Abi's House

by Jenny Kane

Ollie laughed from the other side of the country, ‘Not just you, Stan. Took me ages to get to grips with it. My children set it up for me.’ A noise in the background made Ollie turn around. ‘Talking of which, Tina is out tonight and it sounds as if the kids need me, so I’ll love you and leave you, Abi. Great to see you, Stan. Take care, sis.’

  Stan was eager, ‘Could we really? You know, see Sally while we speak to her?’

  ‘Of course.’ Abi was decidedly uneasy at the prospect of meeting Sally, albeit via the magic of technology. What if Stan’s daughter wasn’t as comfortable as Stan had claimed about a stranger, not only buying her family home, but moving in before the sale was even complete?

  ‘How do we do it then?’ Stan leaned towards the computer as if it was some sort of awe-inspiring magical machine. Which Abi supposed it sort of was, it was just one that almost everyone who used it took it for granted.

  ‘First we’ll need Sally’s Skype address, so you’ll have to call her normally next time you can and get that from her. Once we have that I’ll set it up, and you’ll be able to see Sally when you chat.’

  ‘And my grandchildren?’

  Abi smiled at the eagerness of her friend, and gave him a hug. ‘Yes, and your grandchildren.’

  ‘I bet they’ve grown. Every time Sally sends a photograph of Pippa and Craig they look like they’ve grown another inch.’ Stan swallowed, composing himself, and said, ‘I’ll call as soon as it’s morning over there.’

  ‘You’ll be able to tell them all about the auction as well.’

  ‘I can’t believe it’s so soon. And the gallery launch. I’m sorry you can’t be at both.’

  ‘Don’t you worry about that. No one can be in two places at once.’

  Getting up, Stan looked about him properly for the first time. All the boxes that Abi and Max had brought back from Surrey were still stacked along the side of the room. The only item that had been disturbed was one of the suitcases, which was open, and had obviously been rifled through, but not emptied.

  ‘Why haven’t you unpacked yet?’ Stan’s shrewd eyes scanned his friend. ‘You know you can put your things anywhere you like. Especially now that you and Max have made such a good start on packing up my things, ready for my move.’

  Abi felt a little awkward. She wasn’t sure how to explain it to Stan without offending him, something which she wouldn’t want to do for all the money in the world. ‘I just haven’t felt ready. To be honest, Stan, I’m not sure my things from the me that was then, fit the me that is now. Not yet, anyway. Does that make sense?’

  ‘None at all, my girl, but I totally respect you for that.’ Stan stood up and walked slowly toward the door. ‘I’ll leave you in peace.’

  ‘Stan?’

  ‘Yes, Abi?’

  ‘Thank you.’

  The old man gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. ‘And you, my girl. And you.’

  Once Stan had the idea of being able to see Sally and the children as well as talk to them, there was no stopping his determination to make it happen as soon as possible.

  ‘Stan …’ Abi knew she couldn’t leave voicing her doubts about Sally’s reaction to her any longer as her friend sat excitedly in front of her laptop.

  ‘Yes, my girl?’

  ‘What have you told Sally about me exactly?’

  ‘Everything! How you knocked on the door, about your family holidays in the past, about Max, and walking Sadie, and bringing me fish and chips, and everything.’

  ‘What did she say about it?’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Stan, if I was Sally I’d probably be worried. I could be anyone in her eyes, couldn’t I? A con artist after your home, a thief, a gold digger even. It happens.’

  Stan looked a little uncomfortable. ‘Well, I did have to reassure Sally a bit. But don’t worry, Sally’s lovely. She’ll adore you just like I do.’

  Abi smiled, but felt far from reassured as she prepared the laptop for the call. ‘I’ll start it dialling, and then I’ll leave you to it. You don’t need to press anything. You should have this first call in peace.’

  ‘You won’t go far, will you? Stan looked worried, ‘Just in case this thing beeps at me or something.’

  ‘I’ll be in the next room; I’ll leave the door ajar. Just shout if you need me.’

  Trying to read a book so that she didn’t eavesdrop on Stan’s conversation, Abi found concentration impossible. She knew she’d been foolish to not seek a conversation with Stan’s daughter before now. She desperately wanted Sally to like her, but she knew that her trust would have to be earned.

