Chapter 18
18
Frankie
Frankie worked flat out when she returned. Not only because she had a little time to make up, but because she felt far more at ease than she had done over recent days. The dark had never held any fear for her, but her last few shifts had been plagued with worries which had spilled over from the day, leaving her cowed and anxious. Feelings she was far too familiar with. The night was hers, and no one was going to take it from her. She had two more people in her life now though, three if you counted Tam. Fledgling friendships they might be, but she felt stronger than she had in a long time. There would be a way out of her situation, she just had to find it.
She picked up her phone and navigated to her playlists. She knew exactly which one she was looking for and, with her favourite songs filling the room, she danced her way through the remaining hours of her shift.
With the last batches of bread cooling on the racks, Frankie began to tidy up, clearing away all the equipment she had used during the night. It was half past six and everything would need to be shipshape before the shop opened for the morning trade. She turned off her music with a smile – time for one last cup of tea and then she’d set to it.
The sun was just beginning to rise, although you’d never know it given the darkness outside. The height of the buildings would ensure the alley was in shadow for a good while yet and, busy in the storeroom, Frankie had no way of seeing the figure approach. She heard it though: the faint clicking of a heel tapping against cobblestones in the lane outside. She froze, listening intently. The noise stopped momentarily, as if whoever was outside had paused beside the window. Even now they might be peering in. Heart suddenly pounding in her chest, Frankie inched closer to the storeroom door. With any luck she might be able to peer through the gap without being seen herself.
She almost cried out as a tap sounded on the window – four sharp retorts in succession. She checked herself – did that sound friendly? The sort of rat-a-tat-tat rhythm you’d make on a friend’s door, a casual knock somewhere you were expected. She took a deep breath and, with a broom clutched firmly in her hand, she stuck her head around the door. She let out a laugh of relief as Tam’s face appeared and she hurried to let him in.
‘Was that for me?’ he asked, grinning as she opened the door. She was still holding the broom. ‘You looked as if you were about to clout me one.’
‘No, I just…Well, yes, possibly. Until I saw who it was.’
‘Don’t blame you,’ he said. ‘You can’t be too careful.’ He smiled again. ‘I wondered if I might ask a huge favour.’ He was looking past her into the warmth of the bakery. ‘You wouldn’t have a loo I could use, would you? I got rather carried away and drank the whole flask of tea, with the inevitable consequences…’
Frankie took a step back. ‘Of course. Come in.’ She pointed to the far corner. ‘It’s through there, but I’m sorry, the door doesn’t shut properly. It has an alarming tendency to swing open at times so…’ She pulled a face and handed him the broom. ‘Do you want to use this to prop it?’
Tam took it as instructed, cheeks bright red, although that might have been from the cold…
‘I’ll just…do something out the front,’ finished Frankie, murmuring her last few words. The room wasn’t overly large, and the cloakroom not very far away. She wondered if she should whistle, or perhaps sing…
‘Sorry about that,’ called Tam, appearing a short while later. ‘There’s a gym I go to for my morning ablutions, but it’s not open yet.’
‘It’s no problem, honestly,’ said Frankie, coming through the archway which led into the shop. ‘It must be rather difficult, I imagine. It’s my fault, I should have thought before bringing you an enormous flask of tea.’
Tam was silent a moment, weighing something up. ‘Can I ask you a personal question?’ he said, and then continued before Frankie had a chance to reply. ‘Only I’ve noticed you always try to take the blame for things, even when you’re being incredibly nice.’
Frankie’s hands went to her cheeks. ‘Oh, do I…? Sorry.’
‘And you always apologise for everything, too.’ Tam smiled. ‘It should be me apologising. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’
‘No, it’s okay,’ Frankie replied, clearing her throat. ‘You’re right, it’s a habit I got into…accepting the blame for everything even when it wasn’t my fault. Anything for a quiet life…’ Her voice faltered. ‘Trouble is, once those habits are with you, they’re a bugger to break, aren’t they?’ And Frankie’s had been with her a very long time.
