by Mel Sherratt
Josie turned to Debbie. ‘Watch out for yourself. He’s likely to kick off, so stay out of the way if anything happens.’
‘Be careful!’ said Debbie.
‘Don’t worry about me. This is bound to be the last time I’ll have to deal with him anyway. The council are hardly likely to give him a place if we’ve evicted him for non-payment of his rent.’
Debbie stayed seated on the wall. Josie and Mark met Philip halfway up the path.
‘Hello, Philip,’ said Josie. ‘Glad you could make it.’
Philip looked first at the joiner as he drilled through the lock of his front door, then back to Josie.
‘What the fuck are you doing?’
What the fuck does it look like, Josie wanted to reply. Instead she kept calm. ‘We’re evicting you,’ she said. ‘I told you this would happen if –’
‘You can’t do this, you bitch!’
‘Whoa there, cowboy, watch your language.’ Mark held Philip at arms’ length as he moved nearer to Josie. The bailiff handed Philip a copy of the eviction notice, which he promptly screwed into a ball and threw to the floor.
Even though Josie had taken a step backwards, she tried not to show concern. Philip was a trouble maker, but he seemed to be all mouth and empty threats, by all accounts. She knew the residents of Bernard Place would be glad to see the back of him.
‘I warned you enough times,’ Josie told him as she regained her composure.
‘But… all me stuff… me dogs are still inside!’
‘Then you’ll have to remove them. I need vacant possession by the end of the day.’
Philip’s eyes widened in disbelief. ‘But I’ve got nowhere to go!’
Josie sighed. Evictions were always the worst part of her job, even if it was low life such as Philip. She should have been able to get through to him – show proof of income or else your housing benefits will be stopped. She should have carried out more than the fortnightly visits she’d made over the past few months, insisting that he brought the items she needed to the office, but there wasn’t time to keep on chasing. Philip had hardly ever been at home for any of her pre-arranged visits and hadn’t contacted her regarding any of her letters. Still, Josie felt like she had failed.
‘I can give you until the end of the day,’ she repeated. A battle of wills began as the two of them locked eyes.
Josie held out her hand. ‘There’s no going back now. If you give me the keys, we can stop any more damage and you can start to clear out your stuff.’
Once inside the property, Josie felt more at ease. The joiner and the bailiff had left, their work finished. Philip used his mobile, trying to rally some friends to help him. Mark checked the rooms for stolen goods and Debbie took photographs with a digital camera.
‘I still can’t believe that tenants make up imaginary items so that they can claim against the association,’ she said, when Josie came into the living room.
‘It’s true, which is why, apart from the obvious safety reasons, there has to be at least two officers present at any eviction. Then they can’t say we’ve nicked their brand new widescreen TV, etcetera.’
Philip finished his call. ‘I’ve got a mate coming over with a van. He’ll help me move my stuff, though I don’t know where the fuck it’s all going to go.’ He stared at Josie before pushing past them both into the kitchen.
‘The steel doors will be fitted no later than three thirty,’ Josie shouted after him. ‘I’ll leave you to sort things out and come back then.’
Desperate for fresh air, Josie followed Debbie out.
‘Has he calmed down any?’ Paul asked.
‘Enough to get his arse into gear.’
‘What if he can’t do it all by this afternoon?’
‘We’ll let him in again by arrangement, but one of us will have to stay with him. We give tenants twenty-eight days to remove their belongings. If they don’t, we clear it for them. It’s such a shame to see good furniture go to waste, but there you have –’
‘About bloody time you got rid of that scummy bastard!’ a voice shouted from across the street. The unmistakable bubble of Mrs Myatt leaning on her garden gate opposite them assaulted their eyes. ‘He’s been causing trouble here since the day he moved in,’ she continued. ‘I can’t believe it took you so long to get rid of him.’
‘We’d get rid of a lot more people if we could,’ Debbie told her. ‘Our jobs aren’t as easy as they seem.’
