Changing Places

by Colette Caddle

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said breathlessly, hurrying over to his car.

  ‘No problem,’ Charlie said with a grin. ‘At least I wasn’t on the bike!’

  Anna smoothed back her wet hair and looked at the sky. ‘It looks as if it’s clearing up. Anyway, come on, let me show you the house.’

  ‘So was there a major crisis at the office?’ he asked as she struggled with the key.

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Did Mark forget to order enough paperclips or something serious like that?’

  ‘Oh no, nothing like that.’

  They stepped into the hallway and Charlie touched her cheek. ‘You look a bit peaky. Are you sick?’

  ‘No, just a bit of a problem at home.’

  ‘Want to talk about it?’

  Anna shook her head, embarrassed. ‘Oh no, really, there’s nothing to talk about. Now let’s have a look around. I feel terrible for keeping you waiting.’

  Charlie allowed her to guide him around the house and he listened carefully while she told him about the different features in each room.

  ‘You don’t like it, do you?’ she said with a small sigh.

  ‘Not particularly,’ he admitted. ‘The location is great.’ He waved a hand towards the large bay window that looked out on the seafront. ‘And there’s plenty of land. But as for the house . . .’ He paused and looked around him. ‘It’s just a bit . . .’

  ‘Dead?’ Anna suggested.

  ‘That’s it exactly. The place has no soul, no character.’

  ‘Maybe it needs someone to give it character?’

  Charlie nodded. ‘Yes, a big family, some kids, a few dogs, but a guy like me with a part-time daughter isn’t going to do it.’

  Anna heard the sadness in his voice. ‘Would you like a big family some day?’

  He looked at her in surprise. ‘I think it’s a bit late for that.’

  ‘Why? You’re not that old. Anyway, all you need is a younger woman.’

  ‘Is that an offer?’ he murmured, moving closer.

  ‘I’m afraid I’m spoken for,’ she joked, thinking how nice his aftershave was.

  ‘Ah yes, to Mr Liam Harrison. I hope he knows how lucky he is.’

  ‘Not at the moment,’ Anna found herself saying.

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘He was made redundant last week.’

  ‘Ah. That was the family crisis, I take it?’

  ‘Yes – well, no – well, I suppose I’m just a bit distracted at the moment and I completely forgot our appointment.’

  ‘I’ll try not to take that personally.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Just joking, Anna.’ He led her to the love-seat by the window. ‘So what happened?’

  Anna sat at his side, staring out at the view. If she turned to face him she’d be way too close for comfort. ‘Apparently the business is in trouble and the boss decided to get rid of the senior management and run things himself.’

  ‘That’s rough. So how’s your Liam taking it?’

  ‘Up and down. At first I think he was in shock and then he started to worry. Now, thankfully, he’s feeling a bit more optimistic.’

  ‘So the redundancy was out of the blue?’

  Anna’s eyes narrowed. ‘Totally. He was expecting promotion, had been told that it was in the bag. Everyone thought he’d take over the business when Patterson retired!’

  ‘Ted Patterson?’

  Anna turned her head to look at him. ‘You know him?’

  Charlie shrugged. ‘Not personally, but I’ve heard all about him and his electronics company. He’s a fairly tough customer, I believe.’ He took her hand in his. ‘Look, try not to worry. Liam will probably end up better off in the end.’

  Anna smiled. ‘I think so, too. He’s very clever and gets on so well with people and he’s such a hard grafter.’

  Charlie’s eyes were thoughtful as they met hers. ‘He has something else going for him, too.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘A wonderful wife.’

  Anna blushed and stood up. ‘You’ve no idea – I’m terribly hard to live with.’

  ‘I think I’d take a chance.’

  Anna felt her cheeks grow hot. ‘My God, look at the time. We’d better get a move on. I told the owners we’d be out by three.’

  Charlie got slowly to his feet and walked over to her. ‘Don’t worry about them, are you okay?’

  She nodded. ‘Sorry for offloading all of this stuff on you – it’s not very professional of me.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said, looking annoyed. ‘I would hope at this stage you’d see me as a friend as well as a client.’