Beth had told her that Tam worked in a care home, and she could see how that would suit him. He had a kind expression, with gentle, enquiring eyes and, for all that she’d only known him ten minutes, it would be easy to tell him her life story – to explain that although she very much wanted to be Frankie, Frances still clung doggedly on. She was a hard habit to break. Frankie had come close to telling Beth all about her former self as well, but Beth had problems of her own; it wouldn’t be fair. And neither would it be fair on Tam.
‘Did you sleep in the end?’ she asked, changing the subject.
A dreamy smile crossed Tam’s face. ‘I’ve not long woken up,’ he said. ‘I know it was only for three hours or so but compared to what it would have been had you not shown up, it feels like the best night’s sleep ever.’
Frankie rolled her eyes. ‘You’re just being kind,’ she said. ‘I bet it was nothing of the sort.’
He grinned. ‘Trust me, I stopped dreaming about eight hours a night quite some time ago.’
‘You’ve been homeless a while then?’
‘A while, yes. Actually, not that long in the grand scheme of things, but long enough. I’m hoping that might change, obviously.’
‘Of course,’ said Frankie. ‘And you have a job, at least.’
‘I do…but not one I have a hope of hanging onto for much longer if my situation doesn’t change. Employers don’t like staff with no fixed abode. It makes them nervous. I’m not saying they’d rather employ Bob the axe murderer, so long as he lives in a nice three-bed semi in Walton Street, but that’s the way it comes across. It’s as if I don’t matter. So, despite the fact that being homeless doesn’t change me as a person, apparently it does.’ Tam held up his hand, smiling. ‘You were going to apologise again, I can tell. There’s no need, it is what it is. And you’ve been kind enough, I shouldn’t burden you with my problems.’
Frankie stared at him. Wasn’t that exactly what she’d just been thinking? ‘I was going to say sorry, but only to empathise , not apologise.’ She returned his smile. ‘My boss told me earlier that she’s selling the business, but I won’t burden you with my tales of woe either.’
‘Ah…touché. I’m sorry to hear about that though.’
Tam shoved his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders. ‘I know you said it was okay to keep hold of the flask for now, but I can go and fetch it if you want it back, I didn’t want to presume…’
‘No, hang onto it. The temperature is set to be well below freezing for the next three days or so,’ Frankie replied. ‘But you’re welcome to bring it by any time for a refill. The hot-water bottle too. I’m here from about eleven?—’
A sudden tap on the window made them both jump. Frankie whirled around to see William’s concerned face peering at her. He motioned towards the door.
‘Everything okay?’ he asked as she opened it. ‘Only…’ His eyes flicked past her to where Tam was standing. ‘I was just passing and saw you had company…I thought it best to check.’
‘Thank you, but I’m fine. Um, this is Tam, he?—’
‘Just popped in to use the facilities,’ supplied Tam. ‘Friendly neighbourhood homeless person,’ he replied, a slight edge to his voice. He was about to add something further when he stopped, a puzzled expression on his face. ‘I think I know you, don’t I? Or I’ve seen you at least…’
William peered closer. ‘The car park?’ He nodded. ‘I’ve seen you there too.’ He stared at Frankie. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.’
‘It was good of you to check on me,’ replied Frankie, her cheeks growing a little hot. ‘William very kindly came to my rescue one night,’ she explained to Tam. ‘I got caught up with some lads who’d had rather too much of everything and thought my sandwiches were fair game.’
‘They’d been to the club where I work,’ added William. ‘So, I helped them on their way. I promised Frankie I’d keep an eye on things and I was worried someone else was…you know, being a pain.’ He smiled awkwardly. ‘Sorry, that was presumptuous of me.’
