Hands Off! The 100 Day Agreement

by Candy J. Starr

  “Okay, that does sound a little crazy…”

  “It was totally crazy. They ended up running away. When Dad went back to Cambodia, Mum went with him. They got married there. Grandmother cut Mum off completely. She wouldn’t talk to her or have anything to do with them. While they were away, my Grandfather died and she never even told Mum. Poor Mum didn’t get to see her own father before he died or to go to the funeral. She only found out because one of her friends told her. By then, it was too late for Mum to do anything. When they moved home and Grandmother found out about me, she decided she had to spend time with me. She still had nothing to do with Mum or Dad but I had to spend one weekend a month with her. Who knows why? It wasn’t like either of us enjoyed it.”

  “So you still resent your grandmother?”

  What did he think? That I’d be okay with that?

  “Yeah, of course I do. She’s a bitch. She always tries to use me to drive a wedge between Mum and Dad. I never wanted that.” I sighed.

  I was not sure I was explaining it well but I hated spending time with Grandmother. I could never relax. Everything she said and did had a streak of malice in it. I didn’t want to tell him any more. Dredging up all those memories made me feel a bit sick inside. My stomach twisted up in knots at the damage she’d done to our family.

  Chad reached out for my hand. He didn’t say anything, he just held my hand in his. The warmth of him being there helped. I gave him a smile.

  “Just because she’s a bitch, I don’t think it’s a reason to stoop to her level.”

  Damn his morality. I hated people talking about not stooping to levels just like I hated people telling me to be the better person. Give as good as you get – that was my philosophy.

  “I really don’t think she’s worth treating with respect though. She’s never earned it. She’s just selfish and horrible. I’d have never even spent time with her if Mum hadn’t made me.”

  “You’re happy to take her money though. You could just walk away, be independent. Like your friend Jayne says, tell her to go to hell and forget about this deal.”

  I dropped his hand and stood up. I didn’t want his lectures. I wanted sympathy and understanding. And sex. I wanted sex as well.

  “Because I want to go to Florence, that’s why.”

  And that was all I had to say about it. As I stormed into my room, I wondered if Chad still got his payout if I threw in the deal. It was easy to play the good guy and talk about not stooping to other people’s levels if you stood to get a big wad out of cash out it. I didn’t want to be suspicious of him but the doubt crept into my mind regardless. He had signed up for the job after all. That meant he was prepared to do strange things for money. I still knew so little about Chad.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  In the car, I turned up the music so Chad wouldn’t talk.

  “What classes do you have today?” he yelled over the music.

  “The usual.” I didn’t look at him. I bit my lip and focused on driving.

  “And what are your plans after class?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You must be doing something. Are you heading home or going out or what?”

  He seemed a bit huffy. If he didn’t like it, he could always not do the job. I didn’t need to plan out my whole day in advance for his benefit.

  “I’m sticking around late at school. I’m behind in my work. If you have something better to do, go and do it. I’m not going anywhere.”

  He didn’t respond but he looked like he wanted to say something. I turned the music up even louder and sang along with it so he wouldn’t be tempted to talk.

  I didn’t even want to think about him sitting beside me. I wanted to make my life a No Chad zone. Even if I couldn’t get rid of him in person, I could put up a nice big invisible wall with Chad on the other side. I didn’t trust him and I really didn’t know anything about him. He’d kept evading every question we’d asked him about his life outside the job. He never went anywhere except for the gym. He had a few outfits and toiletries at my place but nothing personal. Not even a photo.

  It was as if he’d just appeared out of nowhere¸ with no ties. Surely people talk about themselves. They don’t just exist in a vacuum. I decided I might make it my mission to investigate him.

  I reached over to turn up the music even louder but Chad reached at the same time and our hands met. It jolted me, a buzz going through to my heart. But it wasn’t happening. Invisible wall. No Chad zone and all that. What was he doing with his hand near mine anyway?

  “Hey, that’s my favourite song,” I said. “I love STORM.”

  Chad snorted and turned the music down.

  “You’re kidding, right? The leader singer is such a tosser.”

  “Is not. He’s hot. Pity he’s got a girlfriend. I heard they’re getting married soon.”

  He screwed his face up in that way guys do when they think their music taste is so much better than yours. Not that I’d ever heard Chad play music or mention a band he liked.

  The car was too small for both of us. Maybe we should start taking our own cars again. The swelling had pretty much gone down in my ankle and I could drive without pain, so I didn’t need him.

  ***

  I’d almost finished class when I got a text from my Grandmother. I didn’t even want to look at it. Nothing she had to say would be good. I couldn’t ignore it though. Maybe she’d realised this whole deal was nuts and she wanted to call it off. Well, I could only wish.

  When I read it, I wished I had ignored it. She was coming over to see me. That night.

  Hell.

  I guess I had to talk to Chad because we needed to clean the house and make things look perfect.

  Maybe I could tell her I had to work, but she’d just demand I cancel work. God, she’d be nuts enough to buy the boutique and fire me just to prove her point. I wasn’t sure why she was coming over, instead of requesting my presence at her house. She’d never been to my place before.

