Calling All Dentists (Calling All... Book 2), page 4
“No,” she replied shyly, “I wasn’t thinking about him at all.” Lying was not one of Ruby’s traits and sadly, Emma believed her.
Lunch in the Queen’s Arms was an uneventful affair, in comparison to the previous year’s Pete-inspired misadventure. Ruby remained on her best behaviour, as she was always and politely nibbled at a Chicken Caesar Salad while she listened to the banter between Emma and the four men. The atmosphere was relaxed and jovial as everyone began to wind down for the Christmas break ahead.
“Are you going to your mum’s again this year?” asked Pete.
“Yes, on Monday. I’m only staying there until Boxing day,” replied Emma, wishing he would get into more conversations with Ruby than herself. It was a shame that Ruby lacked considerably in the conversationalist department and most people were pretty stretched to try and initiate any sort of chit-chat with her. “Rue’s away the same time as me, so it’s handy that neither of us will be home alone – isn’t it Rue?”
“Um,” she muttered with a mouthful of lettuce and tomato.
“What are your plans?” asked Emma trying to continue polite conversation.
“Oh the usual – at home with Mum and Dad. My sister is coming over in the afternoon on Christmas day and then we’re all at her house on Boxing Day,” replied Pete, looking slightly despondent.
Emma had no empathy for Pete’s lonely existence. At twenty six, the same age as herself, Pete had no life outside of his job, his parent’s and his beloved dog. His infatuation with Emma was irritating and pointless as far as she was concerned and she wished he would see the possibility of a real relationship, which was sitting right under his nose, most of the time. Emma had decided that she would try to push hard to create a spark, no matter how small, to ignite in Pete’s mind, hopefully generating a new interest in Ruby. That, Emma had determined, was her first mission at the Christmas do. Her second was to inject an ember of enthusiasm into Darren, which she truly believed could turn into a flame and subsequently, a roaring fire and better still… an inferno.
“Get the drinks in,” shouted Dave cheekily, across the table, to Colin. As the lowest paid and least qualified member of the office team, Dave made up for his lack of status amongst the ‘professionals’ as he called the others, by being the audacious clown. “I’m gagging here!” Winking at Emma, he held up his glass and offered it to Colin while grasping his throat with his other hand.
Emma suddenly felt queasy at the notion of Dave ‘gagging’, as her corrupt mind wandered in the wrong direction and stopped just short before the full visual image took effect. Then, to everyone’s surprise – except Ruby’s (she hadn’t noticed), Colin stood up obediently and headed towards the bar with his hands in his pockets, leaving the others to finish off their ‘Christmas-special’, turkey meals (apart from Ruby who had gone ‘all-out’ with a chicken salad).
“How the bloody hell do you get away with it every time?” asked Jeff, staring at Dave in amazement.
“I think he fancies me,” laughed Dave, winking again.
Although no one said anything, the looks on their faces were one of slight disapproval at Dave’s insinuating remark.
“You wish,” said Emma.
“Seriously?” Shaking his head, Dave changed the subject. “So, I wonder who has got the cheesiest present this year.” He smiled and looked around the table, waiting for a response.
“Well it depends who bought your present, doesn’t it Dave?” said Jeff, smiling sarcastically. Jeff tolerated Dave’s anomalous character but quite often he could be seen to bite his tongue when he considered a remark to be distasteful and in Dave’s case, this was quite often.
“Oh very funny Jeff, I’ll have you know I put a lot of thought into the present I bought this year.” Pulling himself upright, Dave appeared slightly perturbed by Jeff’s comment and teasingly sucked a whole baby carrot into his mouth, attempting to insinuate something far cruder.
Returning from the bar, in what must have been record time; Colin sat down, “These are on me… and so is the meal,” he said, as he pointed to the drink laden tray being carried over by a young bar maid.
“Ah, cheers Colin,” said Dave with a wide grin stretched across his perfectly shaved and moisturized face.
“Thank you,” said Pete and Ruby, almost simultaneously.
“Yeah, cheers Colin, mate,” added Jeff.
