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‘When were they last paid?’ she asked, suddenly seeming to notice her dishevelled state. Tutting, she straightened her jacket, her cheeks colouring slightly.
She was cute when she blushed. He glanced away, embarrassed at where his thoughts had been headed. ‘Six months ago.’
‘It’s a wonder they’ve stayed,’ she said, tucking in her shirt.
‘Tell me about it.’ It was something that was giving him sleepless nights. So much so, he’d contacted his financial adviser and asked him to sell shares for two of his investments. Something his adviser had urged him against doing, reminding him that he might need the money further down the line if his health deteriorated, but that wasn’t enough to dissuade him. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to sit back and watch the situation at the care home continue to deteriorate any longer.
The door at the end of the corridor swung open and Hanna appeared, her jet-black hair a contrast to the magnolia decor. ‘Where’s Natalie?’ she barked, marching towards him like she was accusing him of abducting the woman. ‘Breakfast tray for Deshad and Priya still in kitchen. Why?’
‘Natalie’s running behind this morning,’ he said, afraid Hanna’s abrupt voice might set Jacob off screaming again. ‘She’s with Priya now, washing and dressing her.’
Hanna made a point of checking the watch attached to her nurse’s tunic. ‘This late? Priya need medication. She need food first.’
Calvin hated confrontation, especially in front of an audience. He didn’t like the idea of Kate Lawrence discovering the depths of his management inadequacies. Although why, he wasn’t sure – it wasn’t like she wasn’t battling demons of her own. ‘Can you bring up the breakfast tray for her, Hanna?’
Hanna looked incredulous. ‘I have enough to do. Now you want me to take on extra duties?’ Her hands went to her hips, the veins in the shaved section of her head pulsating with anger.
He nodded at Jacob as if to say,we’re all having to take on extra duties. ‘Just this once. I’d really appreciate it.’
‘I can fetch the breakfast tray,’ Kate cut in, her eyes darting between them. ‘I know where the kitchen is, I had supper there last night.’
Calvin turned to her. ‘You don’t have to do that, it’s not your responsibility.’
‘Not my responsibility either,’ snapped Hanna. ‘But you happy to ask me. Who is this woman anyway?’
Calvin cringed at Hanna’s rudeness. ‘This is Kate Lawrence, the solicitor helping us apply for probate. She’s here to help, okay?’ He glared at her, hoping his expression warned her to ‘be nice’.
Hanna made a harrumphing noise. ‘About time. Care home going to the dogs.’
He closed his eyes, wishing he could wave a magic wand and disappear somewhere. This was not how he’d imagined his life to be. He was not equipped to deal with this.
‘Really, let me do it,’ Kate said, seemingly unperturbed by the frostiness of the head nurse. ‘It’s no bother, it’ll take me two minutes. The stairs are this way, right?’ She pointed to where Hanna had appeared moments earlier, already edging towards the door, as if eager to escape. He couldn’t blame her.
‘Turn right at the bottom,’ he called after her, as she reached the doorway. ‘The kitchen’s across the hallway. Thanks, Kate. I owe you.’
‘Not a problem. Back soon.’
When she’d disappeared from view, he turned to find Hanna glaring at him. ‘Not acceptable,’ she said, jabbing a finger at him. ‘Bad management.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry. But I’m in the process of freeing up funds so I can pay the staff and arrange extra help. I promise to get this sorted, Hanna.’
‘You’d better,’ she said, storming off. ‘Losing patience.’
Calvin stood in the hallway, his stomach weighed down by guilt and frustration. Like his confidence hadn’t been dented enough these last few months. He’d lost his career, his girlfriend, and now he was making a mess of dealing with his uncle’s affairs.
He hated letting everyone down. Maybe it would be better if he just used the money he was freeing up to hire a new manager and walk away from the whole thing. But what would happen to the staff and residents? Would the new manager allow Deshad to stay on rent-free? Would they show sympathy towards Natalie’s situation? Tolerance for Hanna’s temper? And what about his granny? Could he really walk away from her within days of her arrival?
Jacob made a gurgling sound and Calvin realised the baby had stopped crying. Looking down, he was met with a pair of sleepy blue eyes gazing up at him. Calvin cradled him closerand watched as his eyes drifted shut. The fidgeting stopped, the hands lowered and Jacob became a cosy weight in his arms.
He’d always liked kids. Being invited to clubs and schools to talk about his career had always been fun. Not so much the standing up and talking bit – he’d never been comfortable doing that – but the sessions usually ended with a game of football, him against thirty or so kids, all chasing after the ball, tying to tackle him and making him laugh with their enthusiasm.
He’d been proud to be the face of a local kids’ charity, encouraging youngsters into sport, and he was patron of his youth team, Wortley Football Club. He’d even envisaged having kids himself one day, mini footballers that he could coach and encourage. But that seemed like another shattered dream and unlikely to happen anytime soon.
He sucked in a breath, trying to ease the ache in his chest that had nothing to do with his HCM.
A bang further down the corridor alerted him to Kate reversing through the doorway, carrying the tea tray. Her suit jacket had popped open and a few strands of hair had escaped from her hair clip. She wobbled on her high heels as she walked towards him, trying not to spill anything.
‘I would offer to help, but I have my hands full.’
