Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

she made her way to the corner cabinet where the tea and kettle were stored, her desk phone rang. ‘Oh, blast!’ She gritted her teeth. ‘I hope it’s not him again.’

      It was Lilian. ‘Oh, Lilian!’ Relief flooded her voice. ‘Has the doctor said you can come back yet?’

      On hearing Lilian’s answer, relief turned to disappointment. ‘Oh, that’s a real shame. No! Well, of course I want you to get well … you sound awful! Only, it’s Mr Martin. He’s being a right pig. With Tom gone and both Dougie and John not due back until next week, and another four people off with the ’flu … he’s going mad. And he’s got me running round like a headless chicken. Honest to God, Lilian … if somebody doesn’t turn up soon, I’ll throw myself off the bleedin’ roof!’

      There was a minute while Lilian told her in nasal tones how she was feeling like death warmed over, and that she would be back as soon as she got the okay. ‘The doctor’s coming out again on Thursday,’ she said. ‘I really hope I feel better by then.’

      ‘So do I.’ Alice regretted taking it out on poor Lilian. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I sound miserable. Get yourself well and hurry back, eh?’

      Just then, the boss’s voice rang out from the stairway. ‘It’s a good job my bloody life doesn’t depend on that tea!’

      ‘On my way, sir!’ She listened while Lilian spoke, then said, ‘You’re right. He’s like a bear with a sore head, and no, I won’t tell him you called, or he’ll say that if you’re well enough to get out to a phone box to call, you’re well enough to come in.’

      She listened a moment longer, then promised, ‘All right, I’ll do my best to keep things going, and yes, I’m keeping the files in order.’ She crossed her fingers. ‘I am! Honestly.’ She almost leapt out of her skin when the boss’s voice sailed down from the heights. ‘HAVE I TO COME AND MAKE THAT DAMNED TEA MYSELF!’

      ‘Sorry, Lilian … got to go.’

      Dropping the receiver into its cradle, she rushed about like her life depended on it. A few minutes later she swanned into the boss’s office. ‘Tea, sir … oh, and I’ve brought you a piece of fruit cake to go with it.’

      It was the fruit cake that did the trick. ‘Well, thank you, Alice.’ His smile enveloped her. ‘What would I do without you?’

      Back home, and lolling in a chair, Lilian congratulated herself on a job well done. ‘Oh, Alice … I feel so ill.’ Mimicking the nasal tones she had employed in the telephone box only minutes ago, she laughed out loud. ‘Truth is, I’ve never felt better. Besides, it’ll do them good to manage without me.’

      She rested for a minute to think through her plan. ‘I wonder if he’ll be glad to see me?’ Telling no one, she had carefully planned this day for weeks; now that it was here, she could hardly contain herself. The thought of seeing Tom again made her dizzy with excitement.

      ‘Come on, Lilian. You’ve got a train to catch.’ A glance at the hallway clock told her it was already half past ten. Standing by the door, her smart new suitcase was already packed; she had her mackintosh at the ready. All she needed to do now was to change into her best dress, put on her make-up, and it would be time for the taxi to arrive.

      With that in mind, she went back upstairs, and stripped off her everyday skirt and blouse. Taking out the flimsy underwear bought only yesterday, she slipped her slim form into it; admiring herself in the wardrobe mirror, she ran her hands over every seductive curve of her body. ‘He won’t be able to resist you.’

      Next she put on her favourite dress: a burgundy, straight-skirted creation with belted waist and drop neckline. The final touch was the sheer nylons she had also bought yesterday. She slid them voluptuously over her long, slim legs, straightened the dark seams, slipped her manicured feet into her new, high-heeled, dark burgundy shoes.

      A few minutes to brush her long auburn curls, a healthy layer of face-powder, a smarm of crimson lipstick, a touch of rouge to her cheekbones, and she was ready. Taking a final glance at herself, Lilian smiled with pleasure.

      ‘I hope you like what you see, Tom,’ she murmured, her heart leaping at the thought of coming face to face with him. It had been such a long time.

      Going downstairs, she put on her mackintosh and checked that the house was secure. When the taxi arrived five minutes later, she was already at the door waiting. ‘I’m on my way, Tom,’ she whispered, climbing into the back of the cab. ‘We’ll be good together, you and me. You’ve had plenty of time to get over what happened,’ she chided. ‘There’s no need for either of us to be lonely any more.’

      Convinced he would be thrilled to see her, she settled back in the seat and smiled a little smile. ‘It’s time for us to start planning a future together.’

      Looking in his mirror, the driver thought Lilian was a real knockout. It was a shame she was mad as a hatter: he could hear her muttering to herself.

      Now, as she looked up and saw him eyeing her, he asked tentatively, ‘All right, are you, Miss?’

      ‘Never better!’ she answered.

      ‘That’s good.’

      He put his foot down and sped along. Usually he would chat to his customers on the journey. But this one seemed to be doing all right talking to herself, he thought.

       Chapter 15

      KATHY WAS DUE to finish work at lunchtime today; afterwards she was planning to go and see Mabel. ‘It’s a crying shame, so it is.’ Rosie at work had been horrified to hear of Mabel’s sorry plight. ‘Sure, the poor woman should get rid of him, and buy a cat or a dog!’

      Chuckling at Rosie’s straightforward, no-nonsense nature, Kathy told her she would pass on the suggestion.

      When she stopped in at home, her sister had a few different ideas. ‘If you ask me, she deserved what she got!’ Kathy had told her where she was going, and that she wouldn’t be long. ‘You tell her from me: any woman who lets a man boss her around is a damned fool!’

      Ignoring her sister’s spiteful remarks, Kathy informed her she would have to root about in the cupboard and get her own lunch. ‘I had a sandwich at work. That should keep me going while I’m out.’

      Samantha had not planned on getting her own meals. ‘I hoped we could go out for a meal – you, me and Tom?’

      ‘Did you now?’ Because of the blatant way she was flirting with Tom, Kathy wanted her gone, but was too polite to say so.

      Insensitive at every point, Samantha retaliated. ‘You seem very insecure these days,’ she said harshly. ‘Anybody would think I was trying to steal him from you.’

      Kathy picked up on that. ‘And are you?’ It wouldn’t be the first time Samantha had stolen a boyfriend of hers.

      Instead of giving a straightforward answer, Samantha simply smiled. ‘He might even prefer me to you. Have you thought of that? Oh, but don’t worry. If he makes advances on me, I’ll put him in his place, I promise.’

      ‘Like you did with other men I’ve liked?’ In her heart Kathy had never forgiven Samantha for her behaviour. ‘You just lured them away, and when you’d had your fun, you dropped them. It was all just a game for you, wasn’t it?’ Kathy was annoyed with herself for rising to the bait, but Samantha’s taunts had brought the memories flooding back.

      ‘It wasn’t my fault! They came on to me!’

      ‘Maybe they did, and maybe I ought to thank you for showing me what swine some of them were, but I can promise you that Tom is a different kettle of fish altogether.’

      ‘Are you sure about that?’

      ‘As sure as I am about anything,