Page 72 of Watching Henry

“Hadley? Is that you?”

She looked around at the flea market her apartment had become, frowning and wondering how she'd created so much mess in such a little time. “Yep, speaking,” she said, distracted.

“It's Eleanor. From the coffee shop.”

Hadley snapped to attention. “Wow. Cool. Hey, I'm so glad you called.”

“I'm about to make you even glad-er,” Eleanor said. “I've got your last paycheck sitting here and I've got no idea where to send it to.”

“Oh, have you got a pen?”

She waited while Eleanor found something to write with, still secretly thrilling at the word paycheck. How could she not? A paycheck felt good.

There was a difference somehow, and she didn't quite know what it was. Okay, getting her allowance was pretty nice, going to an ATM and seeing those numbers, it felt good, she'd be lying if she said otherwise. But it wasn't the same as getting a paycheck, even if the paycheck numbers were a whole lot smaller than her allowance ones.

“Okay, got it,” Eleanor said.

Hadley reeled off her address.

“Right, I'll get that in the mail,” said Eleanor. She paused. “You doing okay?”

Hadley looked at her wreck of an apartment again. All she was trying to do was pack a bag for the Burning Man trip. But somehow it had turned into a huge clear-out. She'd been looking for a t-shirt but had gotten dragged into how disorganized her stuff was and before she knew it she was... tidying.

“Yeah, I'm fine.”

Tidying? Seriously? What a... Florence kind of word.

“Really?” asked Eleanor. “Because you skipped out in kind of a hurry and, well, I did sort of wonder. I guess I'm being nosy. I just... I felt somewhat invested in you and Florence, you know?”

Her name hurt. It was an odd feeling, a bit like being stuck with a pin.

“Yeah, well, sometimes things just don't work out,” she said as carelessly as she could.

“Right.” Eleanor paused again. “Look, I know this isn't your ideal job. I get that you've probably got better things to do. More interesting things to do. But if you wanted to come back, I'd hire you like a shot, just so you know.”

Hadley closed her eyes. Better things to do. More interesting things to do. Eleanor thought she was as flaky as everyone else did. Was it really that surprising? She'd ducked out on the job without giving any notice. So maybe Eleanor was right.

Which meant that maybe Florence was right.

Which hurt even more.

“Nah, I'm good, thanks,” Hadley said.

“The offer's open.”

“Thanks. But really, I'm good. I'm going on a trip, so...” Or at least she was if she could ever get a damn bag packed.

“Not a problem. You look after yourself, Hadley. You deserve it. Don't let... Don't let life get you down. Don't let life suck the joy out of you. You're a joyful person, and it's one of the nicest things about you.”

Hadley felt herself blushing, warming. She hadn't expected the compliment and didn't know how to respond. “Thanks,” she said. “I'll... I'll try.”

When she hung the phone up she collapsed onto a sofa strewn with dresses and looked around her.

This wasn't like her.

For sure, she could see the end point. She could see how having an organized closet would be great. But actually doing it? Doing it right here and now? That was Florence's influence. Don't put off a job you can do today until tomorrow, she could almost hear Florence's voice saying the words.

And tears sparkled in her eyes making the light from the window split into a kaleidoscope of colors.