. My brain had been whirring the whole night long trying to find a solution to the position I now found myself in.

We set to work on the Blake’s Apothecary Counter, unpacking boxes and making up little gift bags to give to our clients. Jackson had already pre-ordered chintzy teacups from homewares on the third floor and one by one he had handed them to me, indicating for me to give them a quick rinse in the beauty hall sink.

Every so often, I would catch Mrs. G loitering a second or two longer than was necessary at our counter, keeping a careful eye on proceedings. She was such a stickler for detail. All she had to do was raise one eyebrow to silently communicate that something was awry on the counter. Following her gaze, I would instantly know which pile of wonky cups she was alluding too. This woman did not miss a trick. When everything appeared to be to her liking, she would nod silently then move on to the next counter. D’Arcy’s Department Store would not be D’Arcy’s without Mrs. G at the helm, that was for sure. Funnily enough, although formidable to the outsider, the longer I got to work alongside her, the more I came to admire her.

As soon as Mrs. G walked away from our counter, I heard Jackson mumble under his breath.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Don’t turn around…Bella’s on her way over.”

“Shit!”

It was the moment I had been dreading, the moment of Isabella’s victory lap. The moment when she would take great enjoyment in getting her own back.

Stay strong. Stay calm. You can do this. Don’t give yourself a showing up on the shop floor.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up to full height, drew my stomach in, placed my hands on my hips and summoned the inner strength to stare back at Isabella. To my surprise, Isabella didn’t say anything, instead, she just stared back, almost willing me to speak first. A look of malice lay behind that perfectly painted face; beauty really was skin deep. I sensed the other workers had noticed Isabella approach our counter, and one by one, they appeared to stop their activities on the shop floor. The situation reminded me of a John Wayne film, where two cowboys would approach each other slowly, sussing each other out, before brandishing their guns.

Just then, Isabella lurched forward, placed her arms over her tiny baby bump, groaned, and then smiled straight at me.

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