ndtryingtopersuadethenseedpleasant,sosheohelpshesurprisedherself“noproblesir,youtakeaseatthereandhroughthebrochures”shepointedtothechairinfrontofherandlookedahavetochhisstruggletositdown“noiles,“isthereanyuntryinparticularthatyouogoto”“espainlanzarote,ithink”
barbarahisobealoteasierthanshethought
“andisitasuerholidayyourelookingfor”
henoddedslowly
theyanfoundaplaers,,itbeingherjobandall“ok,anynthinparticular”shesaid,lookingattheprices“august”heasked,andthosebigbropovertheunterandgivehibighug“augustisagoodnth,”sheagreed“hirtyeuro,”sheaddedquicklyhestaredintospaceileonhisfaceasthoughhehere“aseaview,please”“goodeandaddress,please”
“ohthisisntaeitsasurpriseforwifeandherfriends”thosebrowneyeslookedsad
barbaraclearedherthroatnervously“esthen,please”shefinishedtakinghisdetailsandhesettledthebillshebegantoprintthearrangentsfroheputertogivetohi“oh,doyoundifileavethedetailsherey”
barbarasled;aluckywifehehad
“ibetellinghertilljuly,sodoyouthinkituldbekeptquiettillthen”“thatsnoprobletall,sir,usuallytheflighttisarentnfirdtillafeocallherillgivetheotherstaffstrictinstructionsnottocallthehouse”“thankyouforyourhelp,barbara,”hesaid,slingsadlyhthosepuppyeyes“itsbeenapleasure,clarke”
“itsgerry”hesledagain
“sureyourefriendhiswifewouldbefine
“ebeforetheythinkivebeenkidnappediotevensupposedtobeoutofbed,youknopfordinbarbarasthroatbarbarajuedtoherfeetandranaroundtheothersideoftheuntertoholdthedooropenforhihesledapprebsupherbossthrear“barbara,”heyelled,“haveyoubeenskinginhereagain”sherolledhereyesandtuedtofacehi“god,shyouyoulooklikeyoureabouttoburstintotears”itpilybehindtheunterofsrhadbeenabeautifulsunnyday,andthelasttpleteoppositeiterskeptbraggingastheystrolledin,pytops,fillingtheroollofnutsunshefeltlikesheoreasitsuddenlystalled“oh,leaveit,barbara,”lissaaned“thatllonlykeitworse”“asifthatuldbepossible,”shegruled,andspunaroundinherchairtofacetheputer,hekeypad“isitelissalaughed
“oh,nothingch,”barbarasaidthroughgrittedteeth,“itsjustthehottestdayoftheyearands”sheshoutedeachosall”lissasniggered“look,inutestogetsoairandilldealer,”shesaid,noddingtotheankingherwayin“thanks,l,”barbarasaid,relievedatfinallybeingabletoesefreshair”lissalookeddoiledatthean
“yes,iillworkshere”
barbarafrozejustassheplatedanbehindtheunter;sheonegirltotheother“yes,iarbara”
“ohgood”theladylookedrelievedandshedivedontothestoolinfrontofher“iightnotore”“sheutteredunderherbreathandrebarbara
“canihelpyou”
“ohgod,ireallyhopeyoucan,”theladysaidabithystericallyandrootedthroughherbagbarbararaisedhereyebrotriedtoholdintheirlaughs“ok,”shesaid,eventuallypullingoutaherbag“irehusbandandie”barbarafropledpieceofpaperontheunterapagehadbeentooutofaholidaybrochureandtenonithesattn:barbara”barbarafrooreyfriendeansnothingtodidyounotgetanyreinfortion”theladyshookherheadvigorously
“oreinfortion”barbaraonfused
“no,hesnothereanyre,”shesaidsadly,andtearsakingsoonecryshearchin
