Claire didn’t have much to pack and certainly wouldn’t mind telling Mrs Watson that she was leaving. Her only problems were her lack of money and the question of traveling from Kensington to Mrs Patel’s. If she did, it would eat up more than four pounds of her ‘salary’ each day. If she didn’t she was without any income at all.
Sitting on the bed the next morning, she counted out her cash. She would have to give Imogen three hundred pounds in advance, and although that was a lot of money she counted herself lucky. It was a cheap rent, a lovely room, a chance to make a new friend and apparently she didn’t have to give a month’s security.
She’d also have to buy curtains, blankets, sheets and towels. Though it was an extra expense, the idea actually thrilled her. She’d never done it before. She didn’t suppose they had Bed, Bath and Beyond in London. She wondered where she would go and she decided that she’d also buy herself an electric kettle, a teapot and cups to match. Of course, all this wouldn’t leave much of her fund. She wondered if there was someplace else she could get work and it occurred to her again that the old woman at the knitting store might need part-time help, even just to dust, though she wouldn’t make much at that either. She sighed. Writing to her mother and asking for money would be useless at any time and especially so now when she had actually charged things on her mother’s card. Claire sat for a while, trying to think of what else she could do. Just then there was a tiny noise at the door. Claire turned in time to see the edges of two envelopes being pushed through. She got up and almost ran to them.
Both had the return address of Crayden Smithers. She recognized Tina’s handwriting immediately, but the address was typed on the other. She tore Tina’s open.
Claire. I don’t know who you think you are. Ever since Michael Wainwright asked you out you’ve been acting snootier than usual. What’s the matter? Couldn’t you come back and face me once he dumped you? Who do you know in London? Like you might know somebody.
Everybody is asking me where you are. And I tell them I’m not your mother. Marie Two said she thought you were pregnant, but I know you weren’t when you left. Ha, ha.
I think it takes a lot of nerve to take other people’s money and just disappear like you were the Who Deanie or something. You couldn’t even afford to go to Atlantic City.
For your information, Mr Wonderful is back to his old tricks. Now he’s not just going out with Ms Rensselaer but he started up with some new one who owns a fancy art gallery. I’m making reservations for them all over town. Are you dating anyone yet? Yeah, right.
Your mother called me twice. She says you wrote her too. Fine. Like she’s your best friend too. Anthony says I shouldn’t care because you’re just selfish but I guess I have too much heart to be like that. Too bad you don’t.
Your ex-friend Tina
Claire stood with the letter in her hand. She had to read it through a second time before she began to understand what she was looking at. For a little while she couldn’t understand it – not at all. What had she done to make Tina so angry? Had there been any slight before she left? Had Michael said something to Tina? She tried to think, but she knew she had left on good terms and couldn’t think of a single thing that Michael might say that would affect Tina in any way. That was when she had realized what she had done wrong: she’d done something adventurous.
She read the letter again and became more sure with every line she went through. People in families, and even in friendships, played certain roles. Her role with Tina was that of a sidekick; someone played by Joan Cusack in a movie. Tina played the lead, of course. Tina had a flamboyant family, an active social life, a fiancé, and marriage plans. Claire had to listen. She couldn’t remember any movie where, halfway through, the second banana runs off to Europe. Tina was outraged. Claire had deviated from the script. It left Tina with no part. So, if she couldn’t be the sidekick, so Tina could stay the heroine, she would have to be a victim. The fact was that Tina loved movies about victims – beaten wives, abused children, raped teenagers, all of it played well. Claire couldn’t bear to read the letter again. She folded it, put it back in the envelope and hid it in her pocket.
She looked at the other envelope with misgivings. Had Joan gotten her address and decided to send her an insulting note that fired her? Whatever. Claire shrugged and tore the envelope open.
Dear Claire,
Thank you for your card. I’ve needed a photo of the Queen Mother for some time. How exciting! You are having what sounds like the beginning of a lovely adventure. How I envy you.
Good for you. My suggestion (not advice, I never give advice) would be to resign and stay on as long as you can. I took the liberty of checking in with personnel and found that you are owed quite a lot of overtime. Over eleven hundred dollars’ worth, it appears. I thought it might come in handy, and I enclose it. If you have any trouble cashing this check, please call collect. All banks should honor it, and if they don’t Mr Crayden will want to know why.
As they say in London, ‘Jobs are thick on the ground.’ You are resourceful and can always pick one up if you have to. And we are moving ahead with some plans to open a branch in London. Who knows? Perhaps there’s a job for both of us there. With hopes I don’t see you too soon,
Abigail Samuels
As Claire picked the note up in disbelief, a check fluttered out onto the floor. She picked it up and found it was very close to twelve hundred dollars. Claire was certain that she’d been paid for any overtime she’d ever done. She didn’t know what Abigail had done and didn’t really want to think about it in detail. She just looked at the Crayden Smithers check in front of her and hoped that Abigail hadn’t embezzled the money, though she supposed that embezzlers didn’t bother with such small amounts – small amounts, that is, to people like Michael Wainwright. Claire stared at the check and saw her own future in it: a lovely room, soft sheets, fluffy towels and new friends.