‘Not that easy?’ Mrs Myatt huffed and pointed to her overgrown lawn. ‘If you stopped pestering people about keeping their gardens in pristine condition, you’d have plenty of time to do the important things. I’m surprised at you, Josie Mellor. I always thought you had more about you, but letting the likes of him get the better of you.’
Josie felt anger rising within her. ‘Mrs Myatt,’ she yelled across the cul-de-sac, ‘why don’t you –’
‘Keep an eye on the situation here,’ Debbie interrupted, before Josie could shout out the rest of the damning sentence, ‘and ring us if anything kicks off before we call back at three-thirty?’
Mrs Myatt nodded and went inside with a slam of her front door.
‘Stupid bitch. And you want to be a housing officer?’ Josie shook her head in wonder.
After dropping Debbie back at the office, Josie texted Kelly to check if she was home – and that Scott wasn’t.
‘I’m not stopping,’ she explained as she stood on the doorstep. ‘I’ve got some books for Emily. Is she home?’
‘No, she’s gone to town with my mum. That girl has more of a social life than me.’
‘How are things going?’ Josie asked tentatively. ‘I wanted to check that you were okay but I haven’t liked to call unannounced since Scott’s release from prison.’
Kelly shrugged. ‘I suppose it’ll take time to adjust again.’
A silence followed and Josie took this as her cue not to continue. She opened a bag and pulled out the first book she came to. It still tugged at her heartstrings to give them away, but she knew they were going to a good home.
‘Aw.’ She ran a finger over the cover. ‘Enid Blyton was my favourite author. I’ve always wanted to write a book, especially about my job. People wouldn’t believe what goes on here on the Mitchell Estate.’
‘Got anything in there for me?’ Kelly picked up another book. Five go to Dorset.
‘Not unless you’re seven. Some of them are going to be too old for now but she’ll grow into them. And, I hope, grow to love them like I did.’
Kelly flicked through the pages. A photograph dropped onto the floor. Josie picked it up and pulled a face.
‘One of my wedding photos.’ She handed it to Kelly. ‘God, I look so scared!’
Kelly looked at the photo of Josie and her husband standing on the steps of the registry office. Josie looked like a child next to him. She was right, she did look scared. Then Kelly drew it nearer. She recognised the man.
‘I know him.’
‘Yes, you probably do,’ nodded Josie. ‘He works at Miles’ Factory too. Do you remember me telling you? We’ve – we’ve split up recently.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
‘No, don’t be.’ Josie smiled half-heartedly. ‘There was nothing there to miss, if I’m honest. I’ll get over it.’
‘Josie. I –’
‘Christ on a bike,’ Josie interrupted, noticing the time. ‘I have to go – I’ll catch you later in the week. Bye.’
Kelly closed the door and made her way back up the stairs. Already she was searching her memory, running through previous conversations with Josie. Hadn’t she said that they’d both lost their parents?
So that left one question: why did the men at work call the man in the photograph ‘mummy’s boy’?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
At half past two, Josie was sorting out the eviction paperwork when she received a phone call to say that Stewart was in the main reception asking for her. A little bit taken aback, she rushed up to see him, but at t
he sight of him, she felt anger tear through her. She pointed to an interview cubicle and Stewart followed her in.
‘I came to see how you were,’ he said. ‘I haven’t seen you since…’
‘Since you punched me in the face?’
‘Sorry.’ Stewart lowered his eyes for a moment. ‘I got it into my head that you were seeing someone else.’
‘So you thought you’d spy on me?’
‘I was worried about you!’
‘I don’t think you’ll ever worry about anyone other than yourself. And I can’t see why you’re so bothered. You haven’t really liked living with me for a while now, have you?’
Stewart shrugged like a spoilt child.
‘You’ve wanted out of this marriage for ages,’ Josie continued into the silence that had followed. ‘So I’ve given you the opportunity. Now tell me the real reason that you’re here.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What do you want, Stewart?’
‘I – I want to know what you’re doing about the house.’
‘My house?’
Stewart looked uncomfortable. ‘I paid towards it too.’
