Fiction and Fact ...

... collide again ...

Another duff day in the shop. What is the deal with Bookstar? I’m sure Gareth hacks into it at night and alters my stats. I know I didn’t sell twenty six copies of ‘Griselda the Grasshopper’ this morning – so why does the stupid machine insist on saying that I did?

And Fleabag doesn’t help – he weed on the kitchen floor again this morning. Why does he always do that when I’m in a hurry?

Thank goodness Julian’s here. Frankly I think it’s slightly beyond the call of duty for him to clear up Fleabag’s wee, but I couldn’t afford to say no. If I’m late one more time, Gareth will fire me so fast that ballistics will find no trace.

At lunchtime, Julian hovered outside the shop door when he picked me up. I hadn’t actually told him not to come in, but I was glad he didn’t. For one thing, Trish would probably have eaten him alive, and Gareth would have scowled at me even more than usual. Both of those things we would be spared. I grabbed my coat and made a run for it.

Even though Julian lives in France, he still seems to know this place better than me and he unerringly gravitated towards the only decent restaurant in walking distance of the shop.

I panic a bit in restaurants, and I was checking my watch even as we sat down and took our menus from the silently suave waiter.

‘Don’t worry,Rachel,' he said, 'I popped in earlier and booked the table and told them we’re on a tight timetable. I’ve promised them a big tip if we’re out of here in 40 minutes.’

Somehow when Julian’s around, everything seems to run more smoothly. Things that would normally have me grinding my teeth and biting my lip with frustration and worry just magically transform themselves into ‘not a problem’.

I hardly noticed as a bowl of soup miraculously appeared in front of me, and Julian had to prod me into picking up my spoon. It was worth it. The smokiness of the soup and crispness of the croutons told me that this was somewhere I couldn’t afford to eat. Luckily, Julian could.

Maybe if I eat enough while he’s here I can get away with not eating for a while after he leaves – that way I can save my money for non-essentials like paying the gas bill.