  It was with a sense of relief that Abi heard laughter coming from the next room. A few seconds later, Stan called her through. Abi had thought he might, and the nervous perspiration that had been building up on her palms prickled slightly as she got up and went to join her friend.

  Beaming with pride, Stan gestured to the smiling faces on the computer screen before him. ‘Abi, may I introduce you to my wonderful grandchildren, Pippa and Craig.’

  Smiling at the two young teenagers, Abi waved and said hello. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you.’

  Stan, looking as though all his Christmases had come at once, said, ‘Is your mum still there, troops? I’d like her to meet Abi as well.’

  ‘Sure, Gramps.’ Pippa and Craig disappeared in a flurry of blown kisses and waves, as Sally slid in front of the screen, and sat down. Unlike the children, Sally wasn’t smiling. On the plus side, Abi thought, she wasn’t scowling either.

  ‘You’re getting the hang of this Skype business already, Dad.’

  ‘I am, Abi’s shown me how it all works. We had lots of little practice runs before we called properly.’

  Turning her attention to an increasingly uncomfortable Abi, Sally nodded. ‘Thank you. It’s fabulous to be able to see my dad.’

  ‘Not at all. It’s the least I can do. Your dad has been so very kind, and so have you.’

  Sally frowned. ‘I have?’

  ‘Yes.’ Abi, hoping she sounded sincere rather than patronising, said, ‘You don’t know me from Adam, and yet I’ve sort of taken over at this end. I really didn’t mean to. I suppose I’m trying to reassure you that I’m not a gold digger or anything, which now I’ve said that, makes me sound even more like one, doesn’t it? Oh dear, sorry,’ Abi felt increasingly flustered, ‘that didn’t come out right.’

  Stan waved away what Abi was trying to say. ‘Don’t be silly, Abi, I know you aren’t a gold digger, and Sally and I have talked it all through before.’

  ‘You are very kind, Stan, but even so, if I was Sally, I’d want more reassurance than that.’ Abi addressed Sally directly, ‘Is there anything I can do to prove I’m genuine?’

  Sally smiled, some of the reserve in her eyes softening. ‘Well, it is nice to know someone is looking after Dad, but I confess I’d feel better if I knew you a little more.’

  ‘I’d like that. Stan talks about you and the children so much, it seems odd that we’ve never physically met.’

  Nodding, Sally glanced at her watch. ‘Do you have time for a longer chat now?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Dad, I’ll call you again tomorrow. Time for Abi and I to get to know each other a bit better. I have to grill her!’

  Stan looked worried, but Abi smiled. ‘Sally’s joking, we’re just going to fill in the gaps between what you’ve already told each of us.’

  ‘So, do you think you’ve convinced Sally you aren’t just after Stan’s money?’ Beth asked Abi as they watched two men, balancing on ladders, curve, smooth, and hammer the shop sign across the front of the studio gallery.

  ‘As much as I can. We got on pretty well in the end. I can’t blame her for being edgy at first. I would have been in her place.’ Abi smiled at the memory of Stan’s happy face when she’d reported back on how well she and Sally had got on, and that they’d already scheduled another Skype chat for later in the week.

  As the last nail was driven home Abi and Beth rai
sed their mugs of coffee in salute to their new enterprise.

  ‘I can’t believe it!’ Beth felt a rush of grateful love for her new friend, ‘It’s actually happening. Here’s to The Art and Sole Studio Gallery!’

  Abi beamed. ‘I can’t wait to get working in there properly. I can’t tell you how lovely it will be to have the occasional interruption!’

  ‘Really? I was worried the visitors would put you off.’

  ‘Not at all. I work better with people around. Plus, it can get awfully lonely working on your own. And, let’s face it, we could go days without a customer, but at least I’ll have the company of the artists that are visiting on and off. Will Jacob be sitting in all the time, or will he just be popping by sometimes? He can hardly bring his work with him like the painters and quilters, can he?’

  ‘A bit of both. He’s planning to be in his work studio all morning, and then bring in admin and stuff to do here in the afternoons. Sound good?’