  I couldn’t focus. This was a disaster. No matter what she wanted, it wouldn’t be good.

  ***

  I raced straight home from class and tore around the place, hiding piles of clutter in cupboards and cleaning random surfaces. To his credit, Chad did a lot to help, which was a nice thing since most of the mess was mine.

  “She’ll be here soon,” I said. “Is there anything I’ve forgotten? Shitola, I forgot to clean the toilet.”

  “Settle down, I did it while you were cleaning the kitchen.”

  I flopped down on the sofa. Then realised I should put on a grandmother appropriate outfit. I probably should’ve had a shower too, since I was a bit sweaty from running around cleaning but I didn’t have time for that. I threw on a cute dress that covered my boobs and my knees and brushed my hair then tied it back. One of grandmother’s big hates was having hair in your face.

  “I know you didn’t like what I said last night, Lucy, but I didn’t mean it as an attack on you.”

  Huh? What was Chad getting at? He’d totally attacked me. I didn’t want to even get back into that discussion.

  “Why do you need your Grandmother’s approval?” he asked.

  “I don’t need it. I so don’t need it. It’s just that it’s easier to make her happy than to put up with her nagging.”

  He had no idea what the full force of Grandmother’s nagging was like. He nodded but didn’t say any more. I was going to explain further then decided I didn’t need to justify myself to him. It was only good manners to clean up before you have visitors, anyway.

  I jumped when I heard the knock at the door and smoothed down my dress before answering it. When I opened the door, it wasn’t Grandmother standing there but Ballard. He announced her then went to the car to accompany her in. I thought that was being just a little bit too regal. This was definitely not a “being announced by your butler” type neighbourhood.

  “We have cleaned everything?” I hissed to Chad. As I looked around my apartment everything seem
ed a bit too shabby. A bright rug covered the holes in the sofa but couldn’t cover up the fact that it sagged. The armchair was threadbare with stained patches on it. I’d hung sketches of my work around the walls so I could look at them and keep focused but some of them were getting a little yellow and aged. Even if the kitchen was clean, the stove had marks that wouldn’t wash off and none of my crockery matched.

  Normally, none of that bothered me. I loved it. I loved all my things and them being worn just made me love them more. But I had enough heavy shit around my heart without having Grandmother being all judgey about stuff and making me feel worse.

  What the hell anyway? Even if everything was perfect, she’d hate it. I walked into my bedroom and found the framed photo of Mum and Dad. I’d put it away in the bedroom because I knew she’d hate it but it was my apartment and I could have it where I wanted. I sat it on the coffee table.

  I’d left the door open and, when I turned around, she stood in the doorway, waiting for something.

  “Oh, this is very cosy,” she said. With an emphasis on the “cosy” to ensure I knew it wasn’t a compliment. I really didn’t like seeing her in my home. It felt like an invasion. Grandmother in her own home was enough to deal with. In my apartment, it put my nerves on edge.

  Chad had disappeared into his room. I didn’t like that. If he’d stuck around, she’d feel an obligation to be nice.

  I walked over and kissed her powdery cheek then asked her to sit down. I wasn’t sure what to do next. She looked at the armchair with a scowl and I almost thought she’d refuse to sit in it. But she lowered herself.

  If I offered her a drink, she’d be alone with my things and would probably go snooping.

  Luckily, Chad reappeared and offered to make tea.

  “That would be lovely,” she answered.

  I could think of nothing to say to her. I had no small talk to make. I didn’t want to ask after her life because I didn’t care. She told me all about a flower show she’d been to regardless.

  Kill me now.

  I picked at the edge of the coffee table while she talked. I’d not noticed how chipped the table had become. I ran my finger down the edge. Maybe I should buy a new coffee table when I got some money.

  “And how is your painting course going?” she asked.

  I bit back the words I wanted to say. I could tell her anything and it’d mean nothing to her.

  I was saved from answering though when Chad came into the room with the tea. Shit, he’d made the tea with tea bags. I’d pulled the teapot out of the back of the cupboard and washed the dust off it so it was ready to use. Grandmother would freak when she saw that tell-tale tag hanging out of her cup.

  But Grandmother just smiled at him.

  “Thank you,” she said. “This looks lovely.”

  But I noticed she sat the cup down on the coffee table and I bet she had no intention of drinking it.

  “Would you like something with the tea?” I jumped up ready to head to the kitchen.

  “No, no. Just the tea is fine”

  Even though she said that, I still went into the kitchen. With a shaky hand, I got a plate out of the cupboard and arranged some of the premium mini cupcakes I’d sent Chad to pick up from the bakery. They looked a bit sparse but it wasn’t like she’d eat them anyway. I’d got them for show, not for her to eat. Anyway, I’d need a luxury treat after such an ordeal.

  I noticed Grandmother’s polite society voice had changed to a more serious tone so, instead of going straight back into the room I wedged myself in the gap next to the fridge behind the door where I could best hear what they were saying.

