Page 61 of Things We Never Said
‘Me?’ April asks, turning to look at Sean just long enough for him to worry about the traffic. ‘Of course I’m OK. Why? Don’t I seem OK?’
‘You just ...’ Sean shrugs. ‘You’re reminding me of Maggie, that’s all. She gets a bit manic sometimes. Generally when she’s worried about something. So I’m just checking.’
‘Oh,’ April says. ‘That. It’s just that I had a coffee because of the early start. I stopped when I got pregnant, because you’re not supposed to, really. But I thought today I needed a little boost. So I let myself have just one. And I think it’s sent me over the edge a bit. Sorry. Am I blathering?’
Sean laughs. ‘There’s no need to apologise.’
‘Plus, I’m excited!’ April says. ‘I’m moving in with my boyfriend. I feel all grown up, Dad.’
‘You are all grown up.’
‘I know!’ April says. ‘When did that happen?’
At Ronan’s, his friend Toby is waiting, sitting on a wall in the sunshine ready to help, and, apparently unexpectedly, two flatmates have stayed home to give a hand as well. Which is just as well, because the flat is on the third floor and, despite having been rented furnished, contains a not-inconsiderable amount of Ronan’s furniture. ‘Car boot stuff, mainly,’ Ronan explains. ‘Still, at least we have a couple of bits for the new place.’
Once the van is loaded, they drive back down Finchley Road to the new place, which is just off Primrose Hill.
‘My knowledge of London’s not great,’ Sean says, sounding puzzled. ‘But isn’t this closer to your old place?’
‘Yeah, it’s not far,’ April says.
‘So why didn’t you do Ronan’s place first?’
‘Oh,’ April says. ‘That’s what I said. But the van has to go back to South London. Ronan worked out the optimal route on Google or something. You’ll have to talk to him about it. It’s boy logic.’
Eton Avenue, where the new flat is situated, is a pretty, tree-lined street of imposing red-brick houses. April and Ronan’s place is set in the basement, and when he steps inside Sean inevitably thinks of Mitcham’s Corner.
‘Huh!’ he says, once April has let him in.
‘I know it needs a lick of paint and everything, but ...’
‘It’ll be nice,’ Sean tells her. ‘Really.’
‘D’you think so?’ she asks, sounding doubtful. ‘And through here is Ronan’s office-cum-nursery.’
‘An office-cum-nursery?’ Sean says, doubtfully. ‘That’s an interesting combination.’
‘Yes,’ April says, running her fingers across a dusty mantelpiece. ‘Can’t use the fireplaces, unfortunately. Never mind. I still think they look pretty.’ She wipes her fingertips on her dungarees.
Ronan appears in the doorway. ‘I’m sure you’re having a lovely chat and everything,’ he says, ‘but the van’s rented by the hour. So if you could see your way clear ...’
‘OK, OK,’ April says, pretending to be offended. ‘God, I didn’t even know you’d managed to park.’
As they carry the first boxes in from the van, Sean asks April if she remembers the flat on Mitcham’s Corner before answering the question himself. ‘Of course you don’t,’ he says. ‘You were three or four when we moved out. But it was a basement flat, like this. Smaller, but it had a similar feel about it.’
April shakes her head. ‘I don’t. But maybe that’s why this place felt so familiar,’ she says. ‘It was like it was talking to me, beckoning me in. And it’s called lower-ground floor if you don’t mind, Dad. No one says basement anymore. It probably sounds a bit too gimpy.’
‘Gimpy?’
‘Did you not seePulp Fiction?’ April asks. ‘“Bring out the gimp”, and all that?’
Sean shakes his head. ‘Not that I recall.’
‘Oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter. Put that one in the kitchen, can you?’ she says, nodding at the box he’s carrying.
As they head back outside, Sean says, ‘I can understand your excitement, though. I remember how it feels to have your own place. I felt dead proud, really. I feel pretty proud of you today, for what it’s worth.’
‘Aw, thanks,’ April says sweetly. ‘Was it nice? The place on Mitcham’s Corner?’
