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Neil’s gaze held mine for a moment before he spoke again. “There is something you can do for me.”
“Sure. What is it?”
He swallowed a swig of coffee. “Draft an email to all staff. Everyone is allowed one day off work before the end of the year to engage in community service work.”
The idea intrigued me. “What kind of community service work?”
“Anything that makes a positive impact. Volunteering, picking up litter, donating blood. It will not be monitored or enforced. If staff want to use the day to relax or spend time with family, that’s fine too. Make that clear in the email. I want to ensure no one feels obligated or judged.”
I admired his thoughtfulness. He seemed to have genuine concern for the wellbeing of the staff.
“This will be a pleasant surprise for everyone,” I said, trying to envision how the staff would react.
Neil leaned back in his chair. “It has been a tough year. Now that things have settled, morale has improved, and the petition to have me sacked is a distant memory, I think everyone could do with a change of pace—an opportunity to do something more fulfilling, or just take a break. You’re included in this too, by the way. Let me know when you want to take a day off.”
“Me? I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
It seemed like Neil had said all he wanted to say, but as I turned to leave, he interjected, drawing me back. “Milly… What time do you want me to come over to help you tomorrow?”
The prospect of the move and spending time with Neil outside the office filled me with anticipation. “Ten thirty would be great if possible.”
“I’ll be there.” A hint of a smile graced Neil’s lips as he returned to his work.
The next morning, I watched as Neil lifted a heavy suitcase into the back of his car, my eyes drawn to the way his arm muscles flexed under the strain.
“We should be able to fit everything in here,” he said, surveying the remaining space.
“Yes. Looks like it.”
I had whittled down my belongings to the few things I needed or couldn’t bear to part with: my clothes, bedding and towels, my favourite books, sentimental childhood items, and things which reminded me of my parents.
It was a sunny spring day. Fluffy white clouds drifted across the light blue sky like puffs of polyester stuffing. Though the air was a touch cool, the exertion of carrying my bags and boxes warmed me up.
My hands and body grazed Neil’s several times in the process of loading the car. The electric thrill of our contact made me tingle each time. Neil was dressed in a thin, faded black cotton t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans which might have been the best fitting jeans I’d ever seen on a person—but maybe that was just because it was him wearing them. He had that sexy facial scruff which so rarely made an appearance, and I often found my eyes drifting to take it in.
Neil waited in the car while I did one last check around my apartment, making sure I hadn’t left anything behind and that all the power switches were turned off. The sound of my footsteps echoed in the now-empty rooms stripped of their warmth and personality. Satisfied, I locked up for the final time, then slid my keys and access card through the letterbox slot for my landlord. The metallic clink as they landed accentuated the sense of closure.
“All sorted?” Neil asked as I opened the passenger side door.
“Yep!”
The car came to life as Neil took the wheel.
“Thank you for taking the time out of your morning to do this for me,” I said.
“Don’t mention it. I’m happy to help.”
I pondered how far our relationship had come. We were friends now, that much was clear, and from time to time, I sensed a deeper level of affection from him… but maybe it was just my imagination. He was nice to me because we worked together. Reciprocation of my feelings seemed unlikely.
We didn’t talk much during the drive, except for some logistics around the apartment and the building amenities. Upon arrival, Neil parked in his designated spot in the underground carpark. He handed me a key card, our fingers brushing in the exchange. “Here. This is yours. For the building doors and the lift.”
“Thanks.”
We took as much as we could carry up to the apartment. Neil shared the door code with me and showed me how to change it. Upon entry, I smelled fresh flowers. An extravagant bouquet adorned the centre of the glass dining table—peonies with big ruffled petals.
I clasped my hands under my chin. “Flowers!”