  “But even if she couldn’t leave the house, you still need to report everything to me.”

  Chad muttered something quietly. Speak up, Chad. I need to hear.

  “Anyway, that is something that I want to talk to both of you about. Just remember how vital that money is to you.”

  “I could hardly forget that.” His words came over more bitter than that over-brewed cup of tea he’d made her. It seemed all wasn’t right in the Chad and Grandmother world. Maybe he’d be more receptive to sex now. No, I couldn’t think like that but it did seem there was something more than just wanting to make some easy bucks behind him being there.

  I moved and my foot kicked the door with a loud bang. Oops. Best I get back out there.

  I picked up the cake plate and took it out.

  “Oh what charming cakes, Lucy. Where ever did you buy them?”

  She did not mean a word of it.

  “The bakery down the street.”

  “Who would have thought that a quality bakery would do well in this area?”

  I picked up one of the cakes. I had no appetite even for the salted caramel frosting but I picked the paper case away from the cake, unfolding each section one by one. Then I picked up a crumb that had fallen. Would she just get to the point?

  “I have been considering this arrangement.” She looked from Chad to me and back to Chad again. “I am not totally convinced that I did the right thing by employing Chad to work with you.”

  “You don’t say.” I couldn’t help myself. The words just burst out of me. But seriously, hiring someone to spy on your own granddaughter was not the sanest thing ever.

  Grandmother ignored me.

  “I thought he could be trusted to keep an eye on you, Lucy, but maybe having a young man living in the house with you is not in the spirit of this agreement. I have heard reports that your relationship is developing into something more than professional.”

  “Our relationship never was professional,” I said. “You employed him. I just tolerated him.”

  I tried to plaster on a smile but she made me really angry. I couldn’t hide that. I didn’t have the kind of face that would do that.

  Grandmother ran her finger over the edge of the teacup and gave me a look filled with scathing. Chad didn’t look too happy either. It was nothing personal.

  “I’ve been informed that you more than tolerated him last Friday night in the car park of that bar you frequent.”

  “Holy crap. How many people do you have spying on me?”

  “I don’t need to have spies as you put it, Lucy. When you hold a certain social position, you become more visible.”

  I bet it was that bloody Rebecca Forsythe. We’d only had the briefest kiss. I’d done far, far worse things in that car park. Including that time the line for the toilets was far too long for me to hold it.

  I gave Chad a look. A look that said we should’ve had sex since we were going to be accused of it anyway. Get the name, get the game. Chad didn’t even look at me though, he stared at his hands and I swear I could see a slight reddening of his face.

  “The situation got out of hand, I admit, but it won’t go any further. I’ve already discussed it with Lucy. The agreement stands.”

  Wow, that sounded very… cold. Was I just an agreement to Chad? I’d suspected but it was like a punch in the guts for him to say that.

  “Still, I only have your word on that and behind closed doors, who can say what happens?”

  Now it was Chad’s turn to be shattered. I couldn’t bear to see him like that. I didn’t want him to win the deal but I didn’t want him taken out before he had a chance to be fairly beaten. And, if it wasn’t Chad, who knew what Grandmother had up her sleeve. I’d have some old lady chaperone or something horrific like that.

  I jumped up and headed for my room.

  “Where on earth are you going?”

  I didn’t reply but found the paper with the agreement terms written on it.

  “When Chad got imposed on me, you told me I couldn’t back out. It was all here in the agreement. Well, that cuts both ways. If I can’t get rid of The Chad then you can’t either. You can’t only have Chad when it’s convenient for you. He’s part of the package, like it or lump it.”

  She sat even more upright than before. I shoved the paper at her but she waved it away. I had no idea why I was defending
him but I had to win this point.

  “I can’t trust either of you. I have a major investment in this.”

  “Well, you should’ve thought of that before. Before you made me sign this.”

  She stood up and looked at me, shaking her head.

  “If this agreement is breached, I will find out.” She turned to Chad. “And, if you are the one who invalidates the agreement, you do understand you get nothing.”

  “I understand.”

  “Now I will need a secondary method of ensuring your co-operation.” She looked around the apartment as if checking for the best place to install bugs and security equipment. I would not have that kind of thing in my home. That was crossing the line.

  “You have my word,” said Chad. “You employed me because of my integrity and you will continue employing me because of that. I have no wish to break this arrangement. As you know, the stakes are too high.”

  What stakes? I had to know the stakes.

  “If I ever find out that you have lied to me, I will ensure you regret it.” Her voice made me shiver but Chad just nodded.

  She left with a sour look on her face, knowing she’d lost this round, but at least she’d left. I had a stabbing pain in my head as though the pulses in my temples had been squeezed tight. With her gone, I wanted to lie down and rest. She’d exhausted me. But first I wanted to find out exactly what the deal was with Chad.

  All the things Jayne had speculated came back to me. Gambling problems and dodgy dealings. But, if he needed money for something like that, why would Grandmother be so confident in his integrity? I was sure she would’ve investigated him prior to hiring him.