Chapter 37

It's been two days since my gran moved and I still have to stop myself from calling in to say hello, checking up on her before I leave for work, when I get back, and well, anytime really. She's been such a large presence in my life that I'm struggling to not have her here. She's always ready with the advice, the support, as well as the usually well-deserved admonishments. I know she's not far away, but still it's not the same as having her next door.

I will still see her later though, after work, the same as I did last night. It's going to be a while before I'm going to let a day go by that I don't call in. She seems to have settled in well and is making friends already, so I'm pleased that she's getting what she wants.

I finish masking the room and put on some overalls and a mask. It's a large space, so I'm spray painting it. For the next half an hour, I apply myself to covering the walls. It's a manual job, and like most of those, it gives my brain space to think. Or to worry. I try not to worry about Darcy, but he's been strangely quiet since we got back from his parents' last night. His courage was amazing, and whilst I was struggling to not jump in and protect him, I saw he didn't need it and it was better for him to do it alone. His whole life has been controlled by other people. He doesn't need me adding to it. But to cut himself off from his parents, that's harsh. Not that I can blame him. He called Claire whilst I drove him home, but he did nothing except tell her what he'd done and then hung up. She sent me a message later, but other than confirming that, of course, I'd make sure he was alright, I didn't elaborate. That's for Darcy to talk to her about. All he did when we got home was to climb into bed and hug Bearlero. I hugged them both.

I felt awful leaving him this morning, but he got up and had breakfast, which I took as a good sign. He still looked sad, but said he was researching places to rent so he could continue lessons. I think he feels he wants to prove himself more.

I finish the room and need some fresh air after the stuffiness of the mask, so head outside. We're helping to refurbish a sports pavilion. It used to be owned by one of the local foundries as a sports and social club, one of the dozens that were attached to various steelworks or breweries in the city. Since the foundry closed, it's been closed too, but a local community group wants to take it on as a community sports space, and they've set up men's and women's Sunday league teams, as well as juniors. There'll also be a gym for the local community to use. I walk around the football pitch, taking a bit of time before I have to return and start in another room. My dad and Alan are painting and decorating in the bar area. We hope to have it completed within a couple of weeks. At the far side of the football pitch, I see another building with a grassed area outside. It looks like it might have been used for playing bowls at one point, but like the main pavilion, it's in need of some refurbishment. I'm curious though, and take a closer look.

I can't see much through the windows and the grounds are a bit overgrown, but a nub of an idea takes root.

"What's the old building across the pitch?" I ask, after tracking down the manager, Jasmine, in her office when I get back to the pavilion.

"That's the old bowling club. No one seems to want to play bowls nowadays, and it's too far from this building to be useful. It even has its own car park. Under our conditions of guardianship of this building, we can't dispose of it, but as yet we don't know what to do with it. Something will have to be done soon, though, so it doesn't become too derelict."

"Would you rent it out?" I ask tentatively, and she looks at me with more interest.

"We'd be delighted to. What do you have in mind?"

"Would you mind if I have a proper look before I answer that?" I ask, and she gets up and heads to a key cabinet.

"C'mon, let me give you the grand tour," she says brightly.

I blow out a breath as she unlocks the main door, and we enter the foyer. It does need some work, a bit more than I thought, but not impossible. There's a kitchen, changing rooms, and a store room to one side, but what I really want to see is the room where they used to play indoor bowls. I stand in the centre of the room and turn around completely. It's perfect... Well, it could be, with some work. All I need to do now is see if it's viable and sell the idea to Darcy. I walk to the window and look out on the bowling green. It needs mowing, but you can see it was well maintained in the past. I try not to let my imagination run away with me. There's still a long way to go, but I feel excitement pushing its way up. I contain it, as I need to be serious.

As we walk back to the pavilion Jasmine asks, "Well now you've seen it, what do you think?"

I shrug a little, keeping my face as neutral as possible. "It needs a lot of work."

"It's in about the same condition this place was," she says, gesturing to the main building as we reach the doors and head back to her office.

"What's the rent?" I ask. There's no point going any further if it's not feasible.

She names a figure, followed by, "Five-year fixed term." My heart sinks. That's a lot of money. Just one year's rent would take half my savings. There's no way I can commit to that. I think for a minute before I reply.

"Two years with a possible extension to five, the first year half price due to it needing so much work." I hold my breath. Even this was a big gamble, but it would be worth it.

She sits back in her chair and regards me for what seems like a lifetime, then a small smile spreads across her face.

"Where did you learn to negotiate like that?"

"I'm a Yorkshireman," I say in a deadpan voice, and she tips back her head and laughs.

"Well, you have yourself a deal."

"I need to talk it through, but I'll be in touch," I say, and walk back to where I need to get back to work, only now allowing a grin to show through.