The penny clicked and Josie gasped. ‘You’ve come here to talk money?’
‘I –’
‘That house belongs to me! It was left to me by my mother. Granted, you paid towards its keep in the early years of our marriage, but you’ve hardly given anything towards the bills lately. I know you may be entitled to something – I’m not that heartless – but I’ll be damned if you think you’re getting thousands from me.’
‘I’m entitled to half.’
‘Oh, no you’re not,’ Josie raged. She lowered her voice before continuing. ‘We need to talk but now isn’t the time. I can meet you tonight in the Cat and Fiddle.’
‘I’ll come to the house.’
‘No, you won’t.’
‘But –’
‘I have work to do. I’ll meet you in the pub later – six o’clock, take it or leave it.’
Josie let out a breath as she watched Stewart walk away. Tears filled her eyes and her hands began to shake uncontrollably. How dare he show up unannounced? She didn’t like mixing her home life with her working days and he knew that.
She sat down for a moment to calm herself. After what they’d discussed, she felt totally let down. Seeing him now made her realise that she had no feelings left for him. She didn’t love him; she didn’t even like him anymore. Especially when it seemed he was more interested in the house than her welfare.
Finally, she stood up. She couldn’t let him get away with treating her like this. If Stewart thought for a minute she was willing to bargain with him, he had another think coming.
At ten to three, Kelly thought she’d given Scott enough time to return home. He’d promised to look after Emily that evening but, no sooner had he walked back into her life, than the meetings of before had started up again. He’d been gone since he’d taken a phone call at eleven that morning.
Kelly grabbed her keys. ‘Come on, Em. Let’s see if Dot’s in. Would you mind staying with her while I go to work, just for today?’
The grateful look on her daughter’s face was enough to make Kelly blink away tears. Why had she thought she could leave Emily with Scott as soon as he returned? She’d known things were going to be rough while they got reacquainted but she hadn’t thought they would be this rough. It was like living with a different person.
Or maybe he’d always been like this and she’d never noticed.
As she was about to fly down the stairs, Kelly heard the key turn in the door.
‘I think she’s gone,’ she heard Scott say. Putting a finger over her lips, Kelly pulled Emily into the bathroom and quietly closed the door.
‘Won’t she go mental if you keep them in here?’ someone else spoke. Kelly frowned, vaguely recognising the voice.
‘She doesn’t have any choice.’ The bathroom door flew open. Scott freaked when he saw them both.
‘What the fuck –’
‘I might ask you the same thing.’ Kelly pointed to the tank he was holding. ‘What is that?’
Emily peeped out from behind Kelly’s legs. She let out an ear-piercing scream. ‘Spiders! Mummy, I hate spiders!’
‘Stop your whining.’ Scott placed the tank of creepy crawlies into the bath. ‘They won’t hurt you – well, most of them won’t.’
Kelly stared at the man standing behind Scott. It was that Matson guy she’d fetched Scott’s parcel from.
‘Get them out of here,’ she said, at the same time trying to console Emily by pulling her close.
‘No, it’s only for a few days. Since that bitch of a housing officer,’ Scott turned towards Kelly with a sneer, ‘you know, the one you’re so friendly with – chucked him out of his house, he’s nowhere to put them.’
‘They can’t stay in here.’
Emily was sniffling uncontrollably now.
‘Em, don’t be a baby.’ Scott delved into the tank, picked up a spider and thrust it into her face. Emily turned away and screamed again. He laughed at her look of dismay.
‘Grow up, Scott,’ Kelly cried. ‘She’s frightened, for God’s sake. Are you too bloody stupid to see that?’
‘But where else can they go?’
‘If they must stay, put them in the bin store outside. The key’s hanging up in the kitchen.’ Kelly pushed past them. Emily tightened her gip on her hand. ‘They’d better not be in here when I get home.’
‘Okay, okay! Keep your knickers on.’ Scott knew when he was beat. ‘I’ll put them outside.’
