On Monday Ben spent the day catching up on the work he hadn’t been able to do over the weekend. He worked on the figures for the investment in the company and the potential outlay for the types of projects he was interested in. It was a very tight equation but Ben felt the time had come to spread BW’s wings. Just as he was completing his report for Cheadle House the phone rang, not recognising the tone at first he realised Lucy must have changed his ringtone to the ‘Crazy Frog’ when he wasn’t looking, cursing her quietly again he picked it up.
“Hello, Ben Wilson” he answered in a businesslike manner.
“Hi Ben” Jean’s motherly tones answered “how’s the parenting going?”
“Don’t ask Jean, she’s the sister from hell. I can’t see the 666 but I know it’s there somewhere.”
“Ah, don’t say that, she’s a good kid really - just high spirited.” Jean remonstrated with him.
“Oh really” Ben grimaced “well shall I bring her round to stay with you for a few days” he challenged.
“Hmmm, I’m sure she wants to be with you” Jean side-stepped neatly, “Now look, about work,” she continued matter of factly “I’ve arranged for Billy Naylor to pop round to that house and look at the plumbing at 4.30 this afternoon, I know its short notice but he said can you meet him there?” Ben struggled to recall which house until he remembered his promise to Katie about Tolpuddle House and the artic front room.
“Oh yes that’s fine - have you let Katie know we’re coming?”
“Yes, I just spoke to her and its fine with her. Also Stewart Jackson rang and said can you ring as he might have something for you.”
“Sure Jean, thanks, anything else?” Ben enquired.
“No nothing that won’t keep until the morning - you are in tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you then.” Ben put the phone down. He quickly dialled Stewart’s number. Stewart was a great architect with good contacts he might have an interesting lead.
“Hi Stew, it’s Ben Wilson”
“Ben, thanks for getting back to me. I think I might have a lead on some developments you could control yourself.”
“Yeah, the other works dried up a bit at the moment, and I’m finding it a real drag having to compromise. We all thought the best way was to do it ourselves.”
“Well, look I might have an interesting opportunity for you. I’m just heading out to meet a client now, how are you fixed to meet up around seven?” Stewart asked.
“I’m fine, I’ve got an appointment at 4.30 in Laxley Heath, but I’m fine after that.”
“Laxley Heath, excellent, how about the Rose & Crown in Laxley? You can get me that pint you owe me.”
“Sure that’s fine - see you later.” Ben put the phone down feeling more optimistic by the minute. Stewart was a good honest guy, if he thought a deal was a good one then it really could be.
The door banged shut with a thuddering crash. Lucy was home! Ben shuddered there was no way he was leaving her to run riot on a school night.
“Get changed Luce; we’re heading out in half an hour.” He shouted into the hall way.
“Going out - cool” Lucy stuck her head round the door, her blond ponytail bobbing in anticipation, “where are we going?”
“I’ve got a meeting in Laxley Heath and you’re coming with me” Ben answered.
“Laxley Heath and a poxy building meeting. That’s hardly going out.” Lucy sulked, “I’m not coming there!” She turned to leave in a huff.
“Oh yes you are Lucy Chapman” Ben’s tones brooked no argument “one fire this week is enough for me. I’m not leaving you alone in the flat for at least another seven days!” He tugged her hair as he walked past, softening his tone with a half-smile. Lucy grimaced, she knew Ben’s tones and it wasn’t worth arguing with him in that mood. She’d save the fight for when she really wanted something.
CHAPTER 8
Half an hour later Ben and Lucy were sat in his van heading through the early rush hour traffic towards Laxley Heath. Lucy still had a face like a wet weekend. She had planned an evening of manicures, pedicures and loud music; this unexpected turn of events was not good at all.
“Cheer up Luce,” Ben teased as they pulled up at Tolpuddle House “it’s not the end of the world.”
“No, but it’s definitely in sight” she groaned, peering out of the window at the wilderness garden in front of the house, “How long will you be?”
