It was a more than a week before Maeve could return to work. Bella had been standing in for her and was reluctant to pass back to Maeve her badge of office - the ledger. Maeve was well aware that her job was coveted by those who spent gruelling hours on their knees, or bundling the great carpets, and she felt lucky to have it.
‘How come Gallagher hasny sacked you for bein’ away for so long?’ Bella asked, as she handed the ledger and a blunt pencil to Maeve. Her expression was foxier than ever. ‘D’ye dae him any favours, like?’
‘Oh…to be sure, I don’t!’ Maeve dropped the pencil and scrabbled on the floor for it. When she stood up again the other woman’s smile admitted that she knew fine Maeve would never do anything so sordid, and she patted her arm and went back to work.
Maeve’s face wa
