Chapter 12
There was lots of coming and going, as everyone settled into their rooms. Nancy made herself some lunch and wondered whether to offer some to the others.
The agreement was that everyone sorted out their own food, but it wouldn’t hurt to do them all a sandwich, would it?
Or would she be setting a precedent? Val had warned her about starting off as she meant to go on and keeping boundaries.
She was suddenly aware that she had no idea how to act in her own house now.
She made herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table, mulling over things.
She now had three virtual strangers living with her, three people who had a key to her house, who could come and go as they pleased.
Three people were sharing her fridge, cupboards, washing machine, dishwasher.
And all her space – apart from her bedroom and ensuite.
Had she done the right thing?
It’s that or lose your house, she reminded herself.
‘Hi.’ Slate popped his head around the door. ‘I’m not disturbing you, am I?’
‘Er, no. Not at all. Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee?’ Nancy offered. It felt bad-mannered to be sitting here supping and not offering anyone else some. She was used to being a hostess not a landlady.
‘I would, thank you. I’ll make it. And I was wondering if it would be okay to fix myself something to eat?’
‘Yes, of course, I was about to do something myself.’
Slate put the kettle on and turned to her. ‘I get the impression that you’re finding it all a bit overwhelming at the moment. It must be strange sharing your home like this.’
She bit her lip. ‘It’s just I’m not sure what to do. What everyone is expecting of me.’
Slate sat down at the table with his drink.
‘Well, in my experience – and I’ve done a lot of house-sharing – it can go either way, and the best thing to do is start off with some boundaries.
’ His gaze flicked over the rows of cupboards along the top and bottom wall.
‘You’ve given us a cupboard each and I presume we all share the crockery, utensils and so on? ’
‘Yes, I think that would be easier. But if anyone prefers their own things, I’m sure I can clear a space.’
‘I think Phyllis might, although I get the impression she will probably keep her special things in her room.’ Slate took a sip of his tea.
It was strong with only a little milk, she noticed.
‘Whenever I’ve house-shared we usually each had our own cupboard, and shelf in the fridge.
We supplied our own sheets and towels, and washed them ourselves.
We had a kitty for essentials where we all put in so much a week for communal essentials like sugar, tea, coffee, washing-up liquid, milk, washing powder, loo rolls. It worked for us.’
‘There’s so much I didn’t think of,’ Nancy said with a sigh.
‘Well, why don’t you call a meeting and we can sort it all out together? Find out what the others expect?’
‘Good idea. I think I will, after lunch. And that’s another thing, what should I do about lunch?
I feel bad sitting here eating and not offering anyone else anything.
I did actually get cheese, rolls and salad for everyone as a sort of welcome lunch and then thought maybe you’d all prefer something else. ’
‘It’s a lovely idea and if someone prefers something else, they can sort themselves out, can’t they? Now how about you go and see if the others want lunch, then I’ll help you prepare it.’
Nancy stared at him. ‘That’s very good of you, I didn’t expect…’ She paused wondering if it would sound rude.
‘What, for me to be house-trained? Don’t worry, as I said I was a single dad, brought Jed up alone from when he was five. I house-shared before I met Jed’s mother and again ever since he left home. Can’t see the point of paying for a whole house just to use part of it.’
He seemed very comfortable sharing space, Nancy thought as she went upstairs to see if Jackie and Phyllis wanted some lunch. To her delight, both ladies agreed.
‘I’ve got a nice bottle of elderberry wine, if anyone fancies some,’ Phyllis suggested. ‘It’s a very good antioxidant.’
‘And I’ve got a raspberry cheesecake,’ Jackie offered. ‘It’s an excellent cheerer-upper.’
So they all gathered around the table in the kitchen, drinking Phyllis’s wine, eating lunch, and chatting, sharing their stories about why they were now renting a room.
‘I’ve never house-shared before so this is a new experience for me,’ Jackie said. ‘I’ve been looking for another flat to rent, ever since my landlord gave me notice and I can’t believe how difficult it is to find anywhere decent. This room is a lifesaver.’
