Page 105 of When In Doubt

I turn to face Valerie and she pulls an exaggerated snooty face. I have to cover my mouth to avoid letting out an audible snort. Stop it, I mouth.

What? she mouths back, feigning innocence.

Joyce turns and I stiffen, feeling like a naughty school child caught talking when the teacher’s back is turned.

“So,” Joyce pipes up from where she’s looking. “I heard there’s been some incident in your building.”

Ah. There it is. The real purpose for her visit.

“Yes,” I say politely. “There was a small fire, but thankfully nobody was hurt.”

“Oh my,” she gasps. If she were wearing pearls, I’m sure that she’d be clutching them right now. “Do they know what started it?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What a terrible thing.” She shakes her head, but something about the gesture comes off rehearsed.

I nod down at the skeins she’s holding and attempt to steer us back to safer ground. “Is that what you’re looking for?”

She gives herself a little shake as if she’s forgetting where she is. “Oh, no, I’m going to think about it some more.”

“No problem.” I give her my sweetest smile, jaw clenched. “Come on back anytime once you decide.”

She huffs almost inaudibly, shuffling from foot to foot like she’s trying to find a reason to stay. After one final glance around, she turns on her heel. Only when the door’s firmly shut behind her, do I feel able to breathe again.

“Well, that was deeply unpleasant.”

I turn to see Valerie sat back on the stool, leaning against the desk and staring after Joyce with a glower.

“Valerie,” I chide.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” She crosses her arms in challenge.

I can’t. I may be many things, but what I’m not, is a good liar.

“Whatever, at least she came by.” I can stop wondering when she’ll finally grace me with her presence.

“I don’t see why you’d even want her here.”

I chuckle. “I’m not exactly going to ban her.”

“If you ever do, can I watch?”

“I think she’s just lonely.”

“I think she’s just an asshole,” Valerie mutters.

I run my thumb along my brow bone, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, that too.”

Valerie gets up, squeezing my shoulder as she goes. “Alright, I’ll see you soon.”

“You're going?”

She smirks, nodding toward the front window. “I don’t think you need the company anymore.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

OSCAR