Tell That to My Heart

by Eliza J Scott

  From the snatched conversations the three friends had managed whenever Honey had nipped out of the office during the course of the afternoon, Mim gathered that Catherine had spoken to Anna-Lisa and Aidey in much the same way she’d spoken to her. All three had been left feeling unsettled and searingly angry. Mim couldn’t shake the feeling that Honey was responsible. If things continued, pretty soon there’d only be Honey and Caspar left as Yorkshire Portions employees.

  Mim felt tense, her body on high alert. She’d been trying to concentrate on her work but it was proving difficult since her mind kept mulling over the items that had gone missing since Friday. She knew Honey was responsible, and the fear that any of the things would somehow find their way into her bag, just like Catherine’s Tiffany pen, sat heavy on her shoulders. If that happened, there was a real risk Mim could lose her job, the police might even be involved with the potential for her to be prosecuted and end up with a criminal record. Oh, shit! The thought made her feel sick. It didn’t help that every time she looked up, Honey appeared to be watching her. Mim had to keep reminding herself that the girl hadn’t been on her own in their office at all that day, so nothing was going to find its way into her backpack.

  She was searching through some stock images when Honey asked to borrow her stapler. ‘I thought you had your own,’ Mim said, puzzled.

  ‘Yes, but I can’t find it. Using yours will save me time. I can look for mine when I’m not so busy.’

  You, busy? Since it wasn’t in its usual place on her desk Mim automatically went to her drawer. She pulled it open and had a quick rummage, keeping one eye on her computer screen, but couldn’t find it amongst the usual detritus of pens, random pieces of paper and such like. ‘I really must sort this out; I don’t need half the stuff in here.’ As she glanced down her heart stopped and a gasp left her lips. She stared at the contents of her drawer and pressed her hand to her mouth, the feeling of nausea swirling violently in her stomach as she looked across at Anna-Lisa and Aidey.

  ‘What’s up?’ asked Anna. ‘You look like you’re about to throw up. You haven’t found another exploded yoghurt in there, have you?’

  Mim shook her head, her mind scrambling for something to say, desperately wishing Honey wasn’t there.

  ‘Or worse, a mouldy cheese sandwich like last time?’ asked Aidey.

  ‘I think that box of eggs she’d forgotten about until they started to stink the place out was the worst.’ Anna-Lisa scrunched up her nose at the memory. ‘They were really rank and leaking foul-smelling stuff. I’m surprised we can’t still smell it.’

  ‘What’s the matter, Jemima? You look like you’ve had a shock,’ said Honey, a mocking tone in her voice.

  Panic rose inside Mim, snatching away her ability to form a single word. Looking back at her accusingly from her drawer was Clarissa’s notebook, on top of which was Caspar’s paperweight and Catherine’s ring, a mixture of ten and twenty pound notes strewn amongst them. She swallowed, trying to compose herself. ‘I’m fine. I just put my finger in a sticky sweet, that’s all.’

  ‘Are you sure? It was a bit of an over-the-top reaction for something as measly as that.’ The taunting look in Honey’s eyes was almost more than Mim could bear, but she was relieved to see from her friends’ expressions they’d clicked that something wasn’t right.

  ‘Yes, but it’s probably been there for the best part of a year, it could be growing all sorts of God-knows-what,’ said Aidey.

  ‘I think you’re right. Anyway, I don’t know where my stapler’s gone, but it’s not in there.’ Mim pushed the drawer shut, her heart hurling itself against her chest.

  ‘Here, have a squirt of that. It should help remove most of the stickiness from the sweet.’ Anna-Lisa threw a small bottle of hand sanitiser over to Mim. ‘And you can use my stapler for now, Honey, there you go.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Mim.

  ‘You two are total opposites when it comes to being tidy,’ said Aidey. He sent Mim a sympathetic smile.

  ‘Yes, but it’s not going to help Mim find her stapler if I use yours, is it?’ Honey clearly wasn’t going to back down. ‘Are you sure you can’t find it? Here, let me have a look in your drawer.’ Honey stood up and started to make her way over to Mim’s desk.

  Mim put her hand on her drawer, fear raging around her body. ‘No, it’s not there, I don’t know where it is. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw it. You’ll have to use Anna’s.’