‘You were probably right,’ replied Tam. ‘And I was just leaving anyway, so…’
Frankie looked from one to the other. ‘I need to get on,’ she said, amusement in her voice. ‘Or I won’t be ready to open up shop, but you’re both very welcome to a cup of tea, I’ve not long boiled the kettle.’
‘I probably shouldn’t,’ said Tam.
‘I was just passing,’ said William.
‘But actually, that would be lovely,’ said Tam and William.
Frankie grinned. ‘Right then, there’s the kettle and the mugs, and the tea bags are in the cupboard. Help yourselves. And milk, no sugar for me.’ She picked up a couple of mixing bowls and made her way back to the storeroom.
‘Where were you headed so early this morning anyway?’ she called to William. ‘Did you fall out of bed or something?’
William seemed to think her comment enormously funny for some reason. ‘Or something,’ he replied with a grin, but then his face sobered. ‘I don’t usually sleep more than a few hours at a time. A habit I’ve got into over the last few years…too noisy where I was before,’ he added in explanation. ‘So this morning I thought I’d go for a walk to clear my head.’ He glanced at Tam. ‘I wanted to check on something, too, but you might be able to save me the bother.’
Tam pointed a finger towards his chest in the classic ‘who me?’ gesture.
William nodded. ‘You wouldn’t have happened to notice if there was a grey van parked up by you last night, would you? And if it’s still there this morning?’
Tam narrowed his eyes. ‘Yeah, I’ve seen it. Why the interest?’
‘It belongs to my boss at the club, that’s all. He’s up to something and I’d like to know what.’
Frankie was taken aback by the sudden expression on William’s face. There was an anger there she hadn’t seen before, even when he’d been dealing with the louts the other week.
‘Not being funny,’ said Tam. ‘But I’d steer well clear if I were you.’
‘I’d like to,’ replied William. ‘But the owner of the van is the assistant manager. I just wanted to check a few facts before taking what I know to Danny – he’s the club’s owner…while also trying to decide whether that’s a good idea or not.’
‘Why?’ asked Tam, taking down some tea from the cupboard. ‘Do you think he might be in on whatever’s going on as well?’
William looked pained. ‘I really hope he isn’t,’ he replied. ‘But if he is, and I blow the whistle…there’s every chance I’ll be out on my ear and I really need this job.’ He stared at the wall over Frankie’s shoulder. ‘Thing is though, what if he doesn’t know and I don’t tell him?’ He stopped suddenly, looking anxiously at Tam.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Tam evenly. ‘I’m pretty sure I know what’s been going on too.’
Frankie looked between the two of them. ‘Would someone like to fill me in?’
‘Drugs,’ replied William, his jaw set.
Frankie’s eyes widened. ‘Well, if it is, then Tam’s right. Don’t get involved.’
‘Don’t worry, I don’t intend to,’ replied William. He took a deep breath. ‘But Danny’s a young man. I may not like the club much, but he’s running a successful business, and although he might not think much of me, he was good enough to give me a job when plenty of others wouldn’t. If he isn’t aware of what his manager is up to then I think I have a duty to tell him, before the repercussions blow a hole in his life.’
Tam added water to each of the mugs and looked around for something to stir it with. ‘So, you’re caught between a rock and a hard place,’ he commented, eyes alighting on a spoon by the sink. ‘I know how that feels. You want to do right, yet if you do, you run every risk of your life going bang. I’m sick of living without a parachute. Or worse, having one which everybody else is trying to sabotage.’
‘That’s exactly it,’ said William, rubbing a hand across his chin. ‘Sometimes it feels as if we’re all living on the edge. One false move and…’ He motioned a plane with his hand, plummeting from the sky.
‘So, who’s trying to sabotage your parachute, Tam?’ asked Frankie as she began to fill the sink with hot water.
‘No one yet,’ replied Tam, raising his eyebrows. He shook his head. ‘I’m being dramatic, but my immediate boss saw me sleeping in my car. My probationary period is coming to an end and, although I trust her not to say anything, if the company finds out, I suspect any future I have with them will be over.’
