“Did he? Hmmm interesting. I suppose builders need bacon butties don’t they?” He laughs nervously and straightens the tie at his neck. “Well I’m not a huge fan of French food - far too rich on the stomach - all pomp and no substance but each to their own I suppose. I’m much happier with simpler delicacies.”
“Well I’m about to leave now, Leo, shall we walk out together?”
“Oh yes, of course I’ll see you out, Lucia. We wouldn’t want you out in the dark alone.”
His words actually give me comfort after my meeting with Abby yesterday and I’m suddenly pleased to have him there to accompany me to the car park at the back of the building. Not so pleased to have his hand in the small of my back the entire walk to our cars.
During our 5minute exit our conversation exists of mundane chatter about work, his banking world and Finn. I try to encourage his thought pattern to Meg and remind him of his girlfriend.
“I saw her the other night briefly at mine.”
“I know.”
My eyes fly up to his in surprise. I wouldn’t have thought Meg would have mentioned it but then again she was there when Sebastian arrived and probably thought the tale juicy enough to repeat. Instead of questioning him I just nod.
“Yes, she was smoking, which I detest.”
Yes, she was. “I wouldn’t know, Leo.”
“You girls gotta stick together have you? No bother - I could smell the stench on her clothes.”
Right then.
“That’s what I like about you, Lucia you don’t do dirty things like that.”
Get me out of here quick. “Ah, we’re here now, Leo. Thanks so much for being a gentleman. Sorry about the drink.”
“No worries we can do it another time. That’s what friends do don’t they?”
“Of course.” Not a chance, but of course I can’t say that now. I zap the car and open the door.
“Well enjoy your night of French cuisine, Lucia. Send my regards to Sebastian.”
“And mine to Meg.”
I slip inside and throw my bag across onto the passenger seat then close the door but something makes me look up. He’s still there.
Pressing the electric window button I lean outwards. “Anything else, Leo?”
“We’re going the same way, as I’m at Meg’s tonight - I could grab a lift with you if you like and I’ll leave my car here?”
Think and fast. “Er - normally that would be a plan but I’m staying over at Sebastian’s tonight Leo. Finn is with his dad and I might be working from home in the morning, so I won’t be in until later.”
He juts his bottom lip out and his closed mouth points downwards in an unhappy expression. “Oh right - well just an idea. See you around, Lucia, I think I’ll go for that pint in that case, before heading home. Take care.”
I smile and wave, pressing the button for the window immediately before I sit back in my seat and exhale. I’ve got a big night ahead of me; I need to get my head in the game and the last thing I’d needed was Leo Peterson hovering around me. He meant well I’m sure but maybe it was time I started looking for another Accountant and now that I had all this additional pro-forma work from The Ashton, perhaps I could pay back the rest of the bank loan with the Osten Bank and move my funds to another one. That sounded like a plan and I mentally make a note to get Jackie to look into a few different options in the morning.
I really need to blitz the exterior and interior of my car one of these days - it is filthy! Frustrated, I attempt to rub at the fog, misting across my inner windscreen, with an old baby vest of Finn’s I use for such purposes, before reversing my car out of the office car park. As the nights are drawing in earlier, now the Summer has been put to bed and Autumn is tumbling in, it makes it very difficult to drive with grimy windows - if my Dad saw the state of it, he’d go spare. I will definitely sort it this weekend, along with decorating Finn’s bedroom, putting up those pictures I still have framed but leaning hopeful, behind the sofa and re-sealing the bath.
Yeah right! Like I was going to get any of that done this weekend!
This weekend, once Sebastian was fully informed, I’m sure my days of independence and freedom would be long gone - he was such a control freak, loveable but frustratingly stubborn. I must admit the thought of him being all protective and caring brings a smile to my face - I never had that with Niall, both before, during or after my pregnancy with Finn.
As I head off following the daily-grind journey home that is imprinted upon my memory like a second skin, I slump further into my bucket seat. It’s been a long day and I’ll be glad to get back to Sebastian. I’m not even going to stop at home, especially now that I knew Leo was visiting my neighbour. I didn’t need to anyway, as Niall had collected Finn from Creche and was dropping him at my parents after tea. Now that I’ve decided that tonight is the night to tell Seb our news, I’m dry-mouthed with a mixture of excitement and fear.