Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

‘ O h, I'm sorry. You were in the middle of something.' Lindsey looked towards the door as Gregory closed it behind him.

Bea laughed. ‘Please don't ever apologise for rescuing me from a conversation with Gregory.'

‘Oh, at least one good thing has come of this sorry situation then.' Lindsey sighed as she flopped into a chair.

Placing the bags in a neat pile by the doorway leading to the flat above, Bea held her hands out for those Rob was holding. ‘So, what happened then? How bad is it?'

Passing across his bags, Rob swiped at a streak of plaster on his jumper. ‘Oh, it's bad, Bea. It's really bad.'

‘In what way bad?' She grimaced as she added Rob's bags to the heap.

Walking across to his wife, Rob rubbed her shoulder before sitting down next to her. ‘A burst pipe, no water, type of bad.'

‘Oh.' Bea frowned. That didn't sound good.

‘I'm sorry, Bea. I really hate to put you out, but do you mind if we stay for a bit?' Lindsey looked at her, her eyes pleading.

‘Yes, of course. Stay as long as you need.' Bea smiled and walked across to the table. ‘You don't even have to ask. You know that, right?'

‘Thank you. I don't know how long it'll be, and I know it's a squeeze…'

‘Hey, we'll cope. It'll be nice having you guys over to stay. I'll go and put that kettle on.' Bea headed towards the small kitchen area behind the counter. With the curtain shielding the archway falling in place behind her, she could hear Rob and Lindsey talking. Lindsey and Rob could have her bedroom while the kids slept in the spare room. She'd be fine on the sofa for a few nights. Besides, after all Lindsey and Rob had done for her when she and Adam had split, it would feel good to be able to help them out for a change. They'd put her up without question when she'd moved out of her and Adam's house and then again when she'd moved in here and discovered the flat was in no fit state to live in. It still needed a lot of work now, but at least the electrics were safe, and it was clean. Besides, she was working her way around the rooms and had redecorated most of them. She just had the kitchen to finish and the bathroom to redo now. Not bad when she'd been painting and sanding floors after closing the shop.

Lindsey pulled the curtain back and leaned against the brick archway. ‘Are you sure you don't mind us staying? It'll be complete chaos. You know what the kids are like, and you're used to the peace.'

Replacing the kettle in its cradle, Bea turned to her sister. ‘You and Rob had me sleeping on the sofa for months. You really don't need to worry about spending a few days here. Besides, it'll be fun having the kids around. They'll liven the place up.'

‘Haha, they'll definitely do that.' Stepping forward, Lindsey drew her in for a hug. ‘Thank you, sis. You're the best.'

‘I'm the only sister you have.' Bea grinned and poured the milk before handing a mug to Lindsey. ‘Now get that down you. I've popped in a couple of sugars to help with the shock.'

‘Thanks.' Taking the mug, Lindsey took a sip before leading the way back to the table and her husband.

Placing Rob's mug down in front of him, Bea took her seat again.

Rob nodded and picked up his mobile as the ping of a text filled the room. His forehead creased with worry as he read it.

‘You okay? Apart from the worry of the house, I mean.' Bea frowned.

‘Yes, yes.' Rob took a long gulp of tea.

‘Still no luck?' Lindsey looked across at her husband and spoke quietly.

‘Nowhere.' Rob shook her head, her eyes fixed on his mobile.

‘Can't you find a plumber?' Bea widened her eyes. ‘You have turned the water off, haven't you?'

‘Yes, it's not that. It's…' Rob grimaced as Lindsey shook her head.

Bea looked from Rob to Lindsey and back again. They were hiding something, and Rob would be the easiest one to get the information out of. ‘What are you hiding, Rob?'

Rob tapped his fingers against the screen of his phone, his eyes on Lindsey. ‘I can't not tell her.'

‘It's not Bea's problem, Rob.' Lindsey shook her head again, this time with more force and pursed her lips.

‘Not my problem? What's not my problem?' Bea glanced between them both. ‘Come on. You've got to tell me now. You can't just say that and leave it there.'

Sighing loudly, Rob pointed to his mobile as another message pinged. ‘It's Adam. He stayed with us after last night after splitting from Jenny and I said he could camp out on our sofa for a while. You know, just until he was back on his feet.'

Looking down into her coffee, she watched as a tiny granule of undissolved coffee clung to the edge of her mug. She knew what was coming next. ‘You want him to stay here too?'

