I awoke feeling a bit better. It was two weeks since the lurgi had struck and my head felt clear for possibly the first time. My neck was much less swollen and my face looked almost normal–as normal as it usually does.

I got up and went in the loo then the shower. I hadn’t noticed the time until I was standing back in my bedroom, it was only seven. The sun was shining, another rare event this summer, and I felt quite good.

I dried my hair and dressed, I put on a skirt for a change and I used some makeup. I began to feel like my old self, although I knew I would tire quite quickly when the ‘good’ feeling began to run down.

I trotted down stairs and Tom was just coming back into the kitchen after feeding Kiki and letting her out in the garden. “My goodness, who’s the lucky fellow?”

I was switching the kettle on and turned to look at him, “Who’s what?”

“I take it you feel better today?” He said abandoning his original comment. He washed his hands and put some bread in the toaster.

“Yes thank you, I feel much better.”

“Just don’t overdo it.”

“I won’t, don’t worry. But I thought I’d come into the uni and check a few things out.”

“Like what, exactly?”

“My office.”

“It’s still there, I got them to clear the brooms out.”

“You’re too kind,” I smiled.

“I know. What else?”

“I want to see if they’ve set the cages up properly for the dormice.”

“Seeing as Neal has been looking after them ever since you started the programme, I suspect he has a little idea of how to do it by now.”

“Are you trying to stop me coming in?”

“No, I just don’t want you making yourself ill again, by coming in the first day you feel better.”

“I’ll only come in for an hour, how’s that?”

“Are you asking me a question or claiming a wicket?”

“What?” I looked at him in total confusion.

“You just said Owzat, isn’t that what bowlers yell?”

“No I didn’t, I asked if–oh I don’t know why I bother. I felt so much better and now–“ I began to cry, he’d ruined my good feeling. I ran out of the kitchen and up to my room.

I lay sobbing on my bed, my dress was all crumpled and I probably had panda eyes, and cared not a bit. There was a quiet knock at the door, and Tom peeped around the edge of it, “May I come in?”

I ignored him but he came in anyway. “I’m sorry, I made a joke which fell flat and I rather upset you. I am truly sorry, please forgive me.”

I lay there for a moment, he was a good man, maybe I’d overreacted or something. “It’s okay,” I snorted, “it’s just me, maybe I’m not as strong as I thought.”

He came and sat on the bed alongside me. “No it was me, Cathy. No wonder my daughter left me so many times, no wonder she went to Oxford–I’m surprised it wasn’t Aberdeen. I seem to have no skills in dealing with women. I am sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I sat up and wiped my eyes, aware that anyone seeing me might try for a record of a racoon sighting. “Tom, you are the most decent man I know, you didn’t hurt me, I overreacted. It’s me who should be apologising to you. I’m sorry for going all girly on you.”

“Eh? Isn’t that what girls do? Don’t worry about it, but if I am forgiven, why don’t you have a leisurely morning and come into the department just in time to come to lunch with me. That way you won’t tire yourself and you can show the others you’re still alive.”

“Won’t that look suspicious, I can do lunch but not work?”

“Of course not, I’ll take responsibility for it and who would want to argue with the original nutty professor?”

“Not me.”

“Good, that’s settled then. I have to go and make sure the mice don’t play too much.”

“I hope that’s not the dormice you’re referring to.”

“No, I was meaning the two legged ones currently on the payroll. I have to crack the whip now and again or they think I’m going soft. Now then, who shall I sack today?” he said, wandering out of the room, “Oh, I’ll see you at twelvish, bye.”

I heard his car start up a few minutes later. I sat on the bed lost in my own thoughts for a while before I fell asleep. I awoke with a start, the doorbell rang. Without thinking, I rushed down the stairs and opened the door. A woman stood there holding a large bouquet of flowers.

“Miss Watts?” she asked, and I nodded. “Are you all right luv? You look as if you’ve been crying.”

“Yeah, I’m fine, time of the month,” I said quietly, “just got to me this morning.”

“Oh, yeah, can be a real pain. I hope these cheer you up a bit.” So saying, she handed me the flowers and went towards her van. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, really I am, and these will cheer me up, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She got back in her van and drove off. I shut the door and looked for a card. I eventually found one with a little furry thing on it. ’Sorry about this morning, I hope these help, love Tom, who should know better’

They must have cost him a small fortune, it was as much as I could do to carry them. They were wrapped in a plastic wrap stuff, with a reservoir of water at the bottom. I put them on the kitchen table until I decided what I’d do with them.

I realised I’d had no breakfast and after looking at the clock, it was just ten, I made a small bowl of cereal and then had a cuppa. It was only when I went to the loo that I saw my face. It was sight for sore eyes, only the red eyes in question were mine, surrounded by smudged black lines of waterproof mascara that wasn’t. I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry, so I didn’t do either.

I cleaned off the mess with a wet wipe and wondered if it was worth redoing. I put on some moisturiser and decided I would smarten myself up for lunch with Tom, he was still my manager even if he acted like my father out of work.

I changed out of my crumpled dress into a lightweight suit I have in poppy red with a thin black pinstripe. I wore only a cami underneath the cotton jacket, apart from my bra that is. The effect was okay, and once I redid my makeup and changed into my wedge sandals, I thought I looked quite good.

After letting the dog out into the garden for a quick sniff and a pee, the dog that is–I may be a cyclist, but a reasonably domesticated one–I set off for the university, a place I didn’t think I’d ever see again, let alone enter.

I walked into Pippa’s office. She was busy typing and didn’t look up, “Be with you in a sec,” she said.

“Okay,” I said and she looked up and her face broke into a broad grin.

“Cathy, how nice to see you again.” She rose from behind her desk and we hugged. “Waiting to see the great man?”

“No, I’m waiting for Tom, actually.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, “He’s in a meeting, should be here in ten minutes or so.”

“Okay, I’ll take a walk down to the labs, who’s in?”

“Neal and Gloria.”

“Fine, I’ll surprise them.” I walked quietly down towards the labs and I did surprise them, they were locked in a clinch and oblivious to anything or anybody. I coughed politely and they both jumped. “Hello,” I said and sniggered.

“Cathy,” they both sang out almost in unison.

“So, work that quiet is it?” I said smirking.

“The work is all done,” said Neal defensively.

“Don’t worry, I’m still on sick leave, so I don’t care anyway. But if you’re going to be friendly, I suggest you do it in my office, where you can at least lock the door. I’m off to lunch, I hope to be back in harness soon.”

We all hugged and I went off to find Tom and deal with my rumbling tummy.