  Honey glowered at her. ‘Fine. I was only trying to help, but the way you’re acting is very odd, like you’ve got something to hide.’

  ‘The only thing Mim ever wants to hide is the mess she makes, her drawers are notorious,’ said Aidey.

  ‘Careful how you talk about Mim’s drawers, Aidey,’ said Anna-Lisa. ‘People might think you’re referring to her knickers.’

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t do that.’ Two dots of colour appeared on his cheeks.

  Mim gave her friends a weak smile, appreciating that they were trying to act as if nothing was going on. Panic was scrambling her mind; she had no idea how she was going to get out of this one.

  Soon Honey left the office saying she was going to check the ink levels in the printer. Once she’d gone, Aidey pushed the door shut. ‘What the hell’s happened?’

  Mim felt tears fill her eyes. ‘The missing things, Catherine’s ring, the book, the paperweight, the money, they’re all in my drawer.’

  ‘What?’ Aidey looked at her in disbelief.

  ‘Shit! When did she get the chance to do that?’ Anna-Lisa ran her fingers through her hair.

  ‘Oh, fuck! She must’ve still been in the office when I went down to get my printing. She told me she was going to meet a friend. I wasn’t gone long. I’m so sorry, Mim.’

  ‘It’s not your fault, Aidey. But what am I going to do? It’ll look like I’ve stolen them.’ Fear increased its grip on her chest.

  ‘Quickly, get them out of your drawer and stick them in the cupboard over there before she gets back,’ said Anna-Lisa. She jumped out of her seat and hurried over to the cupboard just as Honey returned with Catherine.

  ‘Jemima, I want you to open your drawer,’ Catherine barked, her hands on her hips.

  ‘Please, Catherine, I honestly—’

  ‘Just do as I say.’ Catherine and Honey were looming behind her as she pulled open the drawer.

  She closed her eyes, not daring to look. ‘I didn’t put them there.’

  ‘Well, how else did they get there? Are you saying someone else put them in there without your knowledge?’

  ‘Well, I didn’t do it,’ said Honey in her little girl voice.

  Mim nodded, a tear spilling down her cheek. ‘Yes, honestly, Catherine, I have no idea—’

  ‘This leaves me with no alternative but to call the police.’ Catherine marched out of the room, thundering her way along the landing.

  ‘Can’t you at least hear what Mim has to say?’ Aidey called after her.

  ‘She’s had her chance.’ Catherine didn’t bother to turn round.

  ‘That is so unfair, Catherine.’ Anna turned to Honey, jabbing a finger at her. ‘And you’re a spiteful little cow. We know you’re behind it all.’

  ‘How dare you accuse me?’ Honey narrowed her eyes at Anna-Lisa. ‘It serves Jemima right that something doesn’t go her way for a change. She gets everything she wants, it just falls into her lap while the rest of us have to work for it, and don’t get the recognition we deserve.’

  ‘You’re deluded and toxic.’ Anna-Lisa gave her a look of utter contempt.

  Mim was sobbing now. ‘This isn’t right. I’ve done nothing to you, Honey, I don’t deserve your spite and I’m not going to stay here and get the blame for something I haven’t done. I’m not a thief; I’ve never stolen anything in my life.’ She snatched up her bag, grabbed her coat and ran out of the office. As she raced down the stairs she could hear Clarissa’s voice asking what was going on, mingling with Aidey and Anna-Lisa’s voices calling for her
to wait up.

  Once outside, she ran, not caring that the rain was torrential or the wind lashing and cruel. She raced through the streets, tears pouring down her cheeks, dirty puddles splashing up her legs, the need to get as far away from Yorkshire Portions as possible pushing her on.

  She continued running until she was well away from the busy streets of shops. She didn’t know where she was going and cared even less. Her mind was a mess, unable to process what had happened. How was her life ever going to get right after this?

  34

  Darkness had descended over the city. The rain was falling in broad horizontal swathes, the odd flash of lightning streaking across the sky. Mim was soaked to the skin and shivering but she didn’t care, she’d had enough. Her mind was still in turmoil, turning over everything that had happened over the last few weeks. She couldn’t see how she was going to get out of this mess; Honey seemed dead set on persecuting her for reasons Mim couldn’t fathom. But her persistence had paid off, Honey had won and Mim had lost her job and looked like a thief to her employers; it would be impossible to get another job without a reference from them.

