During the next two hours, Maisie kept a close eye on both men, while at the same time trying to supervise a hundred other customers. When the dining-room clock struck three, there were only two people left in the room; John Wayne and Gary Cooper, thought Maisie, waiting to see who would draw first at the OK Corral. She folded Mike’s bill, put it on a plate and took it across to him. He paid it without checking.
‘Another great meal,’ he said, before adding in a whisper, ‘I hope we’re still on for the theatre Tuesday night?’
‘We sure are, honey,’ said Maisie, teasing him.
‘Then I’ll see you at the Old Vic at eight,’ he said as a waitress passed by his table.
‘I’ll look forward to that, sir, and you can be sure I’ll pass on your compliments to the chef.’
Mike stifled a laugh, before leaving the table and strolling out of the dining room. He looked back at Maisie and smiled.
Once he was out of sight, Maisie took Patrick’s bill across to him. He checked every item and left a large tip. ‘Are you doing anything special tomorrow evening?’ he asked, giving Maisie that smile she remembered so well.
‘Yes, I’m attending an evening class.’
‘You’re kidding me,’ said Patrick.
‘No, and I mustn’t be late, because it’s the first lesson of a twelve-week course.’ She didn’t tell him that she hadn’t finally decided whether to go through with it or not.
‘Then it will have to be Tuesday,’ said Patrick.
‘I already have a date on Tuesday.’
‘Do you really, or are you just saying that to get rid of me?’
‘No, I’m going to the theatre.’
‘Then what about Wednesday, or is that your night for algebraic equations?’
‘No, composition and reading out loud.’
‘Thursday?’ said Patrick, trying not to sound exasperated.
‘Yes, I’m free on Thursday,’ said Maisie, as another waitress passed by their table.
‘That’s a relief,’ said Patrick. ‘I was beginning to think I’d have to book in for a second week, just to get an appointment.’
Maisie laughed. ‘So what do you have in mind?’
‘I thought we’d start by going to—’
‘Mrs Clifton.’ Maisie swung round to find the hotel manager, Mr Hurst, standing behind her. ‘When you’ve finished with this customer,’ he said, ‘perhaps you’d be kind enough to join me in my office?’
Maisie thought she’d been discreet, but now she feared she might even get the sack, because it was against company policy for members of staff to fraternize with the customers. That was how she’d lost her previous job, and Pat Casey had been the customer in question on that occasion.
She was grateful that Patrick slipped out of the restaurant without another word, and once she’d checked the till, she reported to Mr Hurst’s office.
‘Take a seat, Mrs Clifton. I have a rather serious matter to discuss with you.’ Maisie sat down and gripped the arms of the chair to stop herself shaking. ‘I could see you were having another busy day.’
‘A hundred and forty-two covers,’ said Maisie. ‘Almost a record.’
‘I don’t know how I’m going to replace you,’ he said before adding, ‘but management make these decisions, not me, you understand. It’s out of my hands.’
‘But I enjoy my job,’ said Maisie.
‘That may well be the case, but I have to tell you that on this occasion I agree with head office.’ Maisie sat back, ready to accept her fate. ‘They have made it clear,’ continued Mr Hurst, ‘that they no longer want you to work in the dining room, and have asked me to replace you as soon as possible.’
‘But why?’
‘Because they’re keen for you to go into management. Frankly, Maisie, if you were a man, you’d already be running one of our hotels. Congratulations!’
‘Thank you,’ said Maisie, as she began to think about the implications.
‘Let’s get the formalities out of the way, shall we?’ said Mr Hurst as he pulled open his desk drawer and extracted a letter. ‘You’ll need to study this carefully,’ he said. ‘It details your new terms of employment. Once you’ve read it, sign it, return it to me, and I’ll send it back to head office.’
That was when she made the decision.
29
MAISIE WAS FEARFUL of making a fool of herself.
When she reached the school gate, she nearly turned back, and would have done, if she hadn’t seen another woman older than herself entering the building. She followed her through the front door and along the corridor, stopping when she reached the classroom. She peeped inside, hoping to find the room so full that no one would notice her. But there were only seven other people present: two men and five women.
She crept to the back of the classroom and took a seat behind the two men, hoping she couldn’t be seen. Maisie immediately regretted her decision, because if she’d taken a seat by the door, she could have escaped more easily.