I’ll say, I thought, matching her gesture. It had been the exact thing to turn a ridiculous few months into something salvageable. If I’d been talking to Diane I would have said so. But Lucille looked ready to rush me out at break-neck speed, so I thanked her another two times and hurried out of the office, clutching the paperwork to my chest like I was holding government secrets.

I took the stairs back to my normal floor, to give myself time to calm down, take deep breaths, and dance about like Chandler Bing post-orgasm. I threw my arms out, kicked my legs, grabbed my phone and typed a text: AMAZING NEWS AT WORK. Got a second? xxx

But I was dumbstruck. Who should I send this to?

Chapter 33

Order of importance: I texted the group chat to tell the girls, then I called Rowan. He was supportive and delighted – ‘Jesus, Edi, that’s amazing!’ – but not enough to immediately take me out to celebrate – ‘I’m shit, I know, but I’ve got stuff tonight that I can’t get out of. This weekend though?’ – which I tried to be understanding of. In fact, I tried so hard to be understanding that I managed to convince myself it really was fine (even though it really wasn’t) and instead of doing anything to mark this drastic change in my career (super drastic, some might say), I just got myself together and went home. Alone. I landed heavy on the sofa that evening with a sigh and decided the least I could do was order myself a takeaway. I was a click away from Just Eat when the phone hummed alive in my hand: Fred.

‘Hi,’ I answered, ‘this is a nice surprise.’

‘Got a second to talk?’ She sounded light, happy. It was infectious. ‘I wasn’t sure if …’

‘Not at all. I’m alone and all ears. What’s going on?’

‘I had good news and I wanted to share it.’ A heat spread across my abdomen and I found myself smiling like a desperate teenager; it was a look Fred brought out in me quite often. ‘I’ve had confirmation of an exhibit, Edi. Like, of my work in an actual gallery.’ Her excitement mounted the more she added – ‘They’re confirming details, and then, Christ then …’. I felt a shared excitement for her. I was on the edge of my seat by the time she’d finished. ‘Isn’t that bloody brilliant?’

‘Yes, God, absolutely. Congratulations.’ I decided to tell her, then. ‘This is serendipity.’

‘You have news?’

‘Promotion.’ My smile inched a little wider when I heard her gasp. ‘Training courses, pick of managerial modules, head of multiple teams.’

‘Okay, how are we celebrating?’ she asked, her voice full of happy jitters. But then she sank a little and said, ‘I’m an idiot. You’ll be with people.’