Last Chance Saloon - Marian Keyes [126]
As the very long day came to an end, and Katherine packed up her stuff, she tried to exude with her body language, I’m going now. I am, you know. Last chance for any Joe Roths who want to ask any Katherine Caseys out for a drink. But nothing doing.
What more could she do? she asked herself. Short of physically attacking him? Flashing him a breast across the office?
So that was the end of that. She was disappointed, but also relieved – and not entirely surprised. Somewhere along the line she’d realized that Joe Roth was strong and stubborn. Once firmly rejected, he wouldn’t try again.
But at least she’d given it a shot. Maybe, if she was truthful, she’d admit that it had been a little half-hearted. And, of course, it hadn’t had the desired result. But she could go to Fintan in all honesty and say that she’d tried.
And hopefully he wouldn’t withhold his recovery, like a lawyer’s clients who withhold payment when they lose the case. No win, no fee. No shag, no recovery.
46
When Katherine showed up at the hospital, the phalanx of friends and relations were briefly absent and Sandro and Fintan were having a hard-to-come-by one-to-one. They sat, their heads close together, holding hands, with a comfortable unity about them that she was loath to disturb. Sandro was murmuring something, which caused Fintan to smile. When she got closer she heard what it was.
‘… fresh-water pool, resident masseuse, award-winning chef, nightly entertainment and day-trips to the nearby jungle, where you have an opportunity to ride on an elephant.’
‘Hi,’ Katherine whispered, quietly pulling up a chair.
‘Thailand.’ Fintan’s mouth curved happily. ‘The Orchid Palace in Chiang Mai.’
‘Sounds great.’
‘We’re travelling around Thailand,’ Sandro explained.
‘Going to Phuket next.’
‘Staying in a five-star hotel.’
‘Water-skiing, among other things.’
‘When Fintan’s better we’ll do it for real.’
‘After the safari in Kenya. And two weeks in La Source in Grenada. Show Katherine the brochure of La Source, Sandro.’
Sandro flicked through the pile of travel brochures on the floor beside him, eventually locating La Source, which Katherine politely admired. Then Sandro went to get drinks, leaving Katherine alone with Fintan. ‘I’ve good news for you,’ she announced. ‘I came on strong to Joe Roth.’
Maybe ‘came on strong’ was a slight exaggeration for three smiles and seven words, but Fintan needn’t know.
‘Great!’ In delight Fintan struggled to sit up and found he couldn’t.
‘Are you OK?’ Katherine asked anxiously. ‘Why are you so weak? It’s three days since you’ve had any chemo.’
‘My immune system is shagged, white blood cells completely flattened.’ He threw his eyes to heaven. ‘A side-effect of the chemo. Though they say everything is a side-effect of the chemo. If I fell off a ladder and broke my leg it’d be a side-effect of the chemo.’
‘Oh dear, it just doesn’t let up.’
‘Ah, never mind.’ He switched his focus to happier things. ‘Tell me about Joe Roth. Are you going out or what? When? Where’s he taking you?’
‘Er, nowhere,’ Katherine felt awful letting Fintan down. ‘He didn’t ask me out.’
‘But you said you’d good news for me.’
‘And I had.’ Katherine forced a bright smile. ‘I did as you asked. I tried my best by smiling and speaking to him, and I know I didn’t get a result, but that’s hardly my fault.’
Fintan sat in silence.
‘I did what you asked,’ she repeated, feebly.
‘No, that won’t do at all,’ Fintan declared imperiously. ‘It just won’t.’
Katherine’s heart sank and once again she contemplated not being friends with Fintan any more.
‘Did you apologize for accusing him of sexual harassment?’ Fintan asked.
‘Well, no…’
‘But how can you expect anything to happen when that’s still hanging between you?’ Fintan scolded. ‘Cop on, Katherine Casey!’
‘What can I do about it?’ she said, stubbornly. ‘What’s said is said.’
‘Apologize to him!’
‘I can’t.’ The very thought of going to Joe, all humble and hangdog! She cringed and shuddered.
‘You can’t go