  ‘Perfect.’ Abi looked up at the Victorian-style script of the Art and Sole sign. This was her office, her daytime home. ‘I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such a great place to work.’

  Going back inside so that Beth could write a cheque for the sign men, Abi headed into the storeroom, taking extra care not to knock over any of the pots that Jacob had stacked up ready for his month in residence, when her mobile burst into life.

  ‘Oh, hi, Max, how’s today’s wallpapering going?’

  ‘Let’s just say I prefer putting up plain paper to patterned! Lining up the little flowers on this stuff is enough to try the patience of a saint.’

  Thinking that Max did have the patience of a saint Abi couldn’t imagine how tricky it must be to have got him moaning when he added, ‘Anyway, the woman I’m putting up this headache-inducing design for is the features editor for Cornish Life magazine. I’ve been telling her all about Art and Sole, and she is interested in doing an article about you guys, why you’ve started another gallery, what is different about it and so on. What do you think? You up for it? Would be a brilliant bit of publicity.’

  ‘I’d love it! Any free publicity is good. I’ve done several adverts for the local papers, but they’ve all cost a fortune. But shouldn’t you be asking Beth this and not me? She’s the boss after all.’

  ‘True, but this was an excellent excuse to call you in the middle of the day!’

  Warmth flowed through Abi as she said, ‘You don’t need an excuse. I love it when you phone.’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘Yes.’ Abi felt the need to say so much, to tell Max exactly how she was beginning to feel about him, but deciding it was cruel to tell him over the phone when he was unable to leave his annoying wallpaper, she simply said, ‘Fancy a walk and a drink tonight? I have a yen to learn a bit more about this area so that I can answer more of the pub quiz questions next time, and you’re the one to tell me.’

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Abi’s alarm clock rudely summoned her to life at five o’clock. There was an hour before Max and Jacob would be knocking on the door ready to take Stan up to London, and two hours before Beth would be expecting her at the gallery to go through the preparations for the family launch that afternoon.

  The sounds of movement from the next room told Abi that Stan was up and getting ready. Pulling on some old clothes that would do until she had the chance to shower, Abi went downstairs to the kitchen to make them both a hot drink and some toast.

  As Abi moved around the kitchen she wondered what if would be like to be here on her own, with just herself to make toast for and only one mug to fill with tea or coffee. She was surprised to find that the idea didn’t appeal to her at all. The dream had been to live here alone, but somewhere along the line the dream had changed, and she hadn’t even noticed.

  Although Abi had contemplated asking Stan to stay permanently, the way he talked about moving up to the flats was so enthusiastic that she wasn’t sure he’d want to stay. Anyway, she knew it wasn’t Stan she wanted here with her – not really.

  It was with a sense of shock, as Abi wondered how it would be having Max move in with her, that she realised she’d never seen his home. Was he ashamed of it? Or maybe of her? Don’t be silly, it’s not that he hasn’t shown you, he just hasn’t got round to taking you there. It’s not as if he’s desperate to get me on my own so he can do interesting things to me is it! Sighing into the kettle vapour, Abi once again cursed her hasty declaration that her body was out of bounds. How could she possibly tell him that she’d changed her mind? That now Simon was off the scene she felt free to be who she wanted to be?

  Her musings were interrupted by the sight of a smartly suited and broadly smiling Stan. ‘What do you think? Will I cut the mustard up there with those City types?’

  ‘You look very dapper indeed!’ Abi smiled. ‘Are you packed for your night in a swanky hotel with the boys?’

  ‘I most certainly am.’ He gave Abi a wink which she was sure would have been a pretty powerful weapon when he was a younger man. ‘We’ll show those city gals a thing or two!’

  ‘Stan!’

  The old man laughed as he sat down to the pile of toast Abi placed in front of him. ‘I was up there for a time during the war. You should have seen me! You’d never have recognised me, girl. Bit of a catch I was back then.’

  ‘I don’t doubt it!’ Abi sat with him, sipping her tea, ‘You all ready then? Nervous?’

  ‘I am a bit. I’ve always wanted to go to a real auction though. I love all those Bargain Hunt type shows. You never know, we could make a fortune.’

