Page 21 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
‘So how long have you been restoring furniture?’
‘I don’t just do furniture, I do paintings, silverware, ceramics – you name it I can turn my hand to it – a master of all trades, you might say.’
‘That’s good. So what are your qualifications?’ I sigh internally. I know I’m making this sound exactly like a job interview, but Tom has caught me unawares; I haven’t even thought about things like restoration yet. There are definitely quite a lot of things that will need restoring here – my initial tour of the castle had shown me that – but whether we needed someone permanently on site I’m not so sure.
‘Qualifications? Now that’s a tricky one. I don’t exactly have any of those. But what I lack in certificates I make up for with bags of experience and, more importantly, enthusiasm.’
He certainly has plenty of the latter.
‘Did you train with someone?’
‘I did.’
‘Who?’
Tom looks at me as if he’s assessing whether it’s imperative he answer this.
‘My father.’
‘Oh, it’s a family business, then?’
‘It was. We fell out.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Yeah, well . . . ’ For the first time since I met him in the castle courtyard, Tom seems decidedly edgy. ‘It happens.’ He gets up and walks over to the window. ‘Did I say what an amazing view this is?’
‘You did.’ I wonder what has happened between Tom and his father to make him this uncomfortable talking about it.
‘Is that why you’re free to come and work here?’ I enquire as politely as I can.
Tom turns around. ‘Oh no, that happened years ago. I’ve just finished working at a stately home down in Bedfordshire, but it was only a temporary contract for National Heritage – some pipes burst and they had terrible flood damage. But now everything has been repaired and restored they don’t need anyone full time any more.’
‘Ah, I see.’ I think about this. National Heritage were reputable; if they’d employed Tom he must know his stuff.
‘So National Heritage would be able to give you a reference?’
‘Of course. So you do have some work?’ Tom asks hopefully.
‘The thing is, Tom . . . ’ I begin.
Tom grimaces. ‘I don’t like the sound of this . . . ’
‘I would love to give you a job here, and if Benji has sent you, that’s good enough for me. But—’
‘Please don’t say but!’ Tom says, holding up his hand. ‘I have other talents. If you don’t think you need a full-time restorer I can turn my hand to other things.’
Golly, he’s keen. I have to give him that. ‘Like?’
‘Anything,’ he says with assurance. ‘You name it; I can do it.’
I can’t help but smile. I admire his confidence. I would have said something similar many years ago if I’d wanted a job badly enough. But my own self-confidence has been knocked a bit too far from its perch in the last few years.
‘Okay then,’ I say, thinking quickly. ‘If you can doanything– impress Arthur.’
‘What?’ Tom asks, puzzled, two tiny crinkles appearing between his dark eyebrows.
‘Impress Arthur and Dorothy. They’ve been here for years. Stay here at the castle for a week, work with them both and see if you can impress them. Dorothy won’t be too hard to win over, I’m sure; but Arthur, now if you can get him onside, then you can indeed do anything.’
