Once more he found it easy to visualise himself in the office, and he felt the familiar tingle of excitement. He could do theaccounts for Sanctuary Bathrooms, and along with the other small accounts it would match his wage from the council, if not more.
There would hopefully be more clients, and maybe even staff one day, he thought with excitement. He realised his thoughts were running away with him again. He had not even been offered the job.
They chatted easily, and when the interview appeared to be over, Ken asked Declan the question he had been dreading.
‘I notice there was a gap in your employment a while back. Any reason for that?’ Ken asked.
Declan had thought about doctoring his CV, but what would have been the point? What if any prospective employers had insisted on references? In the end he had decided to leave things as they were.
‘I could lie to you,’ said Declan, facing Ken, ‘but as you have just discovered a crook has been looking after your accounts, I don’t think you would appreciate that,’ he told him.
‘Go on,’ said Ken, a slight frown crossing his face.
Sod it, thought Declan. If the job was meant to be his, then it would be. He took a deep breath.
‘I was in prison,’ he found himself saying. ‘I was convicted of dangerous driving. Someone was killed.’
‘I see,’ said Ken. He stood silently for a second, thoughtfully chewing his lip.
‘There were no drink or drugs involved, in case you were wondering,’ Declan added. ‘It was a tragic accident.’
He went over the story he had recounted so many times about the blinding sunlight and Tony Callaghan not looking where he was going as he stepped out into the road. Only he never felt the need to mention his name.
‘Obviously you will need to go through the books with a fine-toothed comb,’ said Ken. ‘Could you manage that whilst you work your notice with the council?’ he asked.
Declan would work twenty hours a day if he needed to. Was Ken Watson really going to give him a chance?
‘Absolutely. I have no family or commitments,’ Declan told him, and for a second, he thought about Jess. ‘And that determination you mentioned,’ he told Ken enthusiastically. ‘I have tons of that.’
‘Then in that case, I won’t keep you wondering,’ said Ken. ‘I am very impressed with what I have seen.’ He nodded slowly. ‘And I am not the type of man to hold someone’s past against them. You have paid your dues.’
‘So?’ said Declan, holding his breath.
‘So, if you are interested, I would like to offer you the position.’
Declan had not realised his shoulders had been up to his ears, until he felt them relax.
As Ken shook Declan’s hand firmly, Declan might as well have been told that he had just won millions on the National Lottery.
Sanctuary Bathrooms was a huge account. He would literally work every hour of the day if he had to. Opportunities like this didn’t come along every day of the week. He would make a success of his new position. He could not afford to fail.
At least there was a bit of positivity in his life at the moment, what with all the worry over losing his home.
‘I won’t let you down,’ he promised.
‘You’d better not,’ said Ken, with the raise of an eyebrow.
FIFTY-FIVE
ALICE
Alice felt a slight coolness to the air as she walked home from her appointment, pleased she had worn her red cashmere scarf tucked inside her trench coat. The cooler weather was fast approaching, and Alice looked forward to it.
Autumn had always been her favourite season. She loved how the countryside gave up its crops that had been growing in the soil throughout the summer, and how forests turned from a blanket of green to a kaleidoscope of burnt orange and amber. She relished the early nights at home, with soft lighting that reminded her of cosy evenings spent with George.
Sometimes, during the winter months, they would wrap up and take a beach walk in the afternoon before darkness fell. They would return to a hearty casserole that had been gently cooking in the oven. Even now, the thought of them doing such things together gave Alice a little pang in her heart.
‘Oh my goodness,’ gasped Alice when both of her nephews arrived to collect her to go out for lunch. ‘You never said Liam was coming too.’