  ‘You never know.’ Abi, who was worried Stan had set his heart on them fetching a sum for the vase that was unrealistic, said no more on the matter.

  Between munches of toast Stan added, ‘I know what I’m going to do with the money when we have it.’

  ‘What’s that then?’

  ‘I’m going to buy a plane ticket for Sally and the kids to come and visit. They want to come, but simply can’t afford it.’

  Abi grinned. ‘That’s a fabulous idea. I hope you make enough.’ Having met Sally via Skype several times now, Abi had found herself more and more endeared to the single parent who’d taken her children off for a fresh start all on her own, something which Abi was sure had taken far more guts than she would ever have. Privately deciding that if Stan didn’t make enough for all three tickets she’d offer to make up the difference, Abi said, ‘How long does the money from Christie’s take to come through after a sale? I can’t imagine they write you a nice fat cheque there and then. They’ll have to take their commission and stuff off won’t they?’

  ‘I don’t know, my girl. Jacob will do, I expect, and that Peter said he’ll talk us through it all.’

  ‘Peter’s going?’

  ‘He’s meeting us up there. Apparently Peter has never sent stuff to Christie’s before, so he didn’t want to miss it. Not done his reputation any harm, according to young Jacob.’

  A knock at the door told them that Jacob and Max had arrived.

  ‘Morning, Stan.’ Max took Abi’s hand as he came through the door. She swore he looked more attractive each time she saw him, especially when he wasn’t wearing his work clothes. ‘So, are you all ready for family time at Art and Sole?’

  ‘Almost,’ Abi held his hand a little tighter, hoping Max would pick up on the fact she didn’t want to let go again, ‘just the little bits and pieces to sort out now.’

  Jacob picked up Stan’s bag. ‘You will put my pots out where I told Beth, won’t you? I’d hate them to get broken by overeager young fingers.’

  Abi, who had heard this request three times in the last few days, said, ‘We’ll put them exactly where you said. I can promise nothing about little fingers except that we’ll do our best to protect your things. You don’t have to have them displayed today if you’d rather not. We could leave all your stuff until the official launch.’

  ‘No, it’s fine, Beth might sell a few. Ignore me; I get a bit precious about
my work sometimes.’

  As Abi had heard that before as well she just nodded and, with a double-check that Stan had everything he needed, and a quick whisper in Max’s ear asking that they should stop at least once every two hours so Stan didn’t get too tired, she escorted Stan to the van.

  Max hesitated by the driver’s door. ‘Good luck, Abi. You will call and let us know how it goes, won’t you? I can’t believe I’m not going to be there to support you and Beth.’

  ‘You are supporting us; you’ve done so much to help.’ She hugged him close, and looked up at Max’s smile, which was a foot above hers. ‘It’s a miracle that the top of your head doesn’t get frostbite from being all the way up there!’

  ‘Cheek! It isn’t my fault you’re all petite and dinky-like!’

  Lifting her off her feet Max gave her a quick kiss. ‘Call me later, yes?’

  Breathless as she was lowered to the floor, Abi blushed at the thought that Stan and Jacob could be watching, ‘You bet. You call too. I want to hear all about it. In fact, could you hold your phone up so Beth and I can hear the bidding?’

  ‘Great idea.’ Max bent down and kissed the top of her hair. ‘Have a brilliant day. Give my love to Beth.’

  ‘Will do.’ Abi waved as Max carefully reversed out of his parking spot, and the van disappeared back off towards London, following a route Max was beginning to know quite well.

  Silver and blue balloons hung in five bunches from hooks on the outside of the Art and Sole Studio Gallery, an area of floor had been cleared to accommodate the visitors, and Abi’s prints and original sketches had been framed and hung on the walls. They were from her favourite of all the books she’d illustrated, The Bumble Tumble Monkeys, about some mischievous monkeys that loved to cause havoc in the jungle.

  A pile of the books were also available to sell, thanks to the publishers’ eager agreement to having another retail outlet, and her latest work in progress from Squidgy the Alien was propped on her easel. Having taken the precaution of removing all her paints from harm’s way, Abi laid out her watercolour pencils and opened her laptop to show the page of writing that she was currently illustrating.