Chapter 9
9
I stood and stared at this big man who was now walking around my home. I didn’t think anyone had ever said I was funny before. Certainly not my family anyway, although Lisa and I did have a good laugh whenever we got together.
Seamus walked back into the hallway and as I followed him, I couldn’t take my eyes off his broad shoulders and slim waist and his rather pert, firm backside. His big strong hand grabbed the handrail at the bottom of the banister.
‘May I?’ He tilted his head in what I felt was quite a suggestive manner but then realised that I must be just having a middle-aged moment having improper thoughts about this man. It was those utility trousers he was wearing. I always was a sucker for a tradesman in those. I think it was because Michael went to work in a suit and tie and wasn’t the least bit good with his hands – which I reckoned Seamus was. Because he was an electrician, of course.
I scooted into my bedroom and straightened the duvet and made sure the lid was on the laundry basket. There’s something very intimate about someone being close to your dirty pants.
When we went into the second-largest bedroom, I was glad that I had thought to make the bed up in there too. It looked so much better since the bed was dressed. Although the suitcase that I’d discovered under the bed, that I’d kept stubbing my toe on, was still poking out and wouldn’t fit properly. I didn’t want to act like a helpless female but I decided to ask Seamus to help me with something while he was here.
‘You couldn’t just pop that suitcase on top of the wardrobe, would you, please? I tried to lift it but it’s really heavy and I couldn’t manage that and balance on a chair at the same time.’
‘No problem.’ He lifted it above his head with no effort at all, all six feet of his height helpful, and placed it above the wardrobe. ‘If you need any help getting it down again, just let me know. I can soon pop round.’
‘Thanks, that’s very kind of you. I think it’s more of Aunty June’s paperwork to go through by the look of it when I took a quick peek in the top of it the other day. I’m not sure she’d ever thrown anything away in her life. It’s not an urgent task in the great scheme of things, but I will get round to it at some point.’
My phone rang and I grabbed it to see that it was Michael. I bounced the call but he immediately called back so I answered, knowing he wouldn’t stop calling until he spoke to me.
‘Michael!’
‘Jo darling. Good morning. How are you? Settled into your new home, have you?’
I supposed at least he’d remembered.
‘I have, thanks. It’s…’
‘I still can’t find that bloody Wi-Fi code, you know. Are you sure you don’t know what it is? I even rang the provider yesterday but they didn’t even bloody speak English. Couldn’t understand a word.’
Of course that’s why he’d called. Because he wanted something. I suppose I shouldn’t really expect anything different, but after twenty-five years of marriage surely he must still have some sort of feelings of responsibility for me. If I was still getting used to him not being around, maybe it was the same for him.
It was at that moment that Seamus came wandering into my room.
‘Good lord, look at the size of those,’ he exclaimed and I couldn’t help but laugh at the gasp that came from the phone. What Michael couldn’t see was that he was staring out the window at two huge seagulls which were perched on the top of the balcony railing. He whispered sorry as he realised that I was on the phone.
‘Jo! Is someone there with you?’ It felt like I was being grilled.
‘I’m sorry, Michael, but I’m going to have to go.’
‘Jo, have you got a man there? It’s not even eight. Did someone stay over? You certainly didn’t waste much time, did you?’
‘Goodbye, Michael. I have to go now, I have things to do.’
‘I bet you do,’ he accused.
The cheek of him. After all he’d done, the fact he thought I’d be moving on as quickly as he had.
‘If I remember where the Wi-Fi code is, I’ll text you. Bye.’ I pressed the red button on my phone as hard as I could.
‘I’m so sorry, Jo. Did I get you into trouble?’
‘Not at all. It was just my ex-husband, who was horrified at the thought that his ex-wife might be entertaining at this time of the morning. Cheeky git.’
‘I’d take it as a compliment if I were you. A gorgeous woman like you will be beating them off with a shitty stick when the local single men find out there’s a single woman in town.’ He winked again as he walked out of the room and wandered up to the third floor.