Frankie snorted. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake.’
‘Sorry,’ said Tam, misreading her expression. ‘You’re trying to work and we’re both being miserable.’ He handed her a mug of tea. ‘This is very kind, but perhaps we should go?’
‘You’ll do nothing of the sort,’ said Frankie, looking between them both. ‘Come and sit down. A few weeks ago, pretty much all I did was sleep and come to work. And that was fine. I rather liked it, actually, or at least I thought I did. But then I met Beth, who is one of the kindest people, and now you two as well. You’re all three terrified of losing your jobs, and I just found out my boss is selling the bakery, so that makes four of us. I’m not sure what’s going to happen about that yet, but for the time being we have this place. At least it’s somewhere warm and safe to take refuge from the problems in our lives, if only for a little while. And who knows, maybe there’s a way we can figure out how to change things?’
Tam looked at William. And William looked at her.
‘I agree,’ he said. It’s ridiculous that Tam could lose his job because he doesn’t have a permanent address. Doesn’t your boss understand you’re never going to get one unless you keep earning? Well, I live in the town, you can use my address.’
‘I can’t do that,’ replied Tam.
‘Who’s going to find out?’ said Frankie, shoving her hands into a pair of washing-up gloves.
William nodded. ‘People do it all the time – they pretend they live somewhere so they can get their kids into the right school, or if they’re a politician they do it to claim a pile of expenses they’re not entitled to. Stuff that. It’s no huge imposition to me. We’ve got to help each other out, no one else is going to.’
‘He has a point,’ said Frankie. ‘A very good point.’
William’s brow wrinkled for a moment. ‘I’d put you up if I could, only my flat’s tiny, and my landlord?—’
Tam held up a hand. ‘Honestly, please, you don’t need to do that. You both have your own lives to live without me tagging along, and it really isn’t necessary. I was able to get my job in the first place because I used a friend’s address as my own. Actually, he’s not a friend – long story – but he’s the reason why I’m in this mess, so I reckon he owes me a favour. I’ll make up some reason for my sleeping in my car – say it was only a temporary thing, and that I’m back at that address now. If anyone checks, he can damn well vouch for me.’
‘But what if your boss sees you again?’ asked Frankie. ‘Is there somewhere else you can park?’
‘I’ll find somewhere,’ replied Tam. ‘No need to worry.’
Frankie thought for a moment. ‘Playing devil’s advocate here, but this friend – not friend – is there no way you can stay with him? I know you might not want to, but what if it was just until your review has passed?’
Tam’s response was immediate, and unequivocal. ‘Absolutely not. It’s out of the question.’
Frankie tipped her head on one side. ‘Okay then, we’ll keep thinking. There’ll be a way to sort things, I know there will. And meanwhile…’ She crossed to a counter on the other side of the room and returned with a cake box which she placed on the table, directing both men to take a seat with a wave of her hands. ‘I wondered if this might help.’ She took the lid off the box.
‘God in heaven,’ muttered William, leaning closer. ‘That smells amazing. What is it?’
‘Toffee apple crumble cake,’ replied Frankie. ‘I thought I might, you know, make something a bit different. What do you think?’
‘To the idea or the cake?’ said Tam. ‘Because my initial thought is that both are wonderful. I would need to confirm that though…’ He eyed the cake with a grin. ‘And I would probably need a very large slice to be absolutely sure.’
Frankie smiled back. ‘I’ll get you a knife.’
‘What do you reckon, Tam,’ said William. ‘Half each? That ought to do it.’
‘Excuse me …’ Frankie stood with her hands on her hips.
‘Sorry, make that a third each,’ said William, catching Frankie’s eye.
‘That’s more like it,’ she said, pulling a knife from a drawer and handing it to Tam. ‘Now, you know that long story?’ she added. ‘Would now be a good time to tell it?’