Older people?Does he think I am a pensioner?
The engineer whistles happily away to himself as he heads off into the boiler room. I was going to ask him if he wanted a coffee, but now he can stuff it! If I wasn’t so desperate to have heating in here, I’d find someone else. Do the Dutch have to be so direct? There was no need for that.
I sit on my bed and look at my reflection in the mirror. It’s true that I don’t look my best today. I mean, I couldn’t shower because I have no hot water, so my hair is a little limp and the grey streaks perhaps show more noticeably, but still. Where did my youth go? It feels like it all went in the blink of an eye. My reflection is like a reminder that for my next big birthday I will be sixty, even if I do have a few years to go yet. As always though, I like to think of myself as a positive person and so, instead of dwelling on this fact, I resolve to make the best of my life. I’ll go into one of the fancy department stores and find a new eyeliner, have a bit of a makeover and get my small business off the ground. I can’t do anything about ageing, but I can do something about fretting about it.
Having calmed down over what the engineer probably thought was an innocuous comment, I finally offer him a coffee as I make one for myself.
He gladly accepts and then tells me that he has to go to his van that is parked by the canal to get something.
Unfortunately, when he returns with some extra tools, he isn’t alone.
‘Someone’s here to see you. He was outside,’ he says.
I look up at Abe. Why did the engineer have to let him in?
‘Hi, what’s happened here?’ he asks.
‘Oh, nothing I can’t cope with. The boiler’s packed up. No big deal.’ I don’t admit that I was almost having a breakdown this morning. He doesn’t need to know that.
‘Ah, no. I promised you the number for my guy. Sorry, I forgot.’
‘It’s no problem. I can arrange things by myself, thanks.’
‘I’m happy you found someone. It’s needed replacing for years. It’s probably best before the worst of the winter weather comes.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s done now. Anyway, did you want something?’ I might sound sharp, but I can’t hide yesterday’s disappointment at seeing Camilla.
‘I came to apologise about Camilla answering the door. I hope you don’t think she makes a habit of it.’
‘Oh, no. I don’t know what I thought.’
‘Her husband left her a few months ago. I think she’s a bit lonely on her own, and so she’s always calling over. I’m sorry, I don’t think I thanked you properly for the lovely dog. It’s so thoughtful of you. It’s the most beautiful gift. I told you before how talented you are.’
‘Oh, well, thanks, but anyway, I’d better be getting on here. In case the engineer needs anything.’
‘I don’t need anything,’ shouts the engineer. Oh my, does he listen to everything?
‘Of course. Yes. Well, it’s just that I came over to say… how do I say this… to make it clear that Camilla is only a friend, but perhaps it didn’t look like that because she answered the door.’
‘It’s fine. I don’t know what I thought. It’s no problem. You’re free to do as you please.’
‘Good, because she was just trying to be helpful while I was in the bathroom.’
‘Right. Helpful.’ That sounds so wrong, and I can think of other words more suitable thanhelpfulfor her.
‘She just wanted to offer me some special dog food she found. Ted has some pain in his leg, and she said it could help his joints. She came over with it and I offered her a coffee.’
‘Well, I hope it helps him. That was very nice of her. Yeah.’
‘So, anyway, I was hoping that you’d come over yesterday to tell me you’d decided to go on that date that I asked you for? I guessed perhaps you didn’t want to bring it up with Camilla there.’
‘No, you’re right.’
‘Well, I’m so sorry it was a bad time. Can I ask you now? Or do you want to take a rain check?’
As Abe asks me the question, the engineer drops a wrench, and the vibration reverberates around us. Is he still listening? I lower my voice in case.
‘You know what, Abe. Yes. Okay. I’d love to go on a proper date with you.’
