Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
W arren had grown to love Monday evenings at Booth Farm. As well as the current live-in staff – students Polly, Harry, and the herdsman Greg – they had extra visitors for dinner. Holly, Mitch and their twins, Jaz, her stepson and her brother and sister came over with their friends Val and Len. It was always a large and loud mealtime especially with Trixy running around excitedly. Holly had prepared a stew, which was in the centre of the long dining table with a huge pot of rice. Communal eating was something Warren had enjoyed as a lad. Eating at a table gave a family atmosphere, and reminded him of Nick and Jane. And while he was supposed to share the cooking with the other residents, none of them could manage anything that didn’t involve some sort of prepared mix-in sauce, or freezer food. So he did the cooking himself. Working the land, he needed filling and hearty meals and preferred to prepare the food, leaving the others to clean up after him – which he had to admit was a job he hated. So it was nice to have his meal cooked once a week and Val always brought an amazing traditional dessert with her.
The students and Greg were at one end, Val and Len at the other with the children and he was in the middle with Holly, Mitch and Jaz. Trixy had been taken out and given her own food in the farm side of the house.
“How’s the renovation of the annexe going?” Holly asked Jaz as she dished out the portions of food to be passed around the table.
“If all the tradesmen show up when they’re meant to, Mum and Dad will be moving in there in a few months or so.”
“How do you feel about them being there?” Mitch asked her.
“It’s totally separate accommodation and me and Ju aren’t there that much. It’ll be better as they can keep an eye on the kids. And it’s so great to be out of the pub.”
“I miss it,” Belle, Jaz’s teenage sister grumbled. “I liked it there.”
“Yes, we know, you did,” Jaz said. “But we’ll all be in one place so you’ll have one bedroom and won’t have to go back and forth to the estate.”
Warren smiled at the teenager. “How’s the new house?”
“It’s amazing, it’s a massive cottage,” Mikey, Belle’s brother and the younger of the two boys said. Both siblings had dark hair and eyes just like Jaz. Mikey continued, “We’ve got a garden. A big garden with a tree and Julian says in the summer there’ll be cherries on it. Lots of cherries. I love cherries.”
“Mikey, the cherries you like come out of a jar, my love. They’re glacier,” Val said with a laugh as she was passed a plate of food. “It’s my fault, I’ve always got some at home.”
“And we’ve got our own rooms,” Noah said. “Me and Mikey had to share at the pub.”
“You’ve got your own room at your mum’s big fancy house,” Belle said to Noah.
“Mum says you and Mikey can come with me any time you like. But you never want to.”
Belle huffed and looked at her phone.
“Get off your phone,” Jaz said.
Belle flashed it at Jaz. “I’m revising French on an app! Remember GCSEs?”
“Seems they do everything on their phones these days,” Len said before returning to the previous conversation. “I think it’s great you’ll all be together and still close to us. We’re only in the next road.”
“And I love popping over to see you without having to go through the pub,” Val added. “And then up them stairs. I don’t want to get me other hip done.”
“And we can keep an eye on you,” Len said. “With us being just around the corner.”
Jaz laughed. “It’s us keeping an eye on you two, you mean.”
Good-natured Val and Len were in their eighties and both appeared to Warren to be in good health.
“Are you coming to our housewarming, Warren?” Noah asked him.
“If I’m invited,” he said with a smile.
“Of course you’re invited, as are you three.” Jaz nodded at Millie, Harry and Greg. “It’s more of a family thing than a rowdy party. No need to bring anything, we’ve plenty of booze and we’re doing snacks.”
“Thanks,” the three said in unison.
“When is it?” Warren asked. He removed his hoodie and put it on the back of his chair.
“This Saturday,” Jaz said.
“Oh, I can’t,” Warren said. “My er… parents are coming. I don’t see them much so I’m cooking them a meal here and we’re catching up.”
Holly smiled at him from across the table. He got the impression she wanted him to share something of his background, but he didn’t feel comfortable enough. He was saved by Belle.
“Cool tats,” the teenager said, pointing at his arm. “I like the one with the snake. I want one just like that down my back.”
Warren noticed Jaz shake her head at Belle, so he focussed on his casserole which was delicious and had soft carrots and meat in a deep tasty gravy. On the side, as well as the rice, was steamed broccoli. As he ate, Warren listened to the students chatting about their home life. Mitch and Holly took it in turns to encourage the girls to eat their vegetables. He relaxed and enjoyed his food. After he took the last mouthful, he sat back feeling satisfied and homely. He felt his phone vibrate and he pulled it out of his pocket and looked at it. Scottie calling. He’d added the number to his contacts after receiving the previous call, although he was yet to call him back. He waited for it to stop – as he had no intention of answering him until he was ready to speak to him and had decided how he was going to deal with the man – then placed the phone on the table.
Following the main meal, Holly brought out the dessert that Val had prepared, an apple crumble and custard which was sweet, tangy and very satisfying.
“Are we playing a game?” Mikey asked Val and Len after they had finished.
“Of course we are,” Len said. “It’s your turn to choose.”
Mikey moved from his seat. “I’ll get it.” He went to the cupboard. The older couple always played a game with the boys and the twins. They started what turned into a noisy session of Snakes and Ladders. Belle sat tapping at her phone while Jaz and Holly chatted as the students and Mitch cleaned up. Greg had to leave and check on the cows.