  She’d been walking around for hours, eventually collapsing on a bench by the river when her legs had felt too weak to go any further. She’d lost track of how long she’d been there when a figure dropped down beside her, wrapping their arms around her. ‘Mim! Oh, jeez, Mim, thank God I’ve found you. We’ve been worried sick, you haven’t been answering your phone.’

  Relief at hearing Aidey’s voice and feeling his arms around her, squeezing her tight, made her burst into tears once more. She leaned into him. ‘I’m sorry, Aidey. I, I just had to get away. I can’t believe what’s happened. I’m not a thief.’

  ‘Hey, you’ve got nothing to apologise for, and we all know you’re not a thief.’ He smoothed her hair. ‘You’re absolutely drenched. Travis and Sarah are having a night in at my place, but why don’t I take you to my parents’ house? My car’s just over there. You can have a nice soak in the bath and I can tell you what happened after you left the office.’

  His suggestion sounded indescribably appealing. ‘But what about the police? Won’t they be looking for me?’

  ‘Don’t worry about them, they’re not looking for anyone. Come on, I’ll tell you all about it on the way.’ He hooked his arm under Mim’s and helped her to her feet.

  ‘I need to tell Carly I’ll be late for Herbert.’

  ‘That’s already dealt with. Anna’s been in touch with her, Herbert’s having a sleep-over at hers. She sends her love, as does Herbs.’

  The thought of Herbert brought a half-smile to her lips. ‘Thank you, Aidey.’

  ‘No worries. We’ll just get you in the car, then I’ll text Anna, tell her I’ve found you. She’ll be so relieved.’

  ‘I’m sorry I’ve worried you; I just had to get out of the office. I was wandering around and lost track of time.’

  ‘It’s gone seven o’clock. You’ve been wandering a long time.’ Aidey pulled her drenched coat off her and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. Once they were in the car, he put the heating on full and set off out of the city.

  Mim couldn’t remember ever feeling so cold, it felt as though it had permeated right through to her bones. Her teeth chattered as she listened.

  ‘Clarissa came into the room, asking what all the yelling was about. As you can imagine, Honey started making her mouth go straight away until Anna and me shouted her down.’

  ‘I bet that went down well.’

  ‘Like a lead balloon.’

  ‘Did she stay quiet?’ Her hands lay in her lap, pain throbbing through them as they slowly thawed out.

  ‘She did when Clarissa told her to shut up. Anyway, between us, Anna and me told her what had been happening, and that it had all begun after Honey had started working here. Clarissa’s face was a picture as she listened.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘Anna played a blinder when she told them about what had happened when her sister had worked with Honey and how trouble seems to follow her around – Honey got a bit vocal then.’

  ‘Well, there’s no way she’d take any of that lying down, not with a strong personality like hers.’

  ‘True. So, after Clarissa had heard everything, she went back to her room and made a few enquiries amongst her contacts. Turns out Honey’s got quite a track record for this sort of thing, but no one would risk giving her a bad reference as everyone knows her parents and had offered her work as a favour to them. But they were all pretty keen to see the back of her.’

  Mim felt relief wash over her; people might finally see what Honey was really capable of. ‘So what happened after that?’

  ‘Apparently, Clarissa had a word with Catherine who called Honey down to her office – she’d still been in our office up to then – Kenneth was there, too, and by all accounts they gave her a right dressing down and told her to leave. Turns out Honey’s been jealous of you; she said it wasn’t fair how everyone likes you, everyone goes on about how good you are at your job, everyone says how pretty you are and how you get all the men you want without even trying.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Apparently, she said no one seems to notice her.’

  Mim snorted. ‘Oh, I think we do!’

  ‘Yep, that’s what Anna and me thought. And, get this, she owned up to planting the pen in your bag and the stuff in your drawer, claiming it was a “joke” and that she just wanted to give you a bit of a shock.’

  ‘Well, it was some sick joke; and it gave me more than a bloody shock.’

  ‘I know.’ Aidey reached across and squeezed her hand. ‘After that, Clarissa came to see us and said that her mum was really sorry she’d made a mistake and that she wouldn’t be calling the police. Once we’d heard that, Anna and I told her we were going to look for you and we left the office.’

