Tobias decides to drive up to the property this morning. It’s just too damn hot to walk and he is finding the uphill climb more and more of a killer each time he attempts it. Besides, it’s his house. He has every right to park outside it. And he is not in any mood for another run-in with his neighbours. His stomach is giving him hell this morning. It must have been all the burgers and beer recently. Either that or he has had a dodgy mussel somewhere along the line. He rubs a hand across his chest as though to massage the heartburn away and wishes he’d asked Olivia for a Rennie before he set off for the day.
Walking onto the site he is pleased to find that considerable progress can be seen in the garden area. The sunken stone firepit has been completed with new steps and seating built in, while the rest of the decking area is coming along nicely. However, he joins Bill to witness him officiating over some dispute or other between one or two of the men.
‘What’s going on?’ he calls as he approaches the group.
Bill’s shoulders sag at the sound of Tobias’s voice but he turns towards him nevertheless.
‘Nothing to worry about, boss. We’re just trying to work out what’s happened to some missing tools.’
‘Oh,’ says Tobias with a note of dismay. ‘Not a problem, I hope?’
‘No, no. Just a spanner and a couple of other bits and pieces.’
‘Not expensive, I trust?’
Bill sighs.
‘Well, they’re worth a bit to the guy who owned them,’ he says looking towards one of the younger men on site. ‘Reckon our new recruit might know something about it,’ he adds, nodding towards Petras who stands further on, looking pained.
‘Look,’ says Tobias. ‘No need to let this slow things down. I’m sure they’ll turn up and I’m guessing they’re not that essential to the build.’ He is smugly thinking of the hidden camera. An efficient same day delivery from Amazon had meant that he was able to instal it first thing yesterday morning. He will take a look at the footage later and catch the culprit red-handed. But for now he wants all hands on deck. Plenty of time to give someone their marching orders once the job is finished.
Bill rolls his eyes wearily and lifts his hands up in a ‘what can you do?’ gesture as the men grumble and curse but return to their tasks.
‘Right, good. Back to it then. I take it the plaster’s on inside. Should be drying nice and quickly in this heat. Which means we can start decorating soon. New kitchen all safely stored indoors, yes?’
He winces every time he brings to mind the invoice from Tavistock & Jones. How has he let Livvy and Marcus run away with the budget so? Forty grand, just for a fancy oven and some bespoke joinery, a slab of marble or two. But then, women and kitchens, eh? And she does so love to cook. He expects it’s the one room of the house where she’ll be spending the most amount of time, so she may as well have it perfect.
‘I hope it’s all safely tucked out of harm’s way,’ he says. ‘Can’t afford for any of it to get damaged.’
‘’Tis,’ confirms Bill and he eases off his hard hat in order to wipe his sweaty brow before replacing it on his head. ‘By the way …’ he begins.
‘What’s that?’ says Tobias, stalled on his way into the house.
‘Me and the lads … well, seeing as it’s Saturday and we shouldn’t by rights be working the whole day…’
‘Go on,’ says Tobias, impatient now.
‘And this heatwave has been something fierce of late.’
‘Yes …?’
‘We’re going to knock off a bit earlier. Get cleaned up, ready for the celebrations.’
‘I see.’
‘Anyways, I said that I thought you’d be all right with that, as we’ve made such good progress and all.’
Tobias pauses to take stock. He is peeved, no question. Doesn’t like giving quarter in any aspect of his life, especially something as important as this. It feels like he’s lost something. Or someone has taken something from him without asking and it brings out a mean streak in him, present since childhood. But then he relents. The men have worked hard after all, and in such a week, as well. Perhaps they do deserve a bit of time off with their friends and families. Wrong of Bill to give the say-so without asking him first of course, but he will let it slide just this once.
‘Fair enough,’ he says. ‘I’ll allow that. But full speed ahead tomorrow, yes?’
Bill turns away from him without answer, chuntering something indiscernible under his breath.
Tobias turns to walk into the house, to inspect the changes inside, when he spies another cigarette end in the garden, again bearing the marks of sticky gloss on the tip.
‘For God’s sake, Belle,’ he mutters to himself. Why on earth is she hanging around here? He does hope she’s not slumming it with one of these youths from the site. It’s not like he didn’t do the same when he was young – dipped his wick in some unsuitable places – but it’s different when it’s your own daughter you’re talking about. He will have to speak to her at some point. For one thing, it’s bloody dangerous, a naked flame next to all these materials. He makes another mental note to check hiscamera footage when he gets the chance later today. See if he can’t identify which rogue is filching tools (and interfering with his daughter). And if it is one of the men, he’ll give them what for, send them packing. Everyone is disposable, after all. No one in this world is indispensable.
‘Mr Woolf?’ a voice calls across the garden to him.