Seated next to Colin, Emma placed her arm around his shoulder. “Bless ya, thank you,” she said, warmly, “Happy Christmas to you too.”
Almost on a par with Colin in the Webb’s Superstores rankings of employees, Emma’s genuine appreciation was heartfelt. She still looked up to him and always would, even though her creditable position within the company made her worthy of an even standing.
At ten past two the tribe of office staff returned to their desks, much later than their normal one hour lunch break allowed, feeling full-up, lethargic and ready to go home. The shop floor would remain open until six o’clock, as was normal on a Friday however there were hardly any customers to serve, so the checkout operators were trying to look busy by tidying up the shelves around their stations. An atmosphere of merriment seeped through the store touching everyone, as the speakers in the rafters played joyous Christmas tunes.
Wearily slumping down into her seat, Emma surveyed the others who were slouched over their desks, half-heartedly clearing up their paperwork or moving things around to create an illusion of ‘My desk is tidy, therefore all my work must have been completed’, apart from Ruby of course, who was busily dusting and polishing surfaces in close proximity to her desk – which was absolutely immaculate (as always).
Picking up an invoice from her tray, Emma looked at the payment due date – 6th January – it could wait she decided and returned it to the growing pile. Her zealous drive had got up and left the building, she couldn’t be bothered with any of it. It was about time her four day break started – before she fell asleep at her desk like a lioness after the kill.
“Secret Santa time!” screeched Dave, dancing around on the landing. Jolting back to a conscious level, Emma watched through the doorway as he carried the box of goodies in to the room. Pete and Ruby actually looked like they were almost excited to see the roughly wrapped objects, protruding from Santa’s box. “Shall I dish them out?”
“Go on then, if you must,” said Colin, peering over his reading glasses and scratching his bald head.
“Who’s first?” asked Dave, handing out the gifts.
“We’ll all open them together,” said Colin, raising his eyebrows and shaking his head in despair at Dave’s childlike antics.
Amongst the sounds of ripping paper, words of ‘thanks secret Santa’ and packages being torn apart, was the faint thumping of Emma’s broken heart and gulps of grief as she desperately tried to contain the horror lurking behind a false smile. Who had bought her present?
Squeals of delight resonated around the office from Dave’s desk, as he held out his fairy outfit and laughed raucously. “Oh, I love it! Who got this for me?” Nobody replied but the other men joined in with Dave’s frolicking and laughter.
Ruby looked across the room to Emma and grinned as she held up a brown leather diary and pen set. Emma reciprocated the smile and nodded in acknowledgement. However, she could not show her present to Ruby for fear of bursting into tears and running out of the store. She had to pluck up the courage to laugh it off. She had to avoid revealing her gift to the others and escape from work as quickly as possible. Who was it that secretly bought and wrapped her present? Did they all know or was it only the culprit’s idea? Emma quickly shoved her present in to her desk drawer, smiled at anyone that might be looking her way and then proceeded to appear ‘awfully busy’ as she rushed out of the office, carrying some paperwork down to the shop floor.
Half an hour of pretence drifted by very slowly before everyone began to say their goodbyes (until tomorrow night) and leave with their presents. Emma had now stuffed her gifts deep inside her oversized handbag and managed to evade any questions about what she’d received from secret Santa. She had sidestepped any questioning by rushing off down stairs to sort out a pretend problem quickly before the Christmas break, tearing away to the toilets in urgent need, or making phone calls to puzzled sales reps who wondered why Emma was saying that she was returning their call – when they hadn’t called her in the first place.
“You’re very quiet Emma, is everything ok?” asked Colin, pulling his heavy coat over his shoulders.
“Yes fine, I’m just knackered,” she replied quietly. “I’ll see you tomorrow night Col.”
“Looking forward to it,” he said, and then picked up his things and left.
Descending the stairs together, Pete, Ruby and Emma said their farewells to the staff on the shop floor and wished others, who weren’t going to the dinner/dance, a very merry Christmas. As they reached the car park, Pete stopped mid-stride, “Fancy a quick drink before we go home?” he looked from Emma to Ruby and back again. Ruby’s eyes lit up as bright as a pair of sparklers and she stared at Emma like a lonely, lost puppy.