“Will you put that down and engage in conversation,” Jaz said to Belle. “Or make yourself useful.”
Belle put her phone on the table.
“I don’t know what’s got into you these past few weeks. What’s wrong?”
Belle sighed. “Nothing’s wrong. I keep telling you. Stop with the beef all the time. I’m in the middle of my exams, I have a life, you know.”
Warren studied Belle’s face. He’d spent a lot of time with troubled kids. He’d been one himself. This one wasn’t the same, she didn’t have a broken sadness behind her eyes, but he could tell something was definitely bothering her. She glanced at her phone on the table.
Warren’s phone began to vibrate.
“Right, that’s it, I’m confiscating it.” Jaz reached forward for Belle’s phone.
Belle got there first and lifted it up. “It’s not mine. I don’t do calls!” She shook her head as if receiving an actual call was completely outdated.
“Oh, sorry,” Warren said looking at his phone screen as it buzzed on the table. Scottie calling. He couldn’t ignore it this time. He grabbed the phone from the table. “I’ll take it outside.”
“Hello,” he said as he walked down the passageway.
“Warren, man, glad you answered. I’m right in it.” Scottie sounded hoarse down the phone, as if he had flu.
“You’re out then?” Warren asked as he crossed the threshold across to the working side of the house.
“Yeah, I miss you bro. Wanted to know when you’re back in Bristol so we can hook up.”
Warren knew that Scottie only really called him when he wanted money. “Where are you staying?”
“They put me in a half-way house but I can’t stand it. Having a house manager is like being back in care.”
Warren thought that Scottie needed that level of support and rules, even if he didn’t appreciate it.
“I want out of this place.”
The last time Warren had travelled over to Bristol to see Scottie, it involved a loan that he knew would never be repaid. “I’m planting a field out at the moment, it’s difficult to get away.”
“I could try and get money for the bus and come stay with you.”
“No,” Warren said quickly. “There’s no space here and I’ll be working the whole time. There’s nothing here except grass, crops and cows.” He didn’t want to have to bail Scottie out again. It was only six months since the last time, just before he went inside. And yes he did have a few thousand in the bank saved from jobs he’d done, but he would have nothing left if he was giving Scottie continual handouts. He heard Nick’s voice in his head: Scottie’s bad news. He’ll never change. Just because you lived in the same house for two years doesn’t make him your brother. He’d told him that so many times. Darius also warned him to stay away from Scottie.
“As I said, I’m in the middle of a project and can’t be with you in minutes.” Warren looked to his left to see Jaz come out of the house. He lowered his voice. “I’ll call you next week.” He ended the call before Scottie could protest. He knew if he’d continued the conversation, Scottie would only have asked for a handout. He powered off his phone and put it in his back pocket.
“Is it an emergency?” Jaz asked. “You look concerned.”
“No. Just a guy I used to know trying to tap me for some money. He thinks because I went to uni I'm rich." He laughed. "Little does he know I'm still a student, all these years on.”
“Hardly just a student, you’re managing a huge project which will run for years.”
“True, I hope it outlasts me.”
“Holly was just telling me you’re applying for lottery funding.” She paused. “Actually, I came out to make sure I didn’t scare you off about your phone ringing. Holly’s convinced you left the room to get away from me.”
Warren laughed. “It takes a lot to scare me.” He smiled at her. “The kids are great. They’re proper well behaved.”
“Belle’s a worry. She’s keeping something from me.”
“She did look worried about something. Has she fallen out with a friend?”
“I’ve no idea, she won’t speak to me. It upsets me as I understand her not telling Mum, but I’m her sister.”
“I’d have a word with her, but I don’t think she’ll confide in me. We haven’t chatted much.”
Jaz sighed. “Belle would be more likely to speak to you, she thinks you’re great with your tats.”
Warren ran a hand over his arm. “Sorry, they don’t really fit in here. Don’t you approve of tattoos?”
Jaz laughed. “I think you’ve got me wrong. I’ve my own tattoo.”
“Oh yeah?” Warren just stopped himself from asking where it was.
As if she knew, she touched the back of her head. “Under this neat dark bob is a purple fire-spitting dragon!”
“No way.”
“Yes. It’s a reminder to me of where I came from. Now you might think everyone around here is posh, but they aren’t and you’ll find that out on Friday night at The Eversley Arms! I hear you’re taking Mitch’s place on the darts team.”
“Yes, I need to get out.”
“You won’t have to do much for that to be a good decision. Last time he played he only hit the board a few times, let alone a double. So, tell me, can you play?”
“I used to play in the pub leagues and then Nick, my adopted dad, wanted me to enter the main circuit but Jane, that’s my adopted mum, she convinced me to go to uni instead.”
“She’s a wise woman but that’s great news for The Eversley Arms team.”
“Don’t tell anyone though, will you?” he put his hand to his chest. “Keep it as our secret as I don’t want to raise any expectations. I might’ve lost my touch – it’s been a while.”
Jaz gave a nervous laugh. “Yes, our little secret.” Then she pulled her phone out of her pocket and frowned at the screen. “No way!”
“Bad news?”
“A friend of mine is in need, no one’s died but I need to get off.”
Warren grinned as he followed Jaz back inside. She made him feel a lot more comfortable and he was beginning to feel that he was fitting in.