‘Yes, why not. If you are as good as you say you are.’ She took a sip of her whisky.
‘Erm. Well, I don’t have an office for a start, and I know what you’re probably thinking, I could work from home, which I did consider but that doesn’t create the right impression, does it? Not if I want to attract some decent clients.’
‘I see. Well, I might be able to help you there.’ Alice looked thoughtful as she sipped her drink.
‘Help me, how?’ The old lady had his attention now.
‘I own some office space in Liverpool Road. Do you know it?’ she asked.
‘I do, yeah.’
Liverpool Road was a popular area with offices, restaurants and fashionable coffee shops popping up more frequently these days. It would be beyond his wildest dreams to have an office space in that location.
‘So, what do you think? Would you like to look at the office? There is a desk there already. We could go tomorrow if you like?’ Alice offered.
‘I will be in work, but maybe afterwards?’ He could hardly take in what was happening. Why would this woman who he had known for all of five minutes be so generous towards him?
‘It’s a date. Shall we leave here about six o’clock?’ suggested Alice as she finished her drink.
‘Great. Is the rent much, though? I already have the rent on the apartment here,’ Declan reminded her.
‘When I said I might be able to help you out, I meant exactly that. There will be no charge. Obviously if you become very successful, you might like to buy me a small gift.’ Alice smiled at him, nodding towards the bottle of whisky on the small table beside her.
‘It’s a deal. But why are you doing this? You barely know me.’ Declan thought it all sounded a bit too good to be true.
‘You are my neighbour, and we are meant to help each other out, aren’t we? Love thy neighbour.’ She smiled again. ‘Ifmore people did that, the world would not have half as many problems.’
That was true enough. He thought of the tales his mother would tell him about her childhood and how everyone helped each other out. Clothes and toys would be passed around the neighbourhood so that no one went without. A lady who worked at the toilet roll factory would barter biscuits with the lady who worked at Jacob’s, all purchased for pennies at the staff shop. There was no such thing as a food bank back then, she had told him.
‘Fair enough. And if that’s the case, I would be happy to return the favour, if you ever need anything,’ he offered, although he had no idea what that might be.
‘As it happens, there is.’ She swirled the remains of her whisky around in her glass.
‘Go on.’
‘You could come to a dinner party on Friday evening,’ she said to his surprise. ‘I am making my coq au vin, which is quite delicious, if I say so myself,’ she declared. ‘I haven’t decided on dessert, although I imagine it will be banoffee pie or an Eton mess. Do you have a particular preference?’
Declan thought of the Eton mess he’d eaten after his Sunday carvery at the local pub with a few of the lads after football.
‘That’s a tough one. I like them both. I’d say the Eton mess just edges it, though.’
‘Wonderful. I’ll make both.’
‘Make them? You know you can buy fancy desserts from Waitrose.’ Declan grinned. Alice seemed like the type of person who would shop at Waitrose.
‘Yes, but it’s a little bit of a trek to the nearest one in Formby and I do enjoy cooking. Although, I may buy the meringue for the Eton mess but don’t tell anyone.’ She smiled.
What Declan didn’t know was that Alice had stopped driving her car a couple of years ago as her long-distance vision was not quite what it was, but she was proud she had been able to drive well into her eighties. She could hardly believe she was ninety-one years old and other people found it hard to believe too. She still did her morning stretches, a habit from her dancing days, and could still almost touch her toes.
A dinner party. Declan hated those things. He preferred the local pub with a few mates, especially at the weekend. He had been single for longer than he cared to remember, but his life was full enough right now, and he was relishing the freedom. Alice’s food did sound good, though, and she had just offered him some office space, after all.
‘I have invited the other two tenants in the building who both live alone, I believe. I thought it would be a lovely way to get acquainted with my new neighbours. In fact, I have posted you an invitation too.’ She smiled.
She had only been here a short time, yet she seemed to know that the other tenants were also living alone. Declan was beginning to think she was a nosey old bugger. He wasn’t sure he wanted someone poking their nose into his business. He preferred to keep himself to himself, apart from those in his carefully selected circle.
‘Oh. Um, sure, okay then, thanks,’ he said after a long pause. If it would make the old dear happy, then why not? He had no plans this coming Friday.
It occurred to him that he didn’t really know the other occupants of the flats, apart from the occasional nod if they crossed paths. Did anyone really know their neighbours these days? He had noticed the pretty woman with the kid opposite him, though, who always seemed to be in a hurry. Perhaps this dinner party was a good idea after all. Maybe it was time to let his guard down a little.