“I’ve got a terrible headache coming on. I’ll skip it if you don’t mind. Why don’t you go Rue, I’m sure Pete would give you a lift back, wouldn’t you Pete?” Emma turned to him and smiled falsely.
“Err… sure.”
“No, it’s alright, I’ll come home with you if you’ve got another migraine coming Emma,” said Ruby, faithfully.
“Oh ok. Well never mind then,” Pete replied quickly, and began to edge away. “We’ll catch up tomorrow night, yeah?”
“Definitely,” said Emma, vaguely.
Ruby smiled sweetly at him and then Pete left rather hastily.
As soon as they were in the car, Emma’s defensive brick wall crumbled and she heaved a heavy sigh before a tear popped out from her eye.
“Is it that bad? Will you be able to drive home ok?” Ruby worried.
“I haven’t got a headache, I’m sorry Rue. I just need to get home.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I’ll show you when we get home,” said Emma, slinging her bag onto the back seats and pulling her seat belt on.
“Shall I make you a coffee?” asked Ruby tentatively.
“Please.” Clutching her oversized bag, Emma slumped on the sofa without removing her coat. Somehow the restriction of her long, woolen-mix coat wrapped around her, made her feel safe, secure and shrouded. And then the tears really began to fall.
“Oh my goodness,” said Ruby, placing a cup of coffee on the table next to Emma, “What has upset you Em, is it your teeth?” she asked, innocently.
“You could say that,” spluttered Emma, through the sniffs and snuffles. “Do you have any idea who bought my secret Santa present?”
“No… not at all. Why?”
“I know it wasn’t you or Pete. That only leaves Dave, Jeff or Colin,” she sobbed.
“How do you know it wasn’t Pete? He’s such a kind and caring man, he would be the type to buy anyone a touching gift to make them weep.”
“No, you’ve got it all wrong Rue!” cried Emma, frustrated by Ruby’s utterly geeky, innocence and naivety. “I’m upset because it’s flipping horribly cruel – not ‘touching’.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry.” Reeling from Emma’s angry words, Ruby sat back in the chair as if she had been pinned to the upholstery.
“Sorry Rue, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I shouldn’t have said that.” Emma’s tears were beginning to dry but the evaporation was building into a cloud of anger above her head. “I can’t believe it – whoever did this has spoilt my whole bloody Christmas.”
“What did you get?” asked Ruby, nervously.
Rummaging around inside her handbag, Emma found the two gifts, pulled them out and held them up for Ruby to inspect.
“Oh no.” The horrified look on Ruby’s face said it all. Then she too, burst into tears.
“Why are you crying?”
“I can’t believe they could be so cruel,” whispered Ruby through her hands which were covering her face, “I thought we were all friends in the office. I thought everyone cared about each other. Why would someone do that?”
“Because they thought it would be funny,” said Emma, wiping the last tear from her cheek. “It must be so obvious and I hadn’t realised.”
“It’s not Em, really it isn’t.”
“You’re used to seeing me practically all day, every day Rue. You don’t notice it anymore. Someone is trying to tell me something or maybe it’s a collective message from them all.”
“But it is only a joke Emma – isn’t it? You bought Dave a joke present. I suppose he could have taken it badly, couldn’t he?”
“No, it’s not the same Rue. Dave is more than happy to express his homosexuality and the fact that he is married to a man. He just doesn’t care what anyone thinks about his outspoken, provocative ways. You either love him or hate him and he’s not bothered either way. But this is a personal insult,” said Emma, waving the gifts in the air.
“Isn’t the fairy outfit a personal insult?” questioned Ruby, patting her eyes with a tissue.
“No, he openly displays his sexuality – there’s a big difference Rue. I’ve never discussed my problems or issues with anyone except you, so it’s not a subject to joke about. Do you see what I mean?” Emma’s frustration was showing as she snapped at her dearest friend.
