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“They make little sense, do you want me to take a look and measure up?”
“Oh, would you? Callum, that’s so kind,” Clare said from behind me, she had a coughing fit that turned into a string of sneezes and then she farted. I was appalled and amused. I stifled a laugh when Darren rolled his eyes and flopped back down into his seat.
“Sure, no problem. I’ll run up while Adaline’s in the kitchen,” I said and left the room. I took a quick look left where I heard Adaline bashing pots and pans about and ran up the stairs two at a time. The bathroom was head on. The white door was half frosted glass to the waist and then wood to the ground.
I pushed the door open and stood in the centre of the bathroom. The lino on the floor curled where it met the base of the bath. It also smelled damp and fusty. The room could’ve done with a good airing. The black mould growing around the window was not a good sign. It was no wonder that Clare was coughing up a lung earlier. The floor space was only twelve square feet. I ran back down the stairs. When I stepped into the living room, Adaline was tidying a space on the sofa, pushing the discarded newspapers and magazines to one side. She looked at one magazine and carefully placed them in a pile on the floor.
“If you came here more often, the place wouldn’t be in such a state,” Clare said.
“You could tidy up every now and again, you’re not that incapable. If you can walk to the chippy to get lunch, you can get on a bus to go to work,” Adaline said and gestured for me to sit next to her. My impulse was to take her hand, but as she introduced me as her neighbour. I got the impression they didn’t know about her second flat or that the second flat was hers. I leant back, observing the dynamics between child and parents.
“So what do you reckon?” Darren asked looking at me.
“The floor is pretty damaged, and the bathroom needs to get some ventilation. The walls could do with mould protective paint as well as the flooring removed and replaced.” I said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adaline clench her fist out of sight from her parents. She held up her four fingers and then counted down to the fist shape. Once she clenched tight, her mother spoke.
“Sounds too expensive, we’re on benefits and wouldn’t be able to afford that kind of thing,” she said and let out a string of hacking coughs. At no stage did she hold her hand over her mouth and spittle sprayed all over her lap.
“You could try getting a job to pay for it,” Adaline said.
“I can’t walk to the bus stop let alone get to a job. I’m afraid Callum that I am pretty much housebound these days. I can’t get to see Adaline in her own home without getting a taxi, and that costs too much money these days.”
“You play on your illness, mum, I’m not your house maid,” Adaline said, she closed her eyes briefly and resumed her ramrod straight back posture. “Callum is also not your slave and won’t be helping you repair the house. I bet you already have a list ready.”
Neither her mum nor dad commented on what she’d said.
“I went through hell to give birth to you. The complications were heartbreaking, you ruined my womb to have any more children. The least you could do is come here more often and help out your sick parents.” Clare said.
She spoke loudly but without anger. It sounded practised like Adaline had heard it a million times. No child should have to hear these words. Adaline didn’t react, her body was still as a mannequin. Only the muscles in neck gave her away. They were strained, sticking out at the crook of her neck.
“I know, mum, you’ve told me this many times. I suffered too, but I guess you don’t care about that.”
Adaline stared at her mum, daring her to say more, but she didn’t. She grunted and looked away to her dad. He was busy checking the race results on the TV. He’d muted the volume and switched on subtitles.
“We must get going soon,” I prompted to give her a reason to leave. What I wanted to do was give Mr and Mrs Starling a piece of my mind.
My parents were doting, loving, gave me support every step of the way until I became a grown up. Even now, my mum calls me every few days to see how I am. Adaline’s parents were appalling in comparison.
“Yes, let’s,” Adaline said and stood to leave. I stood with her, grazing my fingers against hers. She briefly touched mine in return and then shoved them in her back pocket.
“Do you think you can help us out, Callum?” Darren asked, ignoring what his wife had just said.
“I don’t think so, my apprentice and I have a full roster of work that takes us until Christmas.”
I lied, I had to, there was no way I was agreeing to anything without talking to Adaline first.
“That’s a shame lad, I’d hoped you’d help a fella out,” Darren said and unmuted the TV. It ended the conversation, his passive, resigned tone should have made me feel guilty, but all I could think about was Adaline and the cruel words her mother had spoken. Not for the first time, it would appear. I needed to get her out of there and preferably convince her never to come back. If she insisted on coming back, I was coming with her.
“Maybe I can recommend another builder to give you a quote, no commitment?” I offered.
“Nah,” he said and waved me away. “Don’t bother, as the wife said, we’ve got no money to spare.”
“If you change your mind, let Adaline know, and I can call a few people for you.”
I looked to Adaline, and she gave me a weak smile.
“I have to go, Callum is my lift. A motorbike ran into me today, and my bike is a write-off.”