  ‘Of course. Thank you, Charlie. You’ve made me feel a lot better.’

  Immediately, his smile returned. ‘Good. Now let’s get out of this mausoleum.’

  Chapter 13

  Liam heard the post thud on to the mat and abandoned his cornflakes to go and check it. There were three envelopes: one of them a gas bill, one a credit-card bill and the other an invitation to a conference in Cork. He was staring at the credit-card bill, his cornflakes forgotten, when Anna walked in pulling her jacket on. ‘Anything interesting?’ she asked as she spooned coffee into a mug and poured water from the kettle.

  ‘This has to stop,’ Liam replied.

  ‘What has?’ Anna asked. ‘Ugh, this water’s cold! Liam, I asked you to put on the kettle.’

  ‘You have got to stop spending, Anna. There’s a balance of nearly two grand on this card and I hate to think what you owe on your Visa.’

  Anna turned her back on him as she filled the kettle with fresh water. ‘It’s fine, really. Please stop worrying.’

  ‘Stop worrying! Jesus, Anna, what cloud are you living on? We can’t spend like this any more! At least, not until I find work. You have to cut back.’

  ‘We don’t owe anyone that much. My biggest expenditure at the moment is the supermarket shop.’

  ‘And what about the mortgage and the electricity and the gas?’ He flung the other bill across the table. ‘I used to pay these directly from my account but you’re going to have to take them on for the moment.’

  Anna turned to face him. ‘We’ll cope, Liam. It won’t be for long, I’m sure it won’t. Please try not to worry so much.’

  He sighed. ‘Okay, but will you in turn please try and go easy on the credit cards?’

  ‘I promise.’ Putting down her coffee, she dropped a kiss on his forehead, picked up her bag and headed for the door. ‘I’ve got to go.’

  ‘What time will you be home?’

  ‘It’ll be late this evening, I have a few appointments. Bye, sweetheart.’

  ‘Bye.’

  Liam went into the sitting room and switched on the television. The prospect of another day alone stretched out in front of him, and he dreaded it. He hated the boredom, he hated having nowhere to go, he hated having no meetings to hurry to, and he hated watching Anna carry on as normal. He knew she had to and he knew he should be grateful that she had a good job, but he wasn’t. If anyone should be at home it should be her. She wouldn’t mind. She could have babies and that would more than make up for losing her job. But what was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to stay sane?

  It was nearly four weeks now and there was still no sign of a suitable job. An old mate from his college days had offered him a temporary position working on the factory floor but Liam had no intention of taking a step backwards. Something suitable had to come up soon; he just hoped he didn’t go quietly mad while he was waiting. Flicking off the TV he stood up and went upstairs. He’d throw on some clothes and take his toolbox over to his mother’s. There were a few jobs needed doing around the house that he hadn’t had a chance to tackle when he was at Patterson’s. She’d be delighted with the company and it would mean he’d get a decent lunch too, which would make a nice change.

  Feeling slightly better, Liam splashed water on his face, brushed his teeth and pulled on jeans and a clean white T-shirt.
He could do with a shave but he wasn’t in the mood and it wasn’t as though there was anyone to impress. His mother wouldn’t approve but she’d be afraid to say anything. She’d been shocked when he’d told her he was out of a job and had spent most days since on her knees praying for him. Liam had been very blasé with her, assuring her that the right job would come along in no time but he was finding it hard lately to keep up the bravado.

  He secured the toolbox on the back carrier of his mountain bike and cycled to Josie’s house. He had thought he’d really miss his company car but now he actually enjoyed going out on the bike. The physical exercise felt good and it was a great place to do some uninterrupted thinking. It was also a damn sight better than sitting in bloody traffic jams. Less than twenty minutes later he had turned into his mother’s drive and was chuffed that he wasn’t even that much out of breath.

  ‘Finally getting a bit of exercise, Harrison?’ a voice jeered at him as he bent to lock the bike to the gate.

  He looked up and smiled at the woman leaning over the wall. ‘No, Tara, I just don’t have a car any more.’

