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Bob had been a huge help the first couple of weeks after Kate had officially moved in. He’d done four more dump runs for her, helped strip wallpaper, even cleaned out the manky outside loo. But for the past week, she’d asked him not to come round. Kate needed to do the finishing touches herself. It was important she prove to herself she could do it.

While the plumbers were clearing their tools from the newly improved upstairs bathroom, Kate headed into town to Bob’s office. She could just as easily have sent a text, but she felt awkward around the plumbers, having offered tea so many times it had become embarrassing. Kate was used to working for other people, not having them work for her. Bob was out when she arrived, but Kate left a message with the receptionist who seemed relieved she’d not lugged a bike in with her this time.

Keen not to get in the way at home, Kate headed to the bakery and bought herself a pasty. Her mum used to say she had hollow legs, for she ate enough to feed a family but never put on weight. Pasties would need to be rationed, though. Earlier that morning, Kate caught her reflection in the mirror and noticed she was getting a bit squishy round the middle. Cuddly,as Flo would say. It was hard, though, when the smell of freshly baked pasties filled the air all around town.

Kate took a photo of her pasty and sent it to Flo. Moments later, her phone pinged with a laughing emoji andnot again!!!!!There wasn’t much about city life Kate missed so far, but not being able to share a McDonald’s breakfast with Flo, or walk round to Maddie’s for a glass of wine had taken some getting used to. Flo couldn’t afford the time off to visit, and Kate had put Maddie’s visit off for a couple of weeks, despite Maddie’s protests that she wanted to help. When her friends came, Kate wanted them to see a finished home, not a dusty building site.

Kate’s phone pinged again, this time with a message from the plumbers:

All done. Put the key through the letter box. Will email the invoice.

Thanks xshe replied, immediately regretting the kiss on the end. She didn’t want either Roger, in his sixties, or his spotty teenage apprentice getting the wrong idea.

No problem xx

Oh dear. Kate slipped her phone away, hoping that would be the end of her correspondence. The phone pinged again, but she ignored it. She wrapped the half-eaten pasty up in its paper bag and headed home. Back inside her own four walls, she checked her phone and with relief found a message from Bob-8 OK?She sent back a thumbs up before taking the stairs two at a time to see the finished bathroom. It was covered in a fair amount of dust, but all traces of peach were banished.

*

Twenty past eight and still no sign of Bob. She put the curry in the oven to stop it from getting cold and stared out of the window. It was only twenty minutes, but he always arrived on the dot and she was starting to get worried. Another ten minutes passed before, finally, she saw his battered VW pulling up outside. Bob’s choice of car was a mystery to her. Surely solicitors earned a packet? Maybe he didn’t like to flash the cash.

“Sorry, sorry,” said Bob, flustered and sweating as he bumbled into the house.

“Don’t worry about it. Everything alright?”

“Yes, yes, just a bit of bother at home, nothing to worry about.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

“Fine, but then I need your honest opinion on the house.”

Bob laughed and looked around the living room. “I’m not sure why you want my opinion. I don’t know the first thing about interior decor. It used to drive Ellie mad when she’d try talking to me about paint charts. I couldn’t get past the names to take it seriously-Mermaid Net, Mayonnaise, Spruce Dust- I mean, what’s that all about? Whatever happened to light yellow or dark blue?”

“OK, I get it, but you’re the first person to see my handiwork and believe it or not, your opinion does matter to me. You’ve been a good friend since I got here.”

Kate swore Bob blushed at the compliment, but he could have still been red in the face from all his rushing around.

“Well, this room looks ace. I love the sofas.”

“Fifty quid on eBay.”

“Really?”

“Yes, there weren’t many takers for purple velour sofas, but I think they look all right calmed down a bit with a throw?”

“Yes, yes, they’re great.” Bob flopped down on said sofa. “Comfy too, perfect for snuggling up with a book.”

“That will be my reward for getting it all finished. I’ve given myself tomorrow off for reading, lounging, and nothing else.”

“Good for you. These tables are… interesting.”

“Do you think they’re too much?” asked Kate, looking at the tables she’d lovingly covered in nature photos from a magazine. She was still picking PVA glue from her skin despite finishing them four days ago.

“No, they go well with the sofas. Now, how about some grub?”

“Alright, alright. Make yourself comfortable in here. I’ll bring dinner through.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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