landshell

[landshell]

Yor's Day

Yor’s day had started off normally enough. She had breakfast with her family as usual. She caught the train to City Hall. Now was in the office listening to her coworkers complain.

 Camilla eyed the growing stack of paperwork in the department inbox with distaste. “I hate the end of the month! Everyone procrastinates and then expects us to be able to get all their stuff in on time.”

Millie groaned in agreement. “I can’t believe we have to go through all this today.”

“You have to.”  Sharon commented. “I’m taking off early.”

“What seriously?”

“It’s been on the schedule for two weeks. It’s a half day at Eden College. I’m picking up my child and then I booked us both dental appointments.”

“Oh, that was a good idea.” Yor chimed in. She’d have to remember to tell Loid about it.

Camilla rounded on her “And I suppose you’re cutting out early too?”

“Oh, No. Loid is picking up Anya today. I’ll be here till closing.”

Sharon went back to her typewriter. “Lucky you.  I wish I could tell my husband it was his day to handle the kids.”

“Well, it makes sense.” Millie said. “It’s not like Anya is Yor’s daughter so—"

“Millie!” Camilla interrupted.

“I didn’t mean it as insult. I was just. . .”  Millie trailed off looking at Yor’s downcast expression.

“No. You’re right. I’m just her stepmother.” Yor kept her eyes on the form she was working on even though her eyesight blurred a little. The conversation died down around her and everyone awkwardly got back to work.

For the next couple of hours Yor tried to put all her attention on accounts payable and avoiding typos but the feeling of gloom remained. She barely noticed when Sharon made her exit accompanied by death glares from Camilla and Millie. Maybe if she sped through her paperwork she could leave early. She looked at the department inbox which didn’t seem any emptier. Maybe not.

It was going to be a long, lonely day. Just then Millie cursed quietly and yanked the paper out of her typewriter, tossed it in the trash and loaded another one. Okay, so today wasn’t going to be a day of gossiping and lingering over tea but she wasn’t alone. Why did she feel lonely? She was needed here even if she wasn’t needed--

Goodness, she had to cheer herself up somehow. Maybe for lunch she’d go to a café instead of the basement cafeteria. The food would be better. She might even order dessert. Anything to get out this mood.

A runner stuck his head in the office door. “Mrs. Forger? You have visitors at the front desk.

Yor startled and got up. She didn’t usually get visitors. Her first thought was Garden business, but if that were the case she would be meeting them in a back office not the public area of the building. She pushed open the door into the lobby and began walking toward the desk. Why did her mind keep returning to her family? The man at the desk even looked like Loid from the back. Suddenly her daughter peeked out from around his legs.

“MAMA! HAVE YOU EATEN YET?” Anya called out.

“Inside voice, Anya” Loid hushed her. Then he turned to Yor. “We came to see if you would like to join us for lunch. That is if you aren’t busy.”

Yor looked at them. Anya was still in her Eden uniform; they must have come straight from school. They wanted to see her.

Yor smiled, almost in tears for the second time today.  “I’d love to. Let me grab my coat and tell the girls I’m taking my break.  There’s a great café just down the street.”

Her day was looking up.

#yorweek2024 #fanfic #yorweek #spy x family #yor forger