  Tara looked at him, horrified, her hand going to her short blonde bob. ‘Oh Liam, I’m sorry. God, that was tactless. Still, I always had a knack for putting my foot in it, didn’t I?’

  ‘You did,’ he laughed.

  ‘Any luck with the job-hunting yet?’

  He shook his head. ‘Nobody seems to be hiring at the moment.’

  ‘I need a manicurist if you’re interested,’ she joked, her pretty eyes twinkling. ‘The pay isn’t great but I’d throw in a free massage once in a while.’

  ‘I’m tempted,’ he told her, ‘but I’m not sure my mother would approve.’

  ‘Rubbish, your mum loves me,’ Tara said confidently.

  ‘That’s because you give her a discount.’

  ‘Well, she is my neighbour,’ Tara pointed out and then added with a wink, ‘and we were almost related.’

  Liam brandished his toolbox. ‘I’d better go on in. She has a few jobs lined up for me.’

  ‘If you’ve got a moment later, you could do a few jobs around the salon for me.’

  ‘What’s it worth?’ he challenged.

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t dream of offending you by offering money, but like I say, I do a very good body massage.’ Tara’s eyes roamed appreciatively over his torso.

  ‘I’ll keep it in mind,’ he promised. ‘Seeya, Tara.’

  Liam and Tara had started dating when they were sixteen, and it was only when Tara decided to drop out of college three years later and run off to England to seek her fortune, that their relationship came to an end. Her fortune had turned out to be sweeping up and washing hair in a backstreet salon in Liverpool, but Tara wasn’t afraid of hard work and it wasn’t long before she found a better job in more salubrious surroundings. Her boss quickly spotted the potential in this beautiful, feisty blonde and trained her as a beautician, sending her on all the latest courses in skincare and massage.

  Tara had just been thinking of branching out on her own when she’d got the call that her mother was sick. As the only child, Tara felt she had no choice but to come home and take care of her mother, and when she died ten months later, Tara realized that she didn’t want to leave Dublin again. With her modest savings, she turned the downstairs of her family home into a salon and upstairs into an apartment for herself. She was confident that as the house was around the corner from the shops and the church, which had a large car park, the location was perfect for women who didn’t want to travel into town every time they needed a facial.

  Now, three years later, Tara had a regular clientèle, a steady, healthy income and the total admiration of Liam’s mother. Josie had always hoped that Liam and Tara would get back together. She was perfect wife material. From a good family, she had attended the local Loretto convent school and was very pretty too. But by the time Tara had come home, Liam and Anna were already married and Josie had to settle for having Tara as a neighbour rather than a daughter-in-law.

  ‘Mum, it’s me,’ Liam called, letting himself in with his key.

  Josie appeared at the top of the stairs with a pillowcase in her hand. ‘Hello, son, what are you doing here?’

  ‘I thought I’d come around and do a few jobs for you.’ He held up the toolbox. ‘I’ll start with the lamp in your bedroom, shall I?’

  ‘Just let me make you a cup of tea first.’

  ‘It’s okay, Mum, I don’t want tea. I’d prefer to get started.’

  ‘Then you must stay for a bit of lunch. I’ll slip around to the butcher’s and get a nice few chops.’

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ Liam went straight up to her bedroom and got started. Physical work was the best way to take his mind off his troubles and by the time lunch was ready, Liam had fixed the dodgy switch on the lamp, sorted out the strange noise in the cistern of the loo and put a new cable on the lawnmower.

  ‘Thanks, love, that’s wonderful,’ Josie told him as she loaded his plate with carrots and parsnip.

  ‘No problem,’ Liam told her. ‘I quite enjoyed myself.’

  ‘No word on the job front, I suppose?’ his mother asked, unable to keep quiet any longer.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Maybe you should think about taking something else,’ she suggested. She knew that her son had turned down a couple of jobs already that only paid half the money he’d been getting, but surely any work was better than no work?

  Liam tensed. ‘I know what I’m doing, Mum.’

  ‘Sorry, love, of course you do.’ Josie patted his shoulder.

