Chapter 38 A Sea of Paperwork
Noah’s POV:
We find ourselves in a little Italian restaurant a few roads away from the company. I can’t believe my luck that Eden came in to work today. I’d come in, thinking that I’d spend the whole day in a sea of paperwork and so her arrival is a pleasant distraction.
I can’t stop smiling as our waitress takes our order. I shouldn’t be this happy to see Eden. We bicker all the time. I’m not convinced she doesn’t hate me. There are times when I think she might actually like me a bit, but it never lasts. Before long, we always end up arguing again.
“How is your granny?” she asks.
“My granny?”
“You said you always visit your granny on Friday nights.”
I’m surprised she even remembers. Eden Winters is nothing like what I thought. I really underestimated her the first time I met her. In fact, all I have done in the last month is misjudge her over and over again. I feel terrible. I’ve been a right jerk.
“She’s good,” I tell her. For some reason, I want to tell her more. I don’t usually talk about my family with my colleagues but with Eden, I feel compelled. “Since my dad died eighteen months ago, I’ve felt really responsible for her. She’s always been good to me.”
“Your dad died?” she asks, leaning forward in her chair. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I tell her. “He was sick for a long time. He had cancer.”
She’s quiet, her expression thoughtful. I wonder if I said too much, ruined the moment.
“My parents died when I was a teenager,” she says in a hushed voice. “My grandma raised me.”
Why is it so hard to work out what to say? It’s crazy how hard it is to talk about death.
“I’m sorry.” I reach out, covering her hand with my own. “How did they…?” I pause. I’m not sure I should be asking this. It’s highly personal and frankly, none of my business.
“They were in a car crash.” She says it far easier than I expect, like she’s been asked that same question thousands of times in the past.
“That must have been really hard.”
“It wasn’t fun, that’s for sure.” She offers me a sad smiling before looking away. “I miss them all the time, but my grandma is the best. She’s not your average old lady.”
“Tell me about her?”
“She’s…” Eden hesitates like she doesn’t quiet know what to tell me. “She’s the kindest person I know but she doesn’t take crap from anyone. You could say she’s a little bit scary.”
Eden’s smile is intoxicating. Once she’s started, there’s no stopping her. She tells me story after story about growing up with her grandma.
“We’re going shopping later,” she tells me as our food arrives. “Shopping trips with my grandma are always the best. She has a way of making you feel special.”
We’re both quiet for a few minutes as we both pile pasta into our mouths.
“There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for me but it’s not just because I’m her granddaughter or because she practically raised me. It’s just the way she is.”
“Some people are just like that,” I say after finishing my mouthful. “They’re just naturally generous.”
I think Eden is like that. I’ve seen the way she is with the team. She never hesitates to help them when she asks and even when they don’t ask. She notices stuff. Sees when people aren’t okay. I don’t tell her that though.
“Mrs Clancy is like that,” I tell her instead. “When my dad was sick, she couldn’t have been more supportive.”
“You really respect her, don’t you?” she asks.
“Couldn’t ask for a better employer.”
“How long have you worked at Clancy’s Comforts?”
“Four years.”
“So long?”
“I did a summer internship at Clancy’s when I was at university,” I say. “It was the best summer job I ever had. I was so excited about getting out there into the real world, after that. I foolishly thought that all companies were like Clancy’s Comforts.”
“And then you realised they weren’t?” She’s got her chin resting on her palm, as she listens to me, a small smile on her face. It’s nice having her undivided attention. This is nothing like being at work, surrounded by everyone else.
“Nothing like it,” I say with a grin. “So, after a couple of years of being underpaid and overworked, I decided to make it my life’s mission to get a job at Clancy’s Comforts.”
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