A couple of older women were in here, waiting on their tea, and Maddie greeted them warmly. Everyone here seemed to know Maddie. Of course, as the only butch lesbian and one of the only people under forty in the building, Maddie stood out a bit. Still, neither of these differences explained everyone’s warmth toward her. She was obviously well known and liked. Ryann remembered then that Jai had called Maddie the town do-gooder, and he clearly hadn’t exaggerated. Everyone seemed excited to see her, some of the volunteers even coming into the break room to greet her.

Ryann tried to tune them out while she made herself comfortable at the little Formica table. She got her tablet up and running and took off her cardigan. It was incredibly hot in here, but seeing the way all the volunteers were bundled up likely explained the heat.

Maddie walked over to the table. “You’ll be okay in here, then?”

“Fine, thanks. I’ll try to join you out there if I have some extra time. When do we need to leave for the bakery?”

“About 1:40, 1:45—so you have about an hour and twenty.”

“Great. That should be plenty.”

Maddie rejoined some of the volunteers, all of whom were throwing not-so-subtle glances her way and tittering, one of them whispering in Maddie’s ear. Maddie laughed, blushing, her gaze meeting Ryann’s for a brief moment, a little guilty. Maddie moved to leave, and the others all scurried out after her, talking and chatting at full volume. Ryann was left entirely alone.

After reading a few panicky emails from some of her own board members as well as some of the CEOs from the other companies hers was working with, Ryann spent the next hour on several frustrating phone calls, the process a little like trying to hold people’s hands. She had to remind all of them in detail of what they stood to gain if they saw this deal through, although they had those numbers in front of them. Her board she could understand, but somehow, several of the other companies had heard rumors that London might be backing out. She had to try to assuage her board members who were on the ground in London telling her that London was about to back out, while also assuring the CEOs of the other companies that they weren’t. It was a nightmare.

Meanwhile, as she made these phone calls, an occasional looky-loo came into the breakroom to gawk at her. It was obvious this was what they were doing, as none of them did much beyond glance not so subtly her way, pretend to search for something in a cupboard or in the fridge, and then leave empty-handed. She would wonder about them, then, pulled back into whatever conversation she was having, be forced to dismiss them.