Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
With patches of blue sky making an appearance, Lily didn’t go straight to the supermarket, but wandered for twenty minutes until she reached the High Street at the centre of Walthamstow.
It was the first time she’d explored the neighbourhood properly, and was surprised by how much was going on.
Outside the cinema she stopped to stare, wondering when she’d last been to a cinema.
She couldn’t even remember, and she vowed to come with Flynn on her next visit.
She wandered past a proper theatre too, and was checking out the shows when an advertisement on the bus shelter caught her eye.
Apparently there was a climbing centre nearby.
That was something else she wouldn’t mind doing.
She’d been an avid rock climber once. It felt like forever ago, as did her time working at the indoor rock-climbing centre in Exeter.
Wandering on, she thought back to that job and recalled her old colleagues there. It annoyed her that she couldn’t remember the names of most of them, despite it being only just over a year ago.
Lost in thought, she wandered into the busy market and only noticed when she was jolted from her thoughts by a fruit and veg seller cheerfully shouting his prices.
It was the longest outdoor street market in Europe, and Lily’s senses were soon assaulted – crates of clementines and apples were stacked like bricks, voices overlapped in a constant hum, and the scent of fried food cut through the cold air.
It was very different to the soundtrack of seabirds and waves she’d become used to in the Scillies, but city life had its charms too, and if she was going to spend more time there she should focus on the positives and take advantage of all there was to do.
Her little adventure was good for her soul and she managed to put aside all the drama surrounding Flynn’s neighbours. She could have grabbed food from the market stalls, but she stuck with her original plan and eventually meandered back towards Flynn’s place and the supermarket nearby.
Walking into the brightly lit shop, she plucked a basket and set off purposefully. By now she was ravenous and desperate to get food and get home so she could eat.
In the fruit and veg aisle, she awkwardly reached for an apple at the same time as someone else.
“Sorry,” she said, withdrawing quickly.
The man apologised too. “You go ahead,” he said, taking a step back.
Lily’s head whipped up at the familiar voice. Mr Patel looked about as surprised as she did.
“Oh, hello.” He rested a hand on his trolley.
“Hi,” she replied.
“I’m just doing a bit of shopping.”
She nodded. “I can see that.”
“I’m the househusband these days,” he added, shifting his weight. “Not that I mind.”
“I’m just grabbing something for lunch.” Making small talk was always a little uncomfortable, but the fact that their last conversation had been about a threatening letter to the now dead landlord made it even worse. “I better get going.”
“Right, yes.” He waited until she turned away before speaking again. “Did you walk here?”
She nodded, slightly confused by the question.
“I’ve got the car. I can give you a lift back. Save you walking with your shopping.”
“It’s fine, thanks. I don’t mind the walk.”
“I’d like to explain properly,” he mumbled. “About earlier.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“I’ll meet you at the checkout,” he said firmly. “Take your time.”
“Okay,” she said as he moved to the next aisle.
He was waiting for her once she got through the checkout, his trolley loaded up with sturdy bags. Since Lily only had one bag, she helped Mr Patel get his into the silver Toyota Yaris, then returned the trolley while he backed out of the parking space.
“Have you been job hunting?” Lily asked casually while they pulled their seatbelts around them.
“Yes. No luck yet, but I’m sure something will come up.”
“It must be hard being unemployed.”
“We’ve had to be a little more frugal, but it’s okay.” He put the car into gear. “Mrs Patel tells me not to worry, but I can’t help but think I’ve let her down. No man wants to be a burden to his wife.”
“I’m sure something will come up soon.”
He fell silent, concentrating as he pulled out of the car park onto the main road.
“That’s partly why I wrote that stupid letter,” he said eventually.
“I felt as though I wasn’t being a good husband.
Not only is my wife the breadwinner now, but she was also dealing with Mr Latham about the rent.
It should have been me who went to him. After all, it’s my fault we’re having these financial difficulties. ”
“Mrs Patel seems like a strong woman. I imagine she was happy to be the one to speak with him.”
“Yes.” He slowed for the zebra crossing, letting a woman and buggy cross.
“I did offer to speak with him, but she insisted she be the one to do it. And she was certain it would be better if she spoke to him alone. I didn’t argue too much, since there’s not a lot of point in arguing with her once she sets her mind to something. ”
Lily smiled lightly. “Sounds as though she was definitely the right person to talk to Mr Latham. And he agreed to give you extra time, so it seems that worked out well.”
“Yes.” His voice wasn’t at all convincing.
“She went up to speak to him all fired up, but when she came back all her spark had gone. For a few days after she seemed so flat. In the back of my mind, I knew something wasn’t right.
It was only when Liam came to me about the way Mr Latham had treated him that I was sure the conversation between Mr Latham and my wife hadn’t gone as smoothly as she made out. ”
He turned into the entrance to the underground parking and manoeuvred easily into the tight space.
“Anyway,” he said as he pulled the handbrake on. “I wanted to explain the note properly. Earlier, I got flustered and left abruptly.”
“It’s fine.”
“I also wanted to thank you for retrieving it for me. That’s another thing to make me feel useless, but it’s a relief not to have to worry about someone else finding it and asking questions.”
“No problem,” Lily said, opening the door. “Good thing for you I don’t have a great tolerance for curiosity. If I were a cat, I’d have been a goner a long time ago.”
Mr Patel chuckled as he exited the car. Lily helped him carry his bags to his door.
“Could I ask if you know a Mr and Mrs Silverton?” she asked, lingering in the hall.
“The name doesn’t ring a bell.”
Lily’s forehead wrinkled. “I wondered if they were the previous owners of the building, before Mr Latham. I saw their names on a couple of letters in his flat and I’ve been wondering about it.”
“It could well be the previous owners. We’ve only been here while Mr Latham owned the building.”
“I did some digging about the asbestos,” Lily said. “The council doesn’t have any record of it.”
“That won’t surprise my wife. She’s been saying for ages that didn’t seem right.” He opened his front door. “Enjoy your lunch.”
“Thank you.” Her stomach reacted to the mention of lunch, and she moved to Flynn’s door. “And thank you for the lift,” she called over her shoulder.