“Not long - I’ve just got to see Billy and agree the work then we’ll go get something to eat.”
“Ok brother I’ll wait here till you …”
“Oh no” Ben interrupted “out of the car - you’re no safer in there than in my kitchen.” Lucy stared at him aggrieved.
“OUT” Ben bawled once more and Lucy got out, trying to convey a teenage nonchalance and give a very clear impression that she had decided to get out of her own accord and not because of Ben’s instruction. They walked up the garden path and Ben rang the doorbell, a newer version, he noted, added since the previous week. Shortly after Katie pulled the door open and invited them in.
“Hey” Ben greeted her “is Billy here yet?”
“Oh yes” Katie replied with emphasis.
“And?” Ben asked
“And he’s banging random pipes, shaking his head and talking in ’plumbspeak’ which means nothing to me - you go in there and translate.”
Ben laughed, “Ok, in just a minute”
“Er, no, now” Katie countered “if he hits many more bits something’s going to come apart, pipes or him or possibly you!” Katie’s face showed she might not, in fact, be joking so Ben shot off into the front room to talk plumbing with Billy. Lucy started to take more notice of Katie at this point. She hadn’t seen many people able to make her stubborn brother jump into action. Katie was definitely an exception. Lucy came out of her ponderings as she realised Katie was speaking to her.
“I’m sorry” Katie said “Ben didn’t introduce us before he disappeared. I’m Katie Collins; I’m looking after this house at the moment.” Katie extended her hand which Lucy shook a little self-consciously as she didn’t usually shake hands with new acquaintances.
“I’m Lucy, Ben’s sister. I’m staying with him for a couple of weeks while my Mum’s away.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you. Do you fancy a drink while you’re waiting?” Katie wanted to make the girl feel welcome. She had a rather mutinous set to her face but Katie could see the vulnerability in her bright blue eyes.
“Oh ok,” Lucy answered “Do you have any hot chocolate?”
“I do” Katie smiled “and I have some oat cookies to go with it if you like.”
“Oh cool” Lucy brightened immediately and followed Katie into her flat. Katie soon had the milk warming on the range and spooned chocolate into the mugs, mixing them into a froth as she added the milk.
“There you are” Katie handed one of Cliona’s hand painted mugs to Lucy, “help yourself to cookies.” Lucy was soon tucking into the homemade biscuits, happily munching the crunchy treats. To Katie she suddenly looked like a different person, not much more than a child despite her typical teenage attempts to look grown up.
“So, Lucy, where has your Mum gone?” Katie enquired.
“Oh, I’m not sure really. She’s disappeared off with Clever Trevor on a holiday or something.”
“Clever Trevor?” Katie questioned
“Yeah, he’s her boyfriend - well her current boyfriend anyway.” Lucy’s attempt at cynicism was at odds with her blonde childish face Katie thought.
“You don’t get on then?” Katie added
“With Trevor, not really, he’s not as bad as some of them.”
“What about your Mum?”
“She’s ok; she’s just in another world, really, not the same one as us, that’s all.” Lucy said sadly, “she’s always got some flight of fancy to follow, this time it was a romantic holiday in the sun or something.”
“So she arranged for you to stay at your
brother’s - that’s ok isn’t it?”
“Well, half-brother actually. Ben’s ok, but she didn’t arrange it, she just took me there and left. Ben was a bit pissed off at first, but its ok now.”
“Oh” Katie didn’t know what to say. Her parents had always been away, working on some project or other across the world so she knew what it felt like to be left behind but she’d always had Mo and Granddad to fall back on – and at least they were always expecting her, it seemed that Lucy wasn’t so lucky.
“What about your Dad?” Katie asked
“Never met him, he was a very brief part in Mum’s life” Lucy said matter-of-factly “it’s ok really; I expect he was a bit of a waster anyway.”