‘What? No, of course we don't. We'd never ask you that, not with your history.' Lindsey's voice hitched a note.

‘Yes, he'll find something. He's ringing round the local bed-and-breakfasts now. He'll find one.' Rob nodded.

Bea took a deep breath. Why hadn't anyone warned her against getting involved with her brother-in-law's best mate? If she'd known through Rob, that Adam would be in her life for eternity, she wasn't sure she'd have ever gone on that first date he'd asked her on. She shook her head. Of course she would have. She'd fallen head over heels for him the moment they'd met and him being Rob's best friend had been a plus point at the time. From double dates to family BBQs, it had been nice. He'd been an instant part of their lives. Now, though, he was still there. Still at the family BBQs, always hovering around. She gripped her mug tighter. And they'd become friends. Sort of. They were more than civil to each other anyway, and she knew Adam viewed her as a friend now, even if she still preferred to keep him at arm's length. ‘He can have the sofa. Just until he finds a bed-and-breakfast, though.'

‘Really? You don't mind?' Rob's face lit up as he jumped up and grabbed his mobile from the table. ‘I'll bell him. Tell him the good news.'

‘Hold on.' Lindsey snapped at her husband, who froze, mobile midway to his ear. Turning to Bea, she placed her hand on hers. ‘You don't have to do that, Bea. Adam is a fully grown man. He can sort himself out.'

‘No, it's fine. One night won't hurt, will it?' She smiled weakly. She at least hoped it wouldn't. It was one thing, seeing Adam at family gatherings quite another him coming to stay over at hers in the sanctuary she'd created for herself. She shook her head. She was being daft. Yes, she and Adam's marriage had failed but he wasn't a bad person. He just had rubbish relationship skills. That was all. Heck, maybe she did too. What harm could letting him stay one night on the sofa do?

‘Brilliant! You're the best. Do you know that, Bea? You're totally awesome.' Rob stepped away, bringing his mobile to his ear and talking quickly.

‘I feel awful, Bea. First, we turn up on your doorstep and now Rob is bringing Adam into the mix.'

‘It's fine, Lindsey.' Bea forced a smile. ‘It's only for one night and we broke up over two years ago now.' Having him in her home, though, using her things? Nope, she pushed the thoughts away. It was only for one night and she would be doing Rob a favour really, not Adam. It was Rob who was worried about him and Rob who felt his best mate was his responsibility after agreeing for him to say at his and Lindsey's. Besides, she and Adam saw each other enough, and they managed just fine. It would be fine. He'd be fine. She'd be fine. They all would.

Lindsey chewed on her nail. ‘I'll tell him you've changed your mind. Rob can help him ring round a few hotels and B and Bs. They'll find something.'

‘Honestly. It's not a problem. Don't worry about it. It's late, anyway. Let him come over and stay tonight, then he can find somewhere tomorrow.' Bea took a long sip of her coffee before lowering her mug and looking at her sister. ‘Besides, we spent seven years married, twelve together. What's one night? We're all adults, right?'

‘True, true. Okay, as long as you're sure, you're sure?'

‘I'm sure. Come on, you've got enough to worry about by the sounds of it without worrying about Adam spending the evening here.' Bea looked up towards the ceiling as a screech filtered through the floor followed by a stampede of running feet across the floorboards.

‘Right, I'd best go and get them settled.' Placing her hands on the table, Lindsey pushed herself to standing. ‘Have you got anything I can cook them please? Just some oven chips and chicken nuggets will do. In the panic, I forgot to even grab a loaf of bread.'

‘Umm…' Bea tried picturing the contents of her freezer and her cupboards. She might have a tin of tomato soup and a couple of cans of baked beans lurking in the back of the cupboard, but it was shopping day today, and she'd planned on treating herself to a takeaway from Ruby's restaurant tonight. ‘I'll run out and grab something from Ruby's. I don't think I've got much upstairs.'

‘Oh, I'll go.' Lindsey looked again towards the ceiling as a loud bang ricocheted down to them.

‘No, you stay and settle the kids. I'll run and get something. You all like mac and cheese, don't you?'

‘Yes, both Peony and Isaac love mac and cheese.' Lindsey headed towards the door up to the flat before glancing back at her. ‘Thank you.'

‘No problem.' Standing up, Bea collected the empty mugs. A nice walk would do her good, clear her mind, and help her prepare herself for Adam's imminent arrival.