Free Starlight by Anne Douglas Page A

they weren’t going to have a staff party? Dobson’s had always had a do in the back room, with food and drink and a two-piece band for dancing.
    â€˜Can’t run to that,’ Sally told her. ‘And it’s no’ easy, getting everybody together, with the evening working and that. What George likes to do is just have us all up to his office for a drink at lunchtime on Christmas Eve, when there’s no matinee.’
    â€˜And we all bring something to eat?’
    â€˜No, no, dear, Daisy Hawthorne brings sandwiches and a Christmas cake. She’s very good about that.’
    â€˜I’ll look forward to it, then.’
    â€˜Aye, and you’ll be looking forward to having your sister here after Hogmanay, eh?’ Sally shook her head. ‘What a lovely girl! Joan Baxter said she couldn’t resist giving her Nancy’s job, even though she’s a wee bit old.’
    â€˜Yes, it’ll be nice,’ Jess agreed. ‘Having Marguerite working in the cafe.’
    Nice. Well, she hoped so. As soon as Marguerite had said she’d try for the job, Jess had known she’d get it. Who’d turn her down? It must have been plain from the moment she slipped off her coat and strolled into the interview in her navy blue suit, that she was going to add something special to the cinema cafe, and Mrs Baxter would have been bowled over, as people always were.
    Whether or not Marguerite would get on with Pam and the other waitresses remained to be seen. Jess had her suspicions that some of her sister’s colleagues at the Galleon had been rather resentful of her manner, as well as envious of her looks, but maybe things would be different at the Princes. Just as long as she, Jess, didn’t get involved. After all, she wasn’t responsible for her sister.
    It was some time since she and Rusty had met outside work. After his show of hostility, he had recovered enough to be friendly when he saw her, but had not asked her to walk with him again – a sign, she guessed, that he’d been deeply hurt by her aim to keep their meetings secret. Although she was still anxious not to let Ben see them together, she felt bad about hurting Rusty, and wished there was something she could do to make it up to him. With Christmas fast approaching, it came to her.
    â€˜Rusty, could I have a word?’ she asked, when she saw him in his break one afternoon, smoking a cigarette in the foyer.
    â€˜Any time,’ he answered politely.
    â€˜I was wondering . . . if you’re no’ doing anything for Christmas dinner, would you like to have it with us? Ma and my sister and me?’
    A flush rose to his cheekbones and his eyes grew wintry.
    â€˜This you feeling sorry for me, Jess? Thanks, but I think I’ll have to say no.’
    â€˜You’ve got other plans?’ she asked, her own cheeks colouring at his tone.
    â€˜No, but I’ll be OK. Don’t worry about me.’
    â€˜Oh, come on, Rusty! If you’re no’ doing anything else, you could come to us? We’d all be happy if you did.’
    â€˜I’ve never even met your mother, or your sister.’
    â€˜Well, you’ll be meeting Marguerite soon. She’s coming to work at the cafe.’ Jess put her hand on his thin arm. ‘Please, Rusty, it’s Christmas, eh? Don’t be mad at me.’
    â€˜You’re so keen to have me say I’ll come,’ he said with a short laugh. ‘Just as long as I don’t tell Ben about it, eh?’
    Her face now crimson, Jess turned away.
    â€˜It’s all right,’ she said, her voice shaking. ‘You needn’t come. I’m sorry I asked you.’
    As she walked rapidly back to the box office, he made no move to stop her, only drew hard on his cigarette, then stubbed it out, and left the foyer.
    â€˜Oh dear, got a cold?’ a young man asked, seeing Jess’s eyes filling with tears as she gave him his ticket for The