Nora arrived on Saturday with her work bag over both shoulders and her hair still damp.
Eva was cutting bread into a basket. Will was in the kitchen.
“I need to ask you something,” Eva said.
Nora slipped the bag under the counter. “All right.”
“When did he offer you the management job?”
“Why?”
“Because you knew about it on Monday and I didn't. Was it before Ben left?”
Nora picked up an apron. She held it by the ties.
“We discussed it around then.”
“Around Sunday?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes went to the kitchen door. Eva saw it.
“You're avoiding the question.”
“I'm trying to remember.”
“You remember the day you get offered a permanent job.”
Nora didn't put the apron on.
Eva laid the bread knife flat on the board.
“Get Will. We said we'd do this before the supper.”
Nora went into the kitchen. Eva stayed beside the bread, looking at the half-cut loaf.
Last night Will had said he would sort it. She hadn't expected him to walk out with a neat answer, but she had expected him to be there when they asked.
His voice came through the door. She couldn't hear the words. Nora answered sharply. Then Will said, louder, “I can't offer you that role now.”
Eva pushed the door open.
Nora was standing beside the kitchen table. Will had his hands on the back of a chair.
“Then why did you offer it before?” Nora asked.
“Because circumstances were different.”
“The circumstances you told me to make different?”
Will looked at Eva in the doorway.
“Let's keep our voices down.”
Eva's hand stayed on the door.
“What circumstances?” she asked.
Nora looked at her, then at Will.
“I need to get something,” she said.
“Nora,” Will said.
“It's in my bag.”
She went past Eva into the café. Will took one step after her, then stopped when Eva didn't move.
“What have you done?” Eva asked him.
He opened his mouth.
Nora was back before he spoke, carrying a folded piece of paper. The bag had been less than ten steps away.
“Sit down,” she said to Eva.
“No. Tell me.”
Nora unfolded the paper. Her hands weren't steady.
“He offered me your job,” she said. “I'll tell you why.”