Read Little Kiosk By The Sea for Free Online

conspicuously studying their screens rather than look at her.
    ‘I’m not bloody contagious,’ she muttered. But maybe redundancy was?
    Estelle, the fashion editor, late to work as usual, took in the scene instantly when she arrived.
    ‘Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,’ she said, enveloping Ellie in a hug. ‘What a shock. You all right?’ She held Ellie at arms’-length and studied her critically. ‘Take a few days holiday, get Rod to spoil you. You’ll bounce back. Give me a ring next week – we’ll have lunch.’
    ‘Thanks, Estelle. Would you like this?’ Ellie held out the orchid plant that had sat on her desk all year without a single flower. ‘You might have more luck with it than me.’
    She picked up the box and her laptop and called out, ‘Bye, everyone. Good luck!’ before walking out of the office without a backward glance.
    Ellie decided to walk home via the park rather than take the bus. The box wasn’t heavy and her laptop bag was comfy across her shoulder. After all, there was nothing to rush for and the sun was shining. The takeaway chalet near the lake was open and she treated herself to a Danish pastry and a coffee. Necessary comfort food.
    Sitting on a wooden bench and watching mums and their children feed the ducks, Ellie started to think things through. Ever practical, she counted the plusses currently in her life. One, she had a roof over her head. Two, she was in a loving relationship. Although that had been a bit strained recently with them both being so busy. A short time off work would give her the opportunity to spoil Rod. She’d start by cooking his favourite meal tonight – coq au vin. Maybe he’d open one of his special red wines that he kept in a box under his bed. They could at least drink to the future. Once she’d dumped her stuff off at home, she’d do a supermarket shop and stock the cupboards. Three, the redundancy cheque was enough to live on for at least three months – even taking into account her share of the high rent for their serviced flat.
    Right, that was the pros taken care of. Now for the cons. One, she was unemployed. Two, there weren’t a lot of jobs around at the moment. Three, she couldn’t actually think of a third. The first two were bad enough. What if she didn’t get a job for months and months? Would Rod even consider moving to a non-serviced flat where he actually had to do something like take the rubbish to the bin rather than just put the black bag outside the door for the caretaker to pick up? Unlikely.
    He’d lived in the modern, minimalistic flat for two years now. Ellie had moved in with him just six months ago at his suggestion. At first she’d tried to add some of her own touches – a scarlet throw over the settee to bring some colour into the black and white decor, a picture or two but Rod hated them. The only things he tolerated were her candles and two scarlet cushions – and then only when she protested it was her home too.
    Even with her contributing to the rent, he moaned every month about the extortionate charges. Somehow she couldn’t see him agreeing to give up the apartment and rent a cheaper one because she’d lost her job and couldn’t afford to contribute. As far as he was concerned, his address was a status symbol. On the other hand, he might wave his hand airily, tell her not to worry, he’d look after her – and pick the rent up. Ellie sighed. Rod never had been one with the expansive gestures.
    Ellie finished the pastry and threw the remains of the cold coffee on the grass. She’d have the rest of the week off and then next week she’d refresh her CV and start job-hunting in earnest. Maybe register with an agency for some temp work. See if there were any freelancing opportunities around.
    Rod was in the sitting room, tapping hard on his laptop when she got home.
    ‘I didn’t realise you were working from home today,’ she said.
    ‘Have to see a client round the corner in …’ He glanced at his watch.