Everyone sits up.
“Why?” several voices ask at once.
“Christmas isn’t for another two weeks.” Haneen says
“For a start, that surveyor can’t come if you’re closed to the public. And even if he somehow makes a report based on rumour, the care home won’t act on it in a hurry. What they want is to protect their own business from outside catering, here.” He looks at me. “If and when Cynthia applies to Powys Council, she will need to check and double check her application with her superiors in the parent company. It’ll need time. So, if you remove the urgency by telling her you’re closed to the public until the New Year, she will wait.”
There’s a moment of silence which Llewellyn breaks. “So what? Before Christmas or in the New Year, they are still going to close us down.”
“It gives you breathing space,” Bill answers. “Time. And you must use this time.”
“How?” Evan asks.
“Your problem is that most of the house is dangerous. It’s not one wing, it’s two wings, the largest wings, and the top floors of the entire house. I know how health and safety regulators think. To them there are too many hazards, here there and everywhere. You need to reduce that.”
Evan finds a clen page and he too starts taking notes.
“Clean up and repair everything except the north wing. Seal the doors and windows into that. Place clean notices and hazard tape across every window and door. Hire builders, whatever you need. By the time January comes round, and the surveyor comes, there’s nothing to see.”
There’s a palpable energy that goes round the table like a Mexican wave. Everyone starts offering suggestions.
Llewellyn is the first. “I can call the builders who decorated the hub. They might be free over Christmas, even if we pay them double.”
“And my workers too,” Alex is already on his phone. “Mosaics can wait while we save our investment.”
“I don’t do manual labour,” the professor says. “But I am not bad at signing cheques.”.
“Wait a minute,” Watson suddenly pipes up. “We’re going to have to pay?”
“Unless you know builders who work for free,” Alex says pointedly. He and Watson don’t seem to like each other much. I never noticed but then Watson tends to keep to himself most of the time; we never see him.
“The upstairs is nothing to do with us. Maybe you and the professor but I’m working on the garden,
“You’re not working on the garden, you’ve been here three months and done bugger all.” Alex isn’t even trying to be polite.
“I have no stake in the inside of the house, It’s Evan and his brother and this interfering girl that’s caused all this. Not my fault.”
“You will speak of my daughter with respect.” The professor suddenly has iron in his voice.
“We’re all a community. If Kendric House closes we all lose.” Llewellyn says calmly but he is looking daggers at Watson.
“It’s a waste of time, you’ll never get the job done in time. the west wing in particular is huge.” Watson gets up.
“Leaving already. Rats out of a sinking ship?” the professor asks silkily.
“I’m glad you know it’s a sinking ship.” And he hurries out.
“With a bit of luck, that’s him giving up the partnership and leaving us.” Haneen says on a long exhale.
“I…er,” Raff says into the tiny silence. “I am good with my hands, I’m happy to help. For the next couple of week before I go.”
I’d forgotten.
He’s leaving just after Christmas. Two weeks.
His words are welcomed by everyone but me. No one notices the way my lips refuse to smile. it’s like something has glued the corners of my mouth down. To hide my face, I get up to make tea for everyone.
This is my go-to activity. My escape. I count the people at the table, make them all tea the way they each like it. In the fridge, I have a Bakewell tart almost ready; I slide it into the oven, and while it bakes, I make sandwiches. They’re all talking busy and excited, making plans. Bill as the only engineer is giving advice on what will make the most difference. Alex is on the phone, Evan is drawing up action lists.