Kelly managed to get down the stairs with Emily still clinging to her. She checked her watch after she’d pressed the tinny bell on Dot’s door frame. It was nearing quarter past three; she was going to be late for work now.
‘One minute!’
Kelly’s shoulders drooped, thankful for small mercies. At least Dot could keep an eye on Scott to see if anything else unpleasant found its way into her bathroom. God knows what else that creepy guy had with him.
‘I’m beginning to wish I’d kept hold of Patrick Street,’ Scott muttered as he pushed past her rudely.
‘That’s funny,’ Kelly replied sharply. ‘So am I.’
Josie turned the dial up on the shower and stepped under the hot water, hoping to wash her troubles down the plug hole along with her shower gel. Sighing loudly, she stood for what seemed like an age as she recalled the last few hours. What a day. When Philip Matson had eventually vacated the property, he’d also ripped the washing machine away from the wall, leaving damaged pipe-work and water pouring everywhere. Josie had had to call out the emergency plumber. Then there had been the meeting with Stewart that never was, as he hadn’t turned up at the Cat and Fiddle. She hoped he’d come to his senses, that he wouldn’t turn up unannounced again.
Luckily for her, she’d returned the favour and invited Livvy for something to eat that evening. She was glad to have some company.
‘He’s a right prick, messing you about like that,’ Livvy said, as they sat down in the living room. ‘What are you going to do now?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Josie handed her a glass of red wine. ‘It’s early days yet. I bet he thinks I won’t be able to hack it in the real world without him.’
‘Why don’t you call his bluff and put the house up for sale?’
Josie stopped with the glass near her lips. ‘I don’t get you.’
Livvy shrugged. ‘Let him know that you’re moving on regardless.’
‘But I don’t want to sell it.’
‘I’m not saying that you have to, but it might make him realise that you’re serious about not taking him back. You won’t change your mind about that, will you?’
Josie shook her head. It had been a shock when Stewart had lashed out at her, but even before that she’d known the marriage was dead on its feet. There was no point going back to that.
‘Good, it will give him something to worry about for a change.’
But Josie wasn’t sure that Stewart would worry about that. She assumed he’d think she was putting the house on the market so that she could pay him his half when it sold. However, if it gave her a bit of time and kept him at bay for a while, she would certainly give it some thought.
‘I’ll definitely think about it.’
She went to check on the food and came back a few minutes later to find Livvy staring into space. Livvy had been reluctant to open up the first time they’d met – maybe she needed to talk now.
‘Want to tell me what’s weighing you down?’ she asked.
Livvy sighed. ‘You remember I left the association to work with my family?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Libby’s parents owned their own franchise of recruitment agencies. ‘I thought you were doing well. Did something go wrong?’
‘Leyton Goldstraw.’
‘Ah.’ Josie pulled her legs up beside her. ‘A man.’
‘I’d been going out with him for six months. My parents and my brother and sister never took to him. They didn’t like the way he pestered me for money all the time. So, after one almighty row, I quit.’
‘You left the family business!’
Livvy shrugged. ‘It was hard, I know, but they were never going to approve. I would have thought twice about it, had I known how Leyton would react.’
‘Oh?’
‘He was far from impressed. My brother and sister had both been given their own branches to run and, being the youngest, I was in line for mine. My dad had picked out the office space and was just about to sign the lease on the building when we fell out. I managed to find work with an agency before getting back on at head office but the money was nowhere near what I’d been earning before. And then, over the next year, Leyton bled me dry.’ Livvy pushed her long hair behind her ears and sighed. ‘I was a fool, Josie. I loaned him money towards starting his own business, yet his promises to pay me back never materialised. Eventually he just upped and left, leaving me with all his debts. I couldn’t face asking my parents to help me out because I felt so humiliated.’
‘I don’t believe it.’ Josie felt angry about Livvy’s quandary. It never failed to amaze her just how similar people were. No matter what beginnings they’d had in life, it only took one event to turn everything upside down. ‘So what did you do? I mean, they would have been okay with you, surely?’