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‘I don’t see why not. It’s my flat and he’s only ever been staying with me. He’s never made any contribution towards the mortgage or anything like that so…’ She didn’t add that she couldn’t stand the idea of him coming back to live there now. ‘Actually, I’m glad to have it back to myself again, moving his stuff out and generally tidying the place up, I’m going to redecorate in the New Year and…’
‘Well, I can help you there.’ Francine smiled. ‘My Dave just retired in November. He’s sitting at home twiddling his thumbs all day long. I’m sure he’d love to give you a hand.’
‘Oh, Francine, I couldn’t possibly let him do that.’ It was a fabulous offer; Dave had spent his whole life working as a painter decorator. Liv knew he’d have her flat whipped into perfect colour in no time.
‘Don’t be daft. It’ll get him out of the house, sure what else would he be doing on damp January days!’
‘Oh Francine,’ Liv laughed, because she knew Francine managed her husband as if she was managing a child sometimes and he seemed very happy to have her telling him what to do.
‘Well, good, that’s settled so. You pick out the colours and I’ll have a chat with Dave. All he’ll need is access to a kettle and a clear room to get started.’
‘Really? That’s such a kind offer, but listen, you’ll have to check with him first of all, see if he doesn’t mind.’
‘He absolutely won’t. He’s been going up the walls with boredom and you know what January is like – it’s probably just going to be one miserable raining day after another.’
‘Well, if he doesn’t mind, then it’d be great – thanks, Francine.’ Liv threw her arms around her boss. It really was the nicest gift she’d gotten in a long time.
11
Liv had the worst feeling. It hit her that evening as she sat watching TV with her parents. She hadn’t heard from Eddie since he’d stormed off the beach and left her there. What if Eddie had moved Anya into the flat anyway? Not that she didn’t like Anya – she seemed nice enough – but she knew that Anya, with her perfectly groomed hair and fashionable wardrobe, would take up a heck of a lot more space in her tiny flat than just one night in the spare room.
In her mind’s eye, Liv imagined Anya would arrive with a tonne of bags and boxes. She imagined her kitchen cluttered up with hair straighteners and nail dryers and God knows what else plugged in at every socket. Anya would fill up the tiny bathroom with products and long blonde hair would clog up the drains. She would be the sort of woman who would use four bath sheets at a time and then leave them all sopping wet on the floor.
Liv knew she was being unkind, but she remembered that when Anya had moved into Pete’s he’d had to employ a cleaning lady after the first week. There would be tan on the sheets and nail varnish on the couch and then there was the fact that Liv worked shifts at the hospital. She liked to come home to her little flat and potter about and sleep for eight hours before going back in to work that night. Having Anya there would mean extra noise, extra traffic through the place and ultimately, less time and space for Liv in a flat that Eddie had already managed to shrink around his own needs. No. No. No. She pulled out her phone and dialled Eddie’s number. No answer. She dialled again.
‘Everything all right?’ Her mum looked across at her.
‘Yes, I’m just…’ She shook her head. ‘I’m being stupid, that’s all.’ Her dad switched the volume down on the TV. ‘It’s Anya. I’m afraid that Eddie is going to empty her stuff out of Pete’s apartment and let her move into the flat.’
‘He wouldn’t do that, not without asking you first,’ her father said.
‘That’s the thing – we had a row about it today.’ Or as near to a row as it was possible to have with Eddie before he stomped off in a huff, Liv didn’t add. ‘And then, when I dropped off the shopping at Barbara’s she said that he’d gone to help Anya move her stuff.’
‘Well, if he has, it’s very simple; he’ll just have to move it back out again. You can’t have three people in that flat; it’s far too small and Anya is well able to go out and get her own place,’ her father said smiling at her. ‘Tell you what, love, if he has, I’ll go up there myself and move the two of them out for you.’
‘Ah, Dad.’
‘He’s joking.’ Her mother laughed. ‘Don’t worry, love, I’m sure Eddie wouldn’t go moving her in if you’ve already said no.’
*
Still, something of that uneasiness would not leave her. She imagined Eddie, showing Anya around the flat, but then, she thought of him hoicking boxes, bags and crates up the three flights of stairs and suddenly, the whole idea seemed to be completely mad. For one thing, Eddie complained about having to bring home the groceries if she rang him at work; he was hardly likely to go carting all of Anya’s worldly possessions across the city and then up three flights of stairs in the middle of his precious Christmas holidays. And yet, he had travelled all the way back to Dublin with her, hadn’t he?
Perhaps he had things to do in the workshop. Perhaps he was fixing her up with some mate of his or someone he knew through college who had a spare room they were prepared to let out to her. That would be it. Some pal of Eddie’s would be pinching himself at this very moment when he realised what a gorgeous new roommate he’d managed to bag himself.
And then, Liv began to feel really guilty. After all, perhaps itwouldonly have been for a couple of nights, until Anya got sorted properly. She’d have to go back to work before any of them to open up the coffee shop. Regardless of what was going to happen to the business, Anya would certainly want to make as much money as she could to continue paying the rent for as long as possible. God, but she was a terrible human being – not allowing Anya to stay on her sofa; after all, what difference would a couple of days make to her, while it could mean the world to Anya?
She couldn’t settle for the rest of the evening. A strange feeling niggled at her, as if she was missing something that was just under her nose. ‘I think I’ll head off to bed now,’ she said as she got up from the chair.
‘But, it’s only early,’ her mother protested.
‘I just fancy snuggling up with my book before I go to sleep.’ Liv bent down and kissed her mother on her forehead.
‘All right, love, well, sleep tight.’
It was lovely to be back at the farm again, she had a few more days before she was due back on shift at the hospital and it had been far too long since she’d been home last time. It seemed that there was always something to be done on her days off recently. Between helping Eddie with the workshop and then trying to keep the flat tidy, the fridge filled and the dishwasher emptied, she hadn’t been home in months.
Liv pulled out the book Maya had pressed into her hands earlier. She was looking forward to this. There was nothing like the silence of the farm to really relax with and enjoy a good book. She’d just snuggled beneath the quilt when her mobile rang. Eddie, or at least, that was who she assumed was calling her, until she looked at the caller display.
