Page 8 of Fix Them Up
I nodded, wishing I understood that mentality. I liked graphic design, sure, but I didn’t live for it. Some days, I wondered if I even liked it all that much.
‘Speaking of work. How did you swindle the time off?’ A curious tone entered Lydia’s voice.
‘Extended compassionate leave. Unpaid, but still. My boss, Willa, was understanding. She also lost her mum last year. Plus, I think two months of not paying my salary was appealing. They aren’t having the best time, financially.’
‘Well, I suppose that’s a silver lining. The extended leave, I mean.’
‘Yep. Thank god for dead dads, huh?’
‘I didn’t mean it like that.’
‘I’m joking, Lyd. You’re right. It’s a relief to be able to focus on this: new carpets, a lick of paint. The only big job will be opening the kitchen into the dining room to create an open-plan kitchen-diner. I looked it up, and I don’t need planning permission if I’m not extending. Even if it would be much better if we could…’
Lydia jumped up, and I trailed after her. We looked at the wall separating the dining room and the galley kitchen.
‘Yeah.’ Lydia nodded. ‘But if you knocked this wall down, it would be huge.’
I nodded. ‘I could even create a little snug here. I think there is enough room for a TV and sofa.’
‘I can see that.’
‘And over here,’ I gestured to the centre of the room, ‘once the wall is gone, there is enough room for an island, with barstools for three at least.’
I began designing the space in my head. My mind flooded with Pinterest-like images of arched bookcases and gorgeous parquet flooring. Soft plaster-pink walls contrasted with deep navy cabinets – a cosy breakfast nook by the window. I was itching to pick out the perfect tile for the backsplash. My mum and Graham’s Edwardian terrace house resembled an eccentric library. Annotated novels and travel books doubled as coffee tables, cups of tea balancing precariously on top. I loved it but always longed to put my own stamp on a house. I hadn’t expected it to be my dead dad’s childhood home.
‘What did your mum say about you moving up here?’ Lydia asked wryly.
My mum had never made her dislike of the North unknown. When my parents got married, my dad agreed to a wedding with all his friends and family at Everly Heath Church in exchange for moving down south to Reading, where my mum was working at a school. It seemed like an even exchange in my head, but now that I thought about it, ultimatums probably didn’t set a good tone to start a marriage.
‘She…’Should I lie again?I lied to get out of trouble all the time. At this point, I was worried it was pathological. But something about Lydia’s earnest face and helpful spirit made me want to be honest.
‘She doesn’t know,’ I admitted and waited for the gasp. My mother was scary as fuck. Even Lydia knew that.
I didn’t hear any reaction, so I looked up to find Lydia staring at me, a fearful expression on her features.
‘What?’
Lydia whistled. ‘You grew some balls.’
‘What do you mean?’ I protested. ‘It’s fine. It’s two months, and we’re not in each other’s pockets, so I’ll be back in London soon.’
Lydia’s eyes widened, ‘This is what it feels like to be in the rebel alliance.’ I ignored Lydia’s comment.
I groaned and threw my head against my cousin’s muscly shoulder. ‘Please help me.’
‘Hang on. You talked me through it. You have it all planned out.’
‘I don’t. I will get overwhelmed and stressed and get carried away and spend too much. Everything I want to do will cost a million pounds. And maybe I could justify half of it if I was staying, but I’m selling,’ I said so fast that I ran out of steam towards the end.
‘Okay, okay. Let’s break it down,’ Lydia patted me on the shoulder. ‘What first?’
‘Builder quotes.’
‘Oh!’ A light bulb appeared over Lydia’s head, illuminating her dirty-blonde hair. She grabbed my arm. ‘Some family friends of ours, the Hunters, could help. They’re builders. I’ll give you Kevin’s number,’ Lydia added, searching for her phone.
‘Do you think they’d be available?’
‘Oh yeah. They always do favours around here, especially for locals. I bet if I twisted his arm—’