“Maybe” Katie smiled at Lucy’s world weariness, “men are generally more trouble than they’re worth.” she added with feeling, “Do you want another biscuit?” Lucy nodded and grinned
“You’re ok Katie - and these are gorgeous” she said biting into the golden biscuit “So how do you know Ben, he’s never mentioned you before.”
“Well, I knew him at school when I was nine and ten, he was a pain in the neck behind me in class, always kicking my chair and trying to be clever. But more recently I came back to look after my Gran’s house as she had an accident and Ben came to fix the door for me.”
“You missed the part about knocking me off my bike - you keep doing that” Ben had come into the kitchen with a stocky man in blue overalls behind him.
“Actually I didn’t knock you off” Katie bristled “you were unable to control your bike and drove yourself into a hedge as I recall.”
“Okay, okay” conceded Ben, laughing, “We’ve had a good look around and Billy needs to go through the problems.”
“Oh god” groaned Katie “would you like a coffee first?”
They both accepted and as Katie was boiling the kettle Poppy stuck her head round the door.
“Hi Katie, sorry to bother you, could you - oh” she paused as she saw Katie had company “sorry, oh hi Ben, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Poppy - you?”
“Yeah great, bit of a problem actually but nothing major. I’ll catch you later Katie.”
“No, no come in” Katie pulled Poppy back into the kitchen, thinking any distraction from the potentially expensive plumbing problems was welcome.
“This is Billy, the heating expert, and this is Lucy, Ben’s sister”
“Hi” said Lucy “your earrings are really great - where did you get them?”
“I made them actually. I’m doing a design course at Rawlinston College” Poppy answered.
“Really, I love design at school. What else do you design?” In no time the two of them were happily chatting away on the sofa, discussing colours, materials and favourite designers. There was no putting off the plumbing discussion any longer for Katie.
“So” she said, pulling up the big wooden chair to the kitchen table, “tell me the worst.”
“Well in short, the systems pretty sound but the radiators are nowhere near big enough to heat a room that size.” Ben began.
“Yes, my dear” Billy continued in a fatherly fashion, “the pipes are old, but they’re fine, not the old lead ones we have to replace, but you need some double radiators in there and there’s a couple of lengths of piping to replace but it’s pretty straightforward. I’ve run the water through them all and there doesn’t seem to be any blockages, so we should be able to get you up and running quite quickly.”
“Oh” Katie was a bit dumb struck, “so you don’t need to take the house to pieces and start again?”
“No” Ben said, exasperated, “a couple of new radiators and a bit of pipe and you’ll be as warm as toast in there.”
“Well, okay, but how much is this going to cost? I don’t really want to use Mo’s money for this but I haven’t got a great deal to play with.” Katie said forlornly.
Billy looked at Ben slightly puzzled “But it’s alright my dear, Ben here …” Billy started but Ben cut in quickly
“Has some radiators and pipes from a house conversion we did recently and Billy can use them - so they won’t cost anything.” Billy was looking more puzzled by the minute; after all he had just negotiated a price for parts and labour with Ben in the front room.
“Oh, well that’s great, thanks. What about the labour cost?” Katie continued “how much will that be?” Billy was stumped what to say as he knew the cost but for some reason Ben didn’t seem to want Katie to know. Fortunately for Billy, Ben had now taken control of the conversation.
“Billy owes me a few hours for some work we did on his house a couple of
months ago, so I’m calling it in. I’ll come down and give him a hand, it’ll only take an afternoon right?” Ben looked at Billy for confirmation, who nodded in a slightly befuddled manner.
“Well if you’re sure, that’d be great” Katie was mightily relieved; she had been really quite worried about how she would afford the work. Ben and Billy were discussing the dates and settled on the following Thursday afternoon.
“That’ll give you another week after, if you decide to give the room a lick of paint” Ben pointed out helpfully.
“Great” Katie thought and wondered how she had gotten into this at all, oh yes - Ben had suggested it!