The only part of that sentence I’d heard was the fact that he’d called me a gorgeous woman. He was clearly a bit of a player. Charming the pants off his potential clients just so he got the work. But then again, I realised that I wasn’t actually paying him for anything so he didn’t need to do that with me. He was just clearly a smooth talker. And a right winker. And the fact that he kept doing that was not making my heart flutter a tiny bit. Not at all.
‘So, Seamus. What’s your verdict?’ I felt like it was time to get back to business. ‘Have you seen everything you’d like to see?’ His eyes lingered on me longer than was totally necessary and he smiled.
‘How about you make me another cup of coffee and I’ll tell you everything I’m thinking while you show me your decking.’
‘I bet you say that to all the girls, Seamus Shaffernakker.’
He threw back his head and roared with laughter. At me. Maybe I was funny after all.
When I went outside, Seamus was sitting on the edge of the decking looking out to sea.
‘Thanks, lovely.’ He took the mug from me and our hands brushed while our eyes connected. He eventually looked away. ‘It’s my favourite place in the world, you know.’
‘It is lovely.’ I breathed in. ‘I can’t believe it’s mine.’
‘You’re a lucky lady, Jo Jenkins.’
I should probably correct the way he called me that, but there was something about the way my full name seemed to roll off his tongue. It sounded so sensual. Gosh, I was at it again.
‘So hit me with it. Is this house going to be a total money pit, and I’m wasting my time and money?’
‘I wouldn’t say that exactly, but I would say that you’ve got yourself a right job on your hands. I don’t want to belittle you in any way at all and pull the sexist card, but do you have any building skills at all?’
‘Yes, I trained as a carpenter at college and have spent the last twenty-five years working in a joinery. I’m very handy with a screwdriver and drill and have my own workbench in the garage,’ I responded as Seamus took a sip from his mug.
Which he then spluttered out, covering up with a cough.
‘Oh, well, in that case…’
I burst out laughing. ‘I have no skills at all, Seamus. I’m pulling your leg. I reckon I could learn though. I’ve watched a few impressive women builder types on TikTok videos though. Looks dead easy.’
He joined in with my laughter and I noticed that his eyes crinkled up and then he took me by surprise as he flattered me again.
‘Honestly, Jo Jenkins. You are hilarious. You should try stand-up comedy. You’d be wonderful. We have an open mic night down at the local pub. I’m going to sign you up.’
‘You’ll do no such thing, thank you. I won’t have time for shenanigans like that. I’ll be building my fabulous dream home.’
‘Mmmm, now, about that…’
‘That sounds ominous.’ I could feel myself frowning.
‘Why don’t I go away and put some thought behind the ideas that are going around in my head right now? You’ve got a builder coming in later today anyway?’
I nodded.
‘Maybe you could make me another early-morning cuppa one of these days,’ he said, ‘and we can discuss what the builder from today says and compare notes.’
‘That sounds perfect,’ I replied. ‘I’m an early bird. I did have a bit of lie-in today which is very unlike me.’
‘Maybe it was the excitement of moving in yesterday.’
I sighed.
‘Something like that.’
‘Or maybe you just feel really settled already?’
That was an interesting thought. I did feel safe and secure here. Maybe I was finally feeling as if here was going to be my happy place. This cottage did seem to have magical healing properties.
Seamus grabbed his car keys from where he’d left them on the dresser in the hallway.
‘Come on, Theo, time to go.’ Theo raised his head, did a big stretch and was soon by his master’s side. ‘Thanks for the drinks.’
‘A pleasure.’
‘No, Jo Jenkins. I can assure you, the pleasure was all mine.’ His big blue eyes lingered on me and a little shiver ran down my spine as he gave a mock salute and the door closed behind Seamus and Theo. There must be a breeze coming in through that open window, I decided.
It was only then that I remembered that today was my wedding anniversary.