Chapter 8 #3
‘No,’ he said, ‘they didn’t need anyone.
Not in the beginning anyway. We became good friends and they offered me a place to stay, no strings attached.
However, as I got better, I began to feel uncomfortable about not contributing, so I started doing things around the house and grounds, just odd jobs really and that led to taking some other things on and the role just kind of grew from there. ’
‘And you’re enjoying it?’
‘I’m absolutely loving it!’ he declared.
‘It couldn’t be any further removed from what I did before, but it’s just what I need.
I’d love to stay for good, but I don’t think that will pan out.
But,’ he briskly added, ‘it’s what I need for now and if I’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s to live in the present and not get bogged down looking too far into the future. ’
‘That’s hard though, isn’t it?’ I frowned, thinking of my own situation.
Obviously, it was nothing like what Erik had found himself facing, but it was impacting on me, nonetheless.
‘Are you worried about the future, Skylar?’ Erik asked. ‘Do you not see yourself living long-term in Nightingale Square?’
I mulled that over and let out a breath.
‘Obviously you don’t have to tell me anything,’ Erik said hastily. ‘But a problem shared and all that and, despite my disastrous first impression, I’m a good guy really and the soul of discretion.’
I looked over at him, wondering how we’d got so badly off on the wrong foot when actually he was so lovely.
I guess I’d just caught him on a bad day and given that Kate had previously said that someone was nagging her and Luke to change the security codes, it was obviously down to Erik to make sure no one uninvited was on the premises…
‘I’m not sure,’ I began thoughtfully. ‘But the future is on my mind. As you probably know, I’ve moved here with my father.’
‘The famous crime author.’
‘He’s not that famous,’ I smiled.
‘Don’t let Lisa hear you say that.’
‘But what you won’t know is that we’ve never lived together before. We haven’t previously spent any longer than a couple of weeks together over the summer every year.’
‘And how’s it working out?’
‘Really well, so far. Thank goodness, but the circumstances which led to the move weren’t great.’
‘Go on.’
‘Well, Rafe invited me to move in with him when my former work as an events manager came to an end. I’d previously lived on-site in a historic hall in the Yorkshire Dales, but the hall was sold and I lost my home and my job.’
‘I see,’ Erik sighed and puffed out his cheeks. ‘So, just like me, you had choice taken away from you.’
‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘Just like you. I never would have chosen to leave.’
‘How long had you been doing the job and living there?’
‘A decade,’ I sighed. ‘And it was amazing. Though I’ve realised now that I was a bit of a workaholic. Rafe had already sussed that and insisted that rather than look for another job straightaway, I should move in with him and take a break.’
‘What a great dad,’ Erik smiled. ‘He knew exactly what you needed.’
‘He did,’ I nodded. ‘He does.’
‘So, is there an end date to this break?’
‘No, I think Rafe’s hoping that I’ll find something local and settle here permanently.’
‘But you don’t want to?’ Erik frowned.
‘To be honest, I don’t know what I want.’
‘Well, given that you’ve only been here a week and a half that’s hardly surprising.’
‘I suppose not,’ I said and bit my lip. When it came down to how many days had passed, I don’t suppose I had been particularly patient with myself. ‘Though even if I did want to stay, I’m not sure I could find a role similar to what I had before around here…’
‘Maybe it’s time for you to do something different, too?’ Erik suggested. ‘It’s certainly working for me.’
‘But I love my job,’ I sighed. ‘And I also loved being a part of the family and living on-site.’
I didn’t add that I’d had an unsettled upbringing and that the years with Madeline and Tobias were the closest I’d ever experienced to regular family life.
‘Intense though,’ Erik cleverly pointed out. ‘You’ve already conceded that you were a bit of a workaholic, and I can’t imagine you had much opportunity to switch off when you were literally living on the job.’
‘That’s true,’ I agreed with a frown.
‘Look,’ Erik said and I stared deeply into his eyes. ‘You haven’t got to figure it all out today, have you?’
‘No,’ I said and relaxed my shoulders which had stealthily inched up to almost around my ears. ‘There’s no pressure on me to do anything right now.’
‘In that case,’ he announced, ‘I think you need a distraction to stop you fretting. Something to take your mind off all the things you don’t need to be thinking about while giving you a sense of purpose. I’m guessing you’re feeling as untethered as I was when I retired from rugby.’
I wouldn’t have gone that far, but he was on the right track and I smiled.
‘You sound like my grandad,’ I told him. ‘He said exactly the same thing earlier in the week about me needing something to do.’
‘Great minds. And I know just the thing. You can start helping in the Grow-Well. Graham could really do with a hand now autumn’s landed.’
‘I’d already thought about that, but I’m no gardener and I—’
‘That’s no problem,’ Erik shrugged. ‘The Grow-Well isn’t really a garden, is it?’