  Liam left as soon as he’d finished lunch, wanting to escape before she started asking him more questions. He knew she meant well but she didn’t understand how things worked at this level, and that if he ever wanted to work as a senior manager again, the last thing he should do was accept a low-level, hands-on job.

  Tara was walking round the corner laden with shopping as he cycled down the road. ‘Need a hand?’ he asked, pulling in beside her.

  ‘Only if you’ll come in for a coffee,’ she told him.

  ‘Haven’t you got any clients?’ he hedged.

  ‘I don’t open on Mondays,’ Tara reminded him. ‘Besides, I have a dripping tap in my bathroom you could have a look at.’

  ‘Okay then,’ Liam agreed, taking her bags and hanging them from his handlebars. ‘But don’t tell my mother. I told her I had to rush off.’

  Tara looked at her watch. ‘She’ll be having her nap by now and you’ll be gone by the time she wakes up.’

  Liam looked anxiously at his mother’s house as he waited for Tara to open her hall door.

  ‘Bring the bike in and leave it in the hall,’ she told him and then led him upstairs to her flat.

  ‘This is nice,’ Liam said, wandering around her small cosy living room as she made the coffee.

  ‘I like it. The bathroom’s through the door to the right. The cold tap in the bath is the one giving the problem.’

  Taking a spanner from his toolbox, Liam went through the door and found himself in Tara’s bedroom. Averting his eyes from the purple satin-covered bed, he went on through another door into a surprisingly large bathroom with a double power shower and a large Jacuzzi bath. ‘Very nice,’ he called back to her as he admired the midnight-blue marble tiles that covered the floor and walls. The suite was in white and there was a shelf with an abundance of white, fluffy towels. White candles of varying sizes were arranged around the room in wrought-iron holders and a large mirror covered the top half of the wall over the bath. He went to work on the faulty tap and was still crouched by the bath when he felt her hand on his shoulder.

  ‘It has underfloor heating,’ Tara said at his shoulder. ‘Great when you step out of the bath.’

  ‘Oh, really?’ Liam cleared his throat and thought that the room didn’t feel so big all of a sudden. ‘I think I’ve sorted your problem. Any chance of that coffee?’

  Tara laughed and led the way back to the living room. ‘Don’t w
orry, Liam, I’m not going to jump on you.’

  ‘I know that.’ Liam laughed too but he still sat in the armchair rather than beside her on the large sofa.

  ‘You must be cracking up, hanging around the house all day,’ Tara said, pushing a plate of biscuits towards him.

  ‘I am,’ he agreed. Most people pussy-footed around him these days, but not Tara.

  ‘You should do something.’

  He bristled. ‘I’ve been to all the recruitment agencies and I go through the papers every day, but—’

  ‘No, that’s not what I mean.’ She waved a dismissive hand. ‘I mean do something completely different to keep you occupied until the right job comes along.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Travel?’

  ‘Travelling costs money,’ he reminded her.

  ‘Then odd jobs,’ she continued, undeterred. ‘Do what you just did for your mum and me. You could advertise in the local supermarket.’

  Liam shook his head. ‘No, I’d prefer to concentrate on finding the right job. I’m a good engineer, Tara, with years of experience and I’m still relatively young. They should be queuing up to get me.’

  ‘And I’m sure they will. Give it time, Liam. Now, tell me, how’s Anna doing?’

  ‘Great, really great.’

  ‘Good, that’s good.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘You must be proud of her.’

  ‘Sure I am.’

  Tara’s eyes were speculative as she watched him. ‘It must be hard watching her go off to work every morning.’

  ‘It is,’ Liam admitted, ‘although we’d be in a right mess if she didn’t have such a good job.’

  ‘But it makes you feel dispensable.’

  Liam stared at her. ‘How did you know?’

  Tara shrugged her slim shoulders. ‘You’re an old-fashioned kind of guy, Liam, just like your dad was.’

  Liam smiled at the mention of his father. Arthur Harrison had insisted that Josie give up work as soon as she’d agreed to marry him. He’d worked in the same job for forty years and Josie had never seen a household bill, let alone paid one. Liam had taken over the running of the house when his father had died as he knew Josie wouldn’t even know where to begin.