Anticipation of the weekend usually made for a pleasant Friday at work. However, I knew the upcoming weekend wouldn’t be as enjoyable as previous ones because Sam wouldn’t be with us. I was sitting brooding about this when Mary breezed into my office.
“Thank God it’s Friday!” she said, sitting in my guest chair and kicking off her shoes.
“Hello, stranger.” I tried for a smile.
“We haven’t seen much of each other lately.”
“The price of promotion.” I shrugged. “My old post should be filled soon. Then all the work won’t fall on your shoulders.”
We’d appointed a temp in to cover my old position, and he had applied for the permanent post.
“John’s a good lad, and he’s got a cute bum.”
“Mary!”
“He has. Not as nice as yours, though.”
“Thanks, I think.”
Getting serious, she said, “I mis