  ‘So, Catherine accepted that I didn’t know anything about the missing stuff?’

  Aidey nodded. ‘Yep. Might make her stop and think, and get both sides of a story before she starts shooting her mouth off. But she’s a bully, and that’s not how she works. Though it looks like your job’s still there, if you want it.’

  Mim was relieved that her name had been cleared, but the thought of going back to work at that office held no appeal. ‘I’m not going back. I can’t face it. I haven’t been happy there for a while. I’ve got a bit of freelance stuff that can keep me ticking over until I get another job. I should be okay, it’s not like I’ve got rent to worry about and I don’t have a wild lifestyle.’

  Aidey was quiet for a moment, the lights of the cars heading towards them lighting up his face every now and then. ‘Well, you don’t have to make your decision now. You just need to concentrate on getting warm and dry.’

  Before long the car headlights picked out the sign for Mistleby and the pair were pulling up outside Aidey’s parents’ home. Lights glowed from the downstairs windows of the large Georgian house, lending it a cosy air. The door opened, sending a shaft of light onto the path, and an elderly black Labrador with a broad, grey muzzle waddled out. Aidey’s mum Shona appeared behind him, her pretty face etched with concern.

  ‘Hello, Norman.’ Aidey smoothed the old Labrador’s head which was met with a steady wag of his tail.

  ‘Oh, Aidey, thank goodness you found her. Mim, lovie, come on in out of the rain. We’ll run you a lovely, warm bath, you can have a hot chocolate while it’s filling.’ She ran over to Mim and wrapped her arms around her. Mim could have cried; the last time she’d been shown maternal kindness like this was when her grandparents were still alive. She hadn’t realised until that moment how much she’d missed it.

  Mim followed Shona to the cosy, low-beamed kitchen at the back of the house. ‘You sit yourself here where it’s warm.’ Shona motioned to a comfy-looking chair next to the Aga. She reached into a cupboard and pulled out a pan. ‘Are you on for a hot chocolate, too, Aidey?’

  ‘Think I’ll just have a coffee, thanks, Mum
.’

  They were sipping their drinks when Mim suddenly became conscious of Aidey and his mum looking at her hair. She reached her hand up to it self-consciously. ‘I cut it,’ she said. ‘I had to.’

  ‘Oh.’ Shona’s eyes widened while Aidey looked puzzled.

  ‘I got gum in it, a massive blob of it. I was sitting on a bench and leaned back into it. It must’ve been fresh since it was still soft and stuck in my hair. It wouldn’t come out, so I cut it out with the nail scissors I had in my bag.’

  ‘Nail scissors?’ said Aidey.

  Mim nodded.

  ‘Oh, lovie, you needn’t have done that, we could’ve got it out here, you just need to use something greasy to get rid of the stickiness, then it would slide out.’

  Mim shrugged. At the time it had happened, she couldn’t have cared less. It had been another thing to add to her problems, and she just wanted the disgusting stuff out of her hair. ‘My hair’s a frazzled mess anyway, it needed a good cut.’

  The deep, fragrant bath had gone some way to assuaging Mim’s exhausted state. She’d dried herself on a huge, fluffy towel and pulled on the pair of Aidey’s pyjamas his mum had set out for her. Shona had kindly said that Mim being so much taller than her meant that nothing she had would fit, but Aidey’s legs being longer, the pyjamas she kept for if he stayed over last minute would do the trick. Mim knew that anything Shona had wouldn’t touch her, her bum was easily twice the size of the older woman’s. Not that she minded; she quite liked wearing something of Aidey’s, especially since his cologne still lingered on the freshly laundered fabric.

  When Mim padded downstairs she could hear a familiar voice coming from the kitchen. She pushed open the door to see Anna-Lisa sitting at the table, her hair glowing like a soft, pink halo.

  ‘Mim!’ Her friend jumped up, ran over to her and threw her arms around her. ‘It’s so good to see you. Are you okay?’

  It felt good to see Anna, too, and Mim felt herself smiling. ‘Hi, Anna, sorry to put you all to so much trouble, but, yes, I’m fine. Better now I’ve had a soak in the bath – thanks, Shona, it was lovely, just what I needed.’