‘Hi,’ the voice in the phone says. ‘Was that the ghostwriter arriving?’
‘Bridget, yeah,’ he replies. ‘She’s here.’ He glances at me and jerks his head towards the phone. ‘I’m talking to Kate, Nicki’s sister,’ he explains quietly.
‘Oh,’ I whisper. I did notice the Essex accent.
‘You want to make yourself a cuppa?’ he asks.
I nod and get on with it.
‘Charlie?’ Kate says as he wipes down the table.
‘I’m here. What were you saying?’
‘Do not put her to sleep in the pram today, all right?’
‘I don’t have time to do it any other way,’ he replies, sounding agitated. ‘I’m so behind on this job.’
‘When do they want it?’
‘Next week.’
‘Next week?’ she scoffs. ‘School’s not back until September.’
‘The caretaker’s going away. He wants to get it installed before he leaves.’
‘Oh. Fair enough. But listen, she’ll sleep better in her cot, and, if you slip out of your routine, it will come back to bite you. Believe me, I know.’
‘Yeah, I know,’ he mutters, rinsing out the sponge at the sink. ‘How are the kids?’
‘Driving me insane,’ she replies. ‘School holidays.’ She pauses. ‘Do you want me to come and help out next week?’ Her tone is tentative. ‘Mum could have the kids.’
‘No, it’s fine,’ Charlie brushes her off. ‘I’ll get it done. My mum reckons she’ll be able to spare some time in any case.’
‘Donotlet her use the pram for naps,’ Kate states firmly.
‘Have you tried stopping her?’ he asks drily, picking up the phone and slumping onto the sofa. He presses the button to turn off speakerphone and puts the phone to his ear, rolling his eyes at something Kate says.
‘Exactly,’ he states.
I pick up my mug and go upstairs, grabbing a towel from the bathroom to sit on until my jeans dry out.
I’ve been working in silence so far this week, but today I need a pick-me-up, and nothing does that for me like music. I switch on my prized Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speaker – I brought it with me from the campsite – and then search through my iPod Touch for the perfect song, pressingPLAYand turning the sound up. If I have to wear headphones inHermie, I may as well use my speaker here – I think it’s my favourite possession.
I don’t hear Charlie knock because the next thing I know he and April are in my office. Nicki’s office.Ouroffice.
I turn the sound down and swivel to face him. ‘Is it too loud?’
‘No. I’m putting April down for a sleep now. You might hear some crying.’ He glances at my speaker. ‘Or maybe not.’
‘Do you want me to turn it down? I can turn it down.’
‘Honestly, it’s fine with the door closed.’
‘Okay, cool.’ I smile at him. I ammuchhappier. That’s what ‘Tainted Love’ by Marilyn Manson, ‘U Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer and ‘The Sun Always Shines on TV’ by A-ha does to me.
‘Are you going out today?’ I ask as he starts to leave the room.
‘Sorry?’ He pauses with his hand on the doorknob. He’s wearing a light-blue bandana today – another one of Nicki’s, I’m guessing.
