Let’s make sure she’s happy with the situation,thenwe can work out where she’s put everything.
Apparently, Adam was a classical music nut, so Paul had dashed into the house and begged his mum to let him borrow some of her classical CD’s. She’d agreed, albeit with a bemused expression, and then laughed at the sight of him laden down once more with his belongings. She’d followed that with mutterings under her breath, something about never knowing if Paul was coming or going.
Paul had waved his hand. He’d explain it all when he had the time. Right then he’d been on a mission.
When midday arrived and there was still no sign of Caroline, Paul began to think she’d changed her mind, until he heard a car pulling up outside.
“She’s here,” Adam called out.
Paul hurried to the library door when the music died. “No, put it back on.”Anythingto help create a positive first impression.
Adam reacted swiftly and hit the remote. Once more, the music wafted through the house. Paul took a deep breath and crossed the hallway to open the front door as Caroline approached, a briefcase clutched in her hand. “Good afternoon,” he said politely.
She smiled. “Hello, Paul.”
He stepped aside to let her enter and closed the door behind her. “Adam is in the library.”
She strode briskly past him, and Paul caught the muttered words, “where else?” He followed her to the library door where she stopped so abruptly, he almost ran into her. He could only imagine what was going through her mind. Not that he could blame her reaction: it was certainly a different picture from her last visit.
“Good afternoon, Caroline.” Adam’s tone was polite, but there was a warmth to it Paul hadn’t yet heard. “We’re about to have lunch. Paul’s made some soup. Would you like to join us, or have you only got time to get your paperwork sorted out?”
There was a delay of several seconds before Caroline responded. “Paperwork?” To Paul’s mind, she didn’t sound with it at all.
“Yes, Paul’s bank details. The reason for your visit?” Adam sounded distinctly amused. Paul’s head was buzzing from Adam’s use of pronouns.
We’reabout to have lunch? Joinus?
“Oh, yes. Well. I don’t want to disturb you. I can always come back another time when it’s more convenient.” There was no escaping it: Caroline was flustered.
“The soup will keep,” Paul interjected. The last thing Adam would want would be to give his sister an excuse to visit again.“And besides, the bread’s fresh out of the oven. It needs to cool down before I can slice it.”
“Oh, well, if you’re sure.”
“Why don’t you go into the office with Paul, and do what you need to do? That way, we can relax and have lunch afterward.” Adam was smiling.
“Very well.” Caroline went toward the office door, Paul behind her. One glance at Adam confirmed his suspicions: Adam was enjoying this.
Filling out his details took less than five minutes, and when it was completed, Caroline tucked the papers away into her briefcase and placed it on the floor next to her chair.
“I realize one thing we didn’t discuss last week was your time off.”
“Time off?” Paul mimicked her words, floored by the realisation it had only been a week since his interview.
“You can’t be expected to work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,” Caroline said, her dry tone so reminiscent of Adam’s. “You will need some time off, if only to… chill out. I imagine looking after Adam can be quite fatiguing.” She smiled, her gaze trained on him as though awaiting a response.
“Funnily enough, we were discussing this only yesterday.” Adam stood in the doorway, his hands on the doorjamb. “But you don’t need to worry your head about this, Caro. I’m sure Paul and I can come to an arrangement that suits us both. For example, he’s going to a party tomorrow night.” He sniffed the air. “That soup smells good.”
“It certainly does,” Caroline agreed, “but I’m afraid I can’t stop to try it. I’m meeting Dean in Newport.”
“Oh, that’s a pity. Another time, perhaps.”
Paul was trying hard to stifle his chuckles. Adam was really laying on the politeness with a trowel.
“I’d like to use the bathroom before I go, if I may.” Caroline rose to her feet.
Adam extended his arm in a wide sweep to encompass the hallway. “Please, feel free.”
Caroline gave Paul a polite nod and exited the room, slipping past Adam in the doorway. Paul listened to the soft fall of her feet as she went up the staircase.
