Page 9 of Fix Them Up
‘I’m not local.’
‘No, but your dad is. Was.’ She flinched, then recovered. ‘And I am. I’ll call in a favour, don’t worry.’
She grinned, infectious; it made me smile back.
‘That would be great. Thanks, Lyd.’ I looked around the dusty dining room. ‘God, there’s so much to do. I don’t know where to start.’
‘Why don’t we make a list together, now?’
A list would be helpful. It would be even more helpful to get the words out. To speak it all out loud. I forced down the instinct to say no. To insist I could do this alone. She’d already offered the Hunters. I couldn’t take up more of her time. I couldn’t be more of a burden.
‘That would be great. Shall we start upstairs and work our way down?’
Lydia grinned. ‘I’m opening the next bottle of prosecco.’
Chapter Four
Kat’s To-Do List
Find builder!!!Call Kevin Hunter – 07000 900463
Call locksmith
Deep clean house
Call Mum back (plan what to say!!!)
New light fittings
Cast iron radiators
Arched bookcases in alcovesShelves in alcoves
Fitted dining nook? Research prices
Bifolds? Research prices
Sockets that don’t spark (electrocution is not a vibe)
A loud bang echoed from downstairs, and my crusty eyelids flew open. My mouth was bone dry, and my head pounded. I craned my neck, listening. Had I imagined the noise? I lifted my body. I’d slept face down on the half-deflated mattress. I glanced down to see my boob hanging out of my pyjama top. I wiped my mouth where spit had dried on my cheek and rose to my feet. My head was pounding, full of blurry memories of Lydia and me drinking prosecco from plastic cups, burning scented candles and dancing to Taylor Swift.
A soft mutter of ‘Ow, fuck’ floated upstairs, making my head whip around to listen. My palms began to sweat out last night’s prosecco.
Who the fuck was in my house?
My heart jumped as another shuffle sounded from downstairs.
Someone had broken into my dad’s house. My house.
My head sloshed around as I unplugged the little lamp I’d brought and brandished it before me. I tiptoed down the stairs, pausing to assess the sound of whoever was in the living room.
An obnoxiously loud ringtone went off, and I heard a man’s voice.
‘Ey up,’ a deep voice said. I could hear the tinny replies on the other end as I pressed myself against the wall in the hallway so I couldn’t be seen.
Who the fuck breaks into an empty house? There was nothing to steal. Did he check through the window, see the sight of half-empty boxes of cleaning solutions and think,Oh yeah, I need some more bleach for the downstairs loo?
‘Alright.’ His voice echoed, bouncing off the bare walls. ‘There’s nowt we can do about it now anyway, Jack. I know. We’ll order some more and take the hit. I know you are. It’s fine.