Billy was making moves to leave so Ben offered to show him out; as they reached the front door Ben shook his hand.
“Thanks for that Billy, sorry I didn’t explain but Katie’s looking after the place for her Grandmother, Mo Collins, and she hasn’t really got the money to pay for the whole thing. I’ll give you a ring tomorrow and we’ll agree the terms. Is that ok?”
“That’s fine Ben” Billy had known Ben for a long time and always suspected he was a bit on the soft side, good job he had John on his books or he’d be falling for every sob story going. Although, Billy thought, this might have a lot more to do with the very attractive auburn haired Katie than Ben’s altruistic motives! Chuckling to himself Billy shook Ben’s hand and went off into the night.
Ben walked back into Katie’s kitchen, Lucy was still talking eagerly with Poppy, and Katie was clearing away the pots they had used. Ben was suddenly struck by the cosy domestic nature of the scene and he was extremely comfortable to feel a part of it as Katie smiled at him as walked over to the range. Not really wanting to leave just yet but knowing he had no further reason to stay he reluctantly said to Lucy.
“Come on Luce, we’d better be going I’m meeting Stew at seven.” Lucy’s face fell.
“Ah but Ben, can’t I stay, you’re only going up the road to the Rose & Crown, you can collect me on the way back.” Lucy put on her most pleading face.
“No, Luce, Katie will have things to do.” Ben insisted
“But Poppy says I can help her sort out photographs and material for her next project. She doesn’t mind - do you?” Lucy turned to Poppy, her blond head bobbing with enthusiasm.
“No, it’s fine with me.” Poppy said “in fact I could use the help. I’m rubbish at making a decision and I’ll end up with too many photos to fit on the board.” Lucy looked triumphantly at Ben as if to say ‘so there’.
Ben was touched to see Lucy so enthusiastic about something other than loud music that he didn’t have the heart to stand in her way and besides Poppy seemed a good kid; she was already having a positive effect on his wayward sister.
“Okay, if you’re sure Poppy. I’ll be back at about eight o’clock”
“Thanks Ben” Lucy was pleased her brother had decided to trust her after her ‘accident’ over the weekend and in this spirit of generosity she didn’t want him to go to the Rose & Crown on his own.
“Why don’t you take Katie with you” she announced, as if struck by an idea of great quality, “I’m sure she could use a drink after having all us traipsing in and out.” Lucy looked to Katie for her assent.
“Well, I’m sure Ben doesn’t want me tagging along to his business meetings.” Katie was uncertain as to why she suddenly
felt a bit shy.
“Why not?” Lucy answered belligerently, “he was going to take me” she added with incontrovertible logic. Ben decided to step in.
“Why don’t you come? I’m not meeting Stew ’til seven and it won’t take long. You can buy me a drink to say thanks for all my help.” he added, tongue slightly in cheek.
In fact, the idea had some appeal for Katie, it was the first chance she’d had for an evening out of any sort since arriving in Laxley Heath, so she may as well grab the opportunity whilst it was on offer. “Okay then Ben” she agreed, “but I think you owe me the drink, as you started this whole pantomime.” Ben laughed, “So what am I? Prince Charming”
“Ugly brother” said Lucy and Katie in unison.
Shortly after Ben and Katie were making their way up the main street in Laxley, the earlier rain had cleared and although it was still wet under foot there was a clear, crisp feel to the air that felt invigorating. Lucy had been installed in Poppy’s flat for the next couple of hours with many and varied instructions from Ben about her behaviour, to which Lucy had listened to at least half!
As they walked through the familiar street they chatted about times past, how the main street had seemed like such an adventure when you were nine, how running past the shops, buying penny chews in the grocery store from old Mr. Beadle as you tried to hide another five pence worth in your pocket until you reached the green at the end. For Katie this had been a magical place, she revealed slightly embarrassed.
A Change for the Better? Page 7