Page 32 of Mav

“Oh, yes. We don’t get a lot of furniture, but it never stays here long. Does it need picking up? Oh, I’m Hannah, by the way.”

“Hi, Hannah, I’m Blake, and if it could be arranged, that would be good. I have some photographs of it to show you, then you can decide if you want to pick it up.” I take out my phone and scroll through the last few photographs and show Hannah the table and chairs.

“Yeah, they are good. As you say, not perfect, but they are far from bad too. They will be scooped up in no time, I’m sure. Okay, let me see when we could pick it up!” I wait while Hannah types out a text to someone. We wait only a few minutes before she receives a responding text. “How about Friday around three?”

“I will try to organize someone to be at the house. Can I have a contact number? Then if I can’t arrange that, we can schedule another pickup time. I am at work you see, so obviously won’t be home myself.”

Hannah hands me a card with contact details and I give her a smile as I start to walk out of the shop, but I turn and thank her for her help before rushing back to work.

I’m going to have to speak to Bitty about getting the dining set from her before Sunday or my guests will be perched with plates in their laps and I can just imagine Ed’s reaction to that.

I work the rest of the day and make my way home, but take a detour to the grocery store to pick up a few things, as I want to make everyone a salad that I can leave in their fridges. That way, they can nibble on something healthy if they want, come Wednesday when I return to work.

Spending money on my clients isn’t something I should do, but as I’m going to sell my house Yax lives in I am not going to worry about a grocery bill every now and again. I enjoy seeing the delight on their faces when I do something for them.

Once home, I eat some Ramen noodles, then shower and wear my cleaning clothing ready for work. I’m going to get out of the house quickly tonight, as I want to speak to Alf before he goes home.

Half an hour later, I walk into the office and give Alf a smile. “Hi, can I have a word with you, please?”

Alf leans back in his chair and gives me a questioning look before nodding at the chair near his desk to take a seat. “What can I do for you, Blake? And don’t be telling me you want to hand in your notice because I won’t accept it.”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that. I love my job and my clients. They are all such sweethearts and Ed is just adorable,” I gush before I can hold it back.

Alf throws his head back with laughter, and it takes a minute for him to get himself under control before he chuckles as he states, “Ed! Adorable…Oh. My. Goodness. I’ve heard some things in my time, but that beats the biscuit.”

“Well, he is a sweetie, and I’m not retracting that statement.” I’m grinning at Alf as I respond, and he is shaking his head at me as he wipes the tears of laughter from his face. I can understand why he has that reaction because when I first met Ed I thought he was going to be a miserable grizzly bear type.

“Okay, let’s get down to it. What can I do for you?” Alf asks still smirking.

“It seems the meals that are being sent are the same thing every Monday or Wednesday. They are not getting a variety of meals. I have been making meals for them as a change…” I hold my hand out to gesture he allows me to finish, “I did that because I noticed in the trash when I emptied them they were throwing away the meals. It’s not the quality of the meal, it’s the fact there is no variety.”

“I see. Let me look into it and I’ll see what I can do. Who has paid for the meals you have made?”

“I paid for them so you don’t have to worry about it. I was more than happy to provide something for them as a change. I have not done it every day, just once or twice a week.” I’m not going to feel embarrassed that I helped my clients. I think they are wonderful and the look on their faces when I do something for them is all the payment that I need.

“Okay, okay. But I’m going to put you a little extra in your salary at the end of the month to cover some or all of that cost. I know you are working at the Coffee House during the day, and doing this in the evening. That tells me you are having some financial difficulties and the last thing you need is spending money on other people’s food.”

“I also have something else I’d like to ask you. If that is okay?” I know Alf would normally have gone home by now, so I’m aware I’m encroaching on his personal time.

“Of course, ask away.”

“I’m evicting the people that are in the house I own and am paying a mortgage on. As soon as they are out can someone from here go in and clean it out? I think all the furniture can either go to the Swap Shop or we can get rid of it. I don’t want or need it.The house is going on the market and once it’s sold I can pay the bill to you for the cleanup, if it's okay to do it that way?”

“I don’t see a problem with that, Blake. You are employed by us and we assist any of our team if we can. Heather has always been onboard with helping, and she’ll have no issue with this, and neither do I. You let me know when they will leave the house and I’ll get a team together as quickly as I can to go in and clear and clean it out.” Alf stands from behind his desk and steps around, holding his hand out to shake. “Deal?”

“Deal,” I reply as I shake his hand with a smile on my face.

The rest of the evening passes well, and as I don’t work Monday and Tuesday evenings, I’m going to make some cookies for my seniors. I can take them on Wednesday when I go to work.

Wednesday came around fast, and I know my seniors are going to like the baking I’m bringing for them. After cleaning and feeding Audrey, Prue and Robert, I smile as they all had enjoyed the cookies and stored the ones they didn’t eat for later. I make my way to Ed where I am sure he’ll be waiting eagerly to see what I have tonight.

Opening the front door of Ed’s house, I shout, “Evening, Ed.”

“You’re late…” Oh, my, he’s grumpy tonight, I think to myself, but don’t reply to him as I make my way to the kitchen, and unload the groceries I brought along with me.

I don’t respond to that, but place the cookies on the counter and the salad in the fridge, leaving a nosey Ed along with them. It doesn’t take long before I hear him mumbling about cookies and hear the cookie tin being opened and closed.

I quickly get into cleaning mode and ignore Ed, who is following me from room to room, but not speaking a word. Well, he will find two can play at this game, and I hum under my breath as I work. I can see it’s annoying him that I’m not speaking, but he’ll get over it in a minute. He’s not going to be able to keep quiet much longer, I’m thinking to myself when he blurts.

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