At four-fifty, Iris came downstairs in a robe and said, “Can you put these out when people arrive?”
Nell looked at the trays. “People aren't arriving till seven.”
“I know. But you've done them. It'd be easier.”
Nell folded the dish towel and set it beside the sink. She had spent the afternoon cutting vegetables, filling little rolls, and putting the cold things back in the fridge. Everything Iris had asked for was ready.
“You can put them out.”
“I have to get dressed, and they'll all want drinks.”
“You've got two hours.”
Iris pushed the sleeves of her robe up. “I thought you'd stay for a bit.”
“I've got a plan.”
“Sam can come here.”
“We don't want to come here.”
Iris looked away.
Nell picked up her bag. It was five minutes before five. She checked the counter for anything she'd forgotten.
“I texted him,” Iris said.
Nell turned slowly. “What did you text him?”
“That you were busy here and he should come later. He said fine.”
Nell took out her phone. Sam had sent a message twenty minutes earlier.
Iris says you're staying. Want me to come seven-thirty?
She hadn't heard it while the food processor was running. Now she could hear every small sound in the kitchen: the fridge, Iris's slippers shifting on the floor, somebody's car on the road outside.
“I'm not staying,” she said.
“You can just tell him that.”
“Why didn't you ask me?”
“Because you were working. I was trying to sort things out.”
Nell typed, Still leaving at five. Meet as planned?
Before Sam answered, Iris said, “I'll pay you for the rest. Obviously.”
“I didn't ask for the rest.”
“It's a couple of hours.”
“It's the evening.”
Iris went to the fridge and opened it. “These can't sit out till seven.”
“They aren't sitting out. I put them away.”
“Then I have to find all of it.”
Nell walked over, opened the fridge wider, and pointed. “Rolls. Salad. Dressing in that jar. Everything that needs to stay cold stays here.”
Iris touched one of the covered trays. “I'm going to be doing this by myself.”
Nell shut the fridge.
She could see the whole evening waiting for her: drinks, empty plates, the two of them clearing up after everyone left. Her bag was already packed.
“I was here Saturday,” Nell said. “I came today. It's done.”
“You make it sound as if I'm some horrible boss.”
“You're acting like one.”
Iris sat down suddenly. She pulled the robe tight across her knees.
“Fine.”
Nell waited by the counter. It was five now.
Iris picked up her phone. “There.”
Nell checked. The hundred and fifty was there, the agreed amount for the agreed work.
“Thank you.”
“You can go.”
Nell put the phone away. “I'm not doing another one.”
Iris looked up. “I didn't ask you to.”
“I'm telling you now.”
“Then don't.”
The yellow door caught again when Nell pulled it. Iris didn't come to help. Nell set her bag on the floor and gave it a second hard tug.
Outside, Sam was walking up the street.
He looked at the open door, then at her face.
“You okay?”
Nell shut it behind her. “I want to get away from this house.”
He took her bag. This time she let him.
They walked for ten minutes before either spoke. Sam kept looking at her. Nell wished he would look ahead instead.
“She said it was sorted,” he told her.
“She didn't ask.”
“I shouldn't have assumed.”
“No.”
They reached the little lane toward the water. Nell could see the sky opening up beyond the roofs. She slowed down.
“I liked Saturday,” she admitted. “That makes today worse.”
Nell sat on the low wall. Sam settled beside her, their shoulders touching.
“You can like things,” he said.
“Thank you for the permission.”
He winced. “Didn't mean it like that.”
She took her bag back and set it on her knees. It held the apron she'd brought from home, still smelling of Iris's kitchen.
They watched a child try to keep an ice cream upright in the wind. Sam took Nell's hand, waited, and then laced his fingers through hers.
She'd missed this. No kitchen full of people, no recording on somebody's phone. Just him beside her, quiet for once.
“I've had enough of doing things to get her to do things,” she said.
Sam's hand shifted inside hers.
“Could we talk tomorrow?” he asked.
“About what?”
“Northbay. There might be a different way.”
Nell looked at him. “Tell me now.”
He rubbed a thumb across her knuckles, then let go.
“Iris offered me money. For a stand here. I said I was interested.”
Nell moved her bag between them.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“You'd better keep talking.”