‘I’m very grateful for the room but I don’t want a flat. Give me a caravan any time,’ Phyllis said. ‘I loved my old one, lived in it for years.’
‘Why did you give it up?’ Jackie asked her.
‘The new campsite owners said that any van over fifteen years old had to go. So that was it. My good friend Joyce asked me to move in with her and I thought why not, we got on really well and she was living alone in a big house. She had a fall a few months ago and became ill so her son decided she should go into a home and that he was selling the house – Joyce signed it over to him – so I had to get out.’ Her eyes misted over.
‘Oh, love,’ Jackie said sympathetically.
Phyllis pulled herself together and turned to Slate. ‘How about you?’
‘Me and Decaf shared a house for years but then he moved his girlfriend in and the dynamics changed, so I’ve left them to it.’
‘And what about this rock group you’re in? How many of you are there?’ Jackie asked. ‘I’ve known you as a tutor all these years and had no idea you played in a rock band. You are a dark horse!’
Slate grinned. ‘Well, we’ve never actually chatted about anything personal, have we? But to answer your question I’ve been in the band since uni. There are three of us. Me, Decaf and Oxo.’
‘I take it Decaf is so called because he only drinks his coffee decaffeinated?’ Nancy asked.
‘Yep. He has a horror of caffeine, lectures us all like mad about the way it poisons our bodies. He has no reservations about drinking alcohol though.’
‘And Oxo?’ Phyllis asked.
‘So named because he drove us crazy wanting to play Oxo – that noughts and crosses game – when we were on the road or backstage. He’s got an app on his phone now and is still always trying to cajole one of us to play a game with him.’
‘What are their real names? And why are you called Slate?’ Nancy asked curiously.
‘Because I’m a tutor – you know, slate board and pencil. Decaf is Jerry and Oxo is Roy. But we’ve all had our nicknames since uni. We only use our real names for official documents.’
‘Who’s the singer?’ Jackie asked.
‘Me. I play the guitar, too, as does Oxo. Decaf’s on the drums.’
‘So no women in the band then?’
‘We did have for a while. My ex, Suzie, used to sing with us, and there’s been a couple of others over the years but now it’s just us three.’
Nancy wanted to ask what had happened, why Suzie had gone off and left Slate with their son, but she didn’t want to pry. And maybe Suzie wasn’t Jed’s mum anyway, maybe she was a girlfriend who’d come along later. ‘Do you play often?’
‘A couple of times a week. You’re welcome to come to one of the gigs whenever you want.’
‘That sounds fun. I might be tempted,’ Jackie said.
‘Thanks for the invite but I don’t think it’s for me,’ Phyllis said.
Nancy didn’t say anything. She would like to go, but she wasn’t sure how friendly she should be with her guests.
She was the landlady after all. Val had warned her just yesterday to make sure she kept boundaries.
‘If you’re too friendly, they’ll walk all over you,’ she’d said.
And Slate had mentioned it, too, although that was more about house-sharing rules.
So she turned the conversation to practicalities.
‘I’ve been thinking, as there’s only one shared bathroom, maybe we should work out a rota for the mornings,’ she suggested. ‘We don’t want anyone being late for work.’
‘Good idea. Maybe one of us has a shower tonight and the others in the morning?’ Jackie said. ‘Which would you prefer, Phyllis?’
‘Evening. I sleep better if I bathe or shower before I go to bed,’ Phyllis replied.
Jackie looked at Slate. He shrugged. ‘I’m not bothered either way.’
‘Well, I prefer a morning shower and a soak in the bath at weekends so actually if you two could both have one before you go to bed, that will avoid bathroom arguments on workday mornings.’
It sounded like Jackie had got this all organised.
‘There is a shower in the utility room too,’ Nancy reminded them. ‘It’s only basic, but in an emergency—’
‘I’ll use that one, and leave the ladies to the main bathroom,’ Slate immediately offered.
‘Good, that’s all sorted then,’ Nancy said in relief.
After lunch they all went up to their respective rooms to finish settling in and Nancy went into her living room to watch a film. I think this is going to work out just fine, she thought. They seemed a nice, friendly bunch. And the sound of other people in the house was strangely reassuring.