Chapter 34
SLATE
‘Thanks for inviting us to the barbecue at the weekend, Dad. It was good fun,’ Jed said when Slate popped in after his poetry class on Wednesday for mortgage advice. ‘What time did it finally finish?’
‘Late. We carried on the party indoors when it started to get dark,’ Slate told him. He decided not to add on the bit about playing Strip Poker. Your kids were best not knowing some things.
‘You’ve all got some energy! I was ready for bed when I came home. You’re all a right load of retro rebels.’
You don’t know the half of it, Slate thought with a smile.
‘They’re a great crowd. Shame that Nancy has to sell the house and we all have to move on.
Which is why I’m here. I’ve been looking at those new apartments they’re building down by the river.
Some of them are shared ownership and you mentioned that some companies do special schemes for older people. ’
‘Yes, they do. I’ll get some info for you. And I’m so glad that you’ve decided to finally buy your own place.’
‘I haven’t decided yet, I’m looking into it, but Jackie is definitely interested in one so I said I’d ask you,’ Slate told him. ‘I might find another room instead.’
Jed sighed. ‘Dad, it worries me that you don’t want to commit yourself to your own place. I feel like you found the responsibility of bringing me up alone a struggle and now you don’t want to take on any responsibility at all. It’s like you’re scared of any commitment.’
Slate thrust his hands in his pocket as he mulled this over.
‘I don’t regret any part of bringing you up, Jed.
It was a privilege. Yes, money was tight but we managed, and I was happy to do it.
But like I’ve told you, I prefer living with other people.
People my own age,’ he added quickly in case Jed repeated his offer of Slate moving in with him.
‘The thing is, you don’t only not want to commit to buying or renting your own flat; you don’t want to commit to a relationship either. Mum really did a number on you when she walked out and left us, didn’t she?’
‘I’ve not exactly been living like a monk…’ Slate protested.
‘No, but it’s easy come, easy go, isn’t it? As soon as anyone show signs of getting serious, you end it.’
Slate couldn’t deny that. He wasn’t like Jackie though, a serial dater. He just preferred to keep things casual and made sure he laid his cards on the table up front. He guessed Jed was right – Suzie had left a scar.
‘I’m enjoying my life so there’s nothing for you to worry about. Now, about these mortgages.’
* * *
When Slate returned home, Nancy was on her knees weeding the garden. ‘Day off?’ he asked.
‘Yes, and the garden is getting in a right state. I don’t seem to have time to tend to it, like I used to.’
Slate looked around at the expansive garden.
Nancy must have worked on it for hours every week, but that was when she was married to dull, boring Clifford and on her own a lot, he suspected.
Now, they had all moved in, life was more hectic for her and yes, he could see that it was getting a bit wild, the flower beds definitely needed some attention.
‘Let me get changed and I’ll come and give you a hand.’
He came back out a few minutes later, now sporting an old pair of jeans and T-shirt, and carrying two glasses of lemonade. ‘I thought you might appreciate a drink.’
‘I do. Thank you.’ Nancy stood up and wiped her brow with the back of her hand then pulled out a chair and sat down. Slate did the same. ‘Have you decided to buy one of the flats?’ she asked.
‘I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but yes, I think I have.
Jackie is definitely up for it. I’ve been talking to Jed about getting a mortgage as they’ll be ready to move in to around the end of February and we’ll be needing to put a deposit down soon.
’ He looked over the rim of his glass. ‘Do you think you’ll go for a flat when you sell up?
If so, there’s a few left in our block. Maybe you should look at them too. You could get one by Jackie.’
Nancy looked thoughtful. ‘I don’t think I could settle in a flat. I’d like a garden, although not one as big as this any more. It’s a lot of work.’
That was a shame. He would miss Nancy.