“Isn’t he a peach?” she says dreamily. “I knew he’d say yes.”
“What went on in there?” I mutter incredulously. “What’s with the shouting? I thought you couldn’t talk to anyone except me!”
“Talking’s no good,” she agrees. “But I’ve noticed that when I really let off a socking great scream right in someone’s ear, most people seem to hear something faint. It’s terribly hard work, though.”
“Have you done this before? Have you spoken to anyone else?”
I know it’s ridiculous, but I feel the tiniest bit jealous that she can get through to other people. Sadie is my ghost.
“Oh, I had a few words with the queen,” she says airily. “Just for fun.”
“Are you serious?”
“Maybe.” She shoots me a wicked little smile. “It’s hell on the old vocal cords, though. I always have to give up after a while.” She coughs and rubs her throat.
“I thought I was the only person you were haunting,” I can’t help saying childishly. “I thought I was special.”
“You’re the only person I can be with instantly,” says Sadie after pondering a moment. “I just have to think of you, and I’m with you.”
“Oh.” Secretly, I feel quite pleased to hear this.
“So, where do you think he’ll take us?” Sadie looks up, her eyes sparkling. “The Savoy? I adore the Savoy.”
My attention is wrenched back to the present situation. She seriously envisages all three of us going on a date together? A weird, freaky, threesome-with-a-ghost date?
OK, Lara. Stay sane. That guy won’t really claim a date. He’ll tear up my card and blame the incident on his hangover/drug habit/stress levels and I’ll never see him again. Feeling more confident, I stride toward the exit. That’s enough craziness for one day. I have things to do.
As soon as I get back to the office, I put a call through to Jean, lean back in my swivel chair, and prepare to relish the moment.
“Jean Savill.”
“Oh, hi, Jean,” I say pleasantly. “It’s Lara Lington here. I’m just calling about your no-dog policy again, which I totally understand and applaud. I can absolutely see why you’d wish to keep your workplace an animal-free zone. But I was just wondering why this rule doesn’t extend to Jane Frenshew in room 1416?”
Ha!
I’ve never heard Jean so squirmy. At first she denies it altogether. Then she tries to say it’s due to special circumstances and doesn’t set any precedent. But it only takes one mention of lawyers and European rights for her to cave in. Shireen can bring Flash to work! It’s going to be put in her contract tomorrow, and they’re throwing in a dog basket! I put down the phone and dial Shireen’s number. She’s going to be so happy! Finally, this job is fun .
And it’s even more fun when Shireen gasps incredulously over the phone.
“I couldn’t imagine anyone at Sturgis Curtis taking the same trouble,” she keeps saying. “This is the difference when you work with a smaller outfit.”
“Boutique,” I correct her. “We have the personal touch. Tell all your friends!”
“I will! I’m so impressed! How did you find out about the other dog, by the way?”
I hesitate briefly.
“Ways and means,” I say finally.
“Well, you’re brilliant!”
At last I put the phone down, glowing, and look up to see Kate gazing at me with avid curiosity.
“How did you find out about the other dog?” she says.
“Instincts.” I shrug.
“Instincts?” echoes Sadie derisively, who has been wandering about the office throughout. “You didn’t have any instincts! It was me! You should say, ‘My marvelous great-aunt Sadie helped me and I’m extremely grateful.’”
“You know, Natalie would never have bothered tracking down a dog,” says Kate suddenly. “Never. Not in a million years.”
“Oh.” My glow dims. Suddenly, looking at the whole thing through Natalie-type business eyes, I feel a little unprofessional. Maybe it was a bit ridiculous, to spend so much time and effort on one dog. “Well, I just wanted to save the situation; it seemed the best way-”
“No, you don’t understand.” Kate cuts me off, pink in the face. “I meant it in a good way.”
I’m so taken aback, I don’t know what to say. No one’s ever compared me favorably to Natalie before.
“I’ll go on a coffee run to celebrate!” Kate says brightly. “Do you want anything?”