Holding The Baby: Part II

Iris paused outside the kitchen door and scanned the notice-board for something new to read; she did not want to go in while they were in there, and get dragged into whatever silliness they were gossiping about. Instead she eavesdropped, idly, and wondered with an increasing horror who they were talking about.

Apparently she drives him to work, but he makes her wait in the car for ten minutes so no-one notices them going in together, Stephanie was saying in her heavy Devonshire accent, which Iris privately thought made her sound rather simple.

Sally replied too quietly for Iris to hear, but they both broke into squeaking laughter. Iris could feel her face flushing a warm grenadine pink, and wanted to sneak off before she was spotted. What they said was not true, but in her experience, truth was never a mandatory element of gossip.

What d�you think, Nathan? Never dip your nib in the company ink, eh?

With a slow sense of shock, Iris became aware that she had been holding her breath; she had not realised that Nathan was also in the kitchen, although she had read the details of the office Christmas party three times without absorbing them.

She�s an idiot, Sally pronounced. If a relationship begins in bed, it�ll never be more than sex.

You should know, love, Stephanie teased.

I dunno, girls. Why should having sex with someone mean you can�t fall in love with them?

The girls jeered good-naturedly at Nathan and ushered him out of the kitchen, carrying the tray of drinks for their department. Iris stared at him stupidly as he passed; he met her eyes, but then his glance flickered sheepishly away.