“Um.” Ruby nodded her head, turning down her mouth at the same time.
“I need you to try and find out who did this… Would you do that for me?”
“Why do you want to know who it was? Couldn’t it cause more problems?” Ruby was worried now, she couldn’t possibly cope with being a detective but she also didn’t want to upset her very best friend.
“If I know who it is, then I can quietly talk to them and explain my problem and let them know how upset I am. I can’t work with someone that secretly thinks I don’t give a damn.”
“I don’t think I could do it Emma… I mean… how could I find out anyway?”
“All you need to do is casually drop it into a conversation and tomorrow night would be a good time, after they’ve had a few drinks. There are only three of them so it would just be a case of elimination.” Suddenly realising just how difficult a task that would be for Ruby, as she hardly ever got into conversations with anyone, Emma said, “Look just keep your ears and eyes open for me, would you?”
“Yes I will. I’m so sorry for you Em. Would you like another coffee or maybe something stronger?”
“No, coffee is fine thanks and I’m sorry for burdening you with all my problems Rue.”
After a quick ‘best-friends’ hug, Ruby walked through to the kitchen with sloped shoulders and her head hung low.
Emma knew that her little bookworm friend wasn’t able to cope with any animosity that could potentially surround her at work. Returning the wind-up, plastic chattering teeth and the electric toothbrush to her bag, Emma vowed that she would have to do something about her gum disease now –she’d left it way too long and if the presents were anything to go by, her colleagues also thought she had left her teeth or gums unattended for far too long.
Chapter 4
Focusing on its reflection in the deep, murky lagoon, the hideous creature opened its repulsive mouth, revealing shards of decayed bone fragments randomly spaced and partially buried in bleeding, pus-filled gums. It smiled to see itself as the rancid water of the lagoon reflected an image of a long haired freak with teeth rising out from its mouth like broken gravestones in an abandoned cemetery...
Jolting awake, Emma reached for her mouth and felt her loose teeth pulsating with every beat of her racing heart. It was only a dream – another nightmare – a terrible subconscious portrayal of her inner self-image and yet she did not have rotten teeth like her dreams portrayed. Lying awake in the darkness, she feared a return to the blackness of the lagoon and the formidable mind games that played on her anxieties. Inevitably, she soon slipped back into a world of disturbed sleep, devilish dentists and terrifying tooth monsters.
Having slept intermittently, due to the shock and heart-ache of receiving such a spiteful present, Emma felt worse than she had the previous night and the constant torturous nightmares had only made matters worse. Her confidence had been stripped away by a silly joke-toy and an item of personal hygiene that millions of people used every day. She’d really taken it badly and could not see any humour in it at all. Colin, Jeff or Dave had maliciously set out to humiliate and distress her. But why? She had no idea. Considering herself to be a well-liked member of the team, she couldn’t understand the motive behind the gifts. If she had to guess who it might be, her money was on Dave.
The last minute rush around the over populated shopping centre was a blur of thousands of critical eyes, staring and waiting for her to open her mouth or worse still – smile, as Emma tried to shake off the images in her mind. Unable to think straight, she wasn’t sure who she’d bought Christmas presents for and who she hadn’t.
Her mind wandered to the evening’s grand Christmas party and Darren and her optimistic hopes of getting a date with him, as she meandered aimlessly around, led by Ruby.
“Well if I’ve forgotten anything it’s tough, I’m not shopping anymore,” said Emma, “My feet are killing me again.”
“I’m finished, if you want to go home now,” muttered Ruby, clutching a bag containing yet another romance novel. “I can’t wait to read this one, I’ve wanted it for so long,” she said, excitedly.
Ruby’s collection of Mills & Boon and various other romantic novels was extensive. Her bedroom consisted of a single bed, a small chest of drawers and three large bookcases, along with a small built-in wardrobe. The town’s largest book retailer knew her well and if they didn’t stock particular titles that Ruby wanted, she would order them directly through the shop.
“Why don’t you just buy eBooks – rather than clog up your bedroom with hundreds of paperbacks and hardbacks?” Emma had said to her one day.
