8
‘Wow, do you live down here?’ Adam asks, looking at the row of higgledy-piggledy whitewashed houses that make up one side of the narrow lane where my home is.
On the other side, black railings separate the houses from the church of Little St Mary’s and a churchyard full of trees and gravestones.
On this March evening, the row of buildings is lit only by the old-fashioned wrought-iron lamps that hang outside each house.
‘I do.’
‘You really are living in a fairy tale, aren’t you? What with Clockmaker Court and now this fab little house.’
We’ve stopped outside one of the terraced houses. ‘Hardly,’ I say, pulling my keys from my bag and unlocking my navy-blue front door. ‘But I’m lucky to have a house like this in the centre of Cambridge.’
‘Wow,’ Adam says, again looking up as we step inside onto the Victorian black-and-white floor tiles and he sees the long, tall, winding staircase, with its black iron banister, running up through the house.
‘I thought it was just a tiny cottage from the outside. But this looks massive. How many floors?’
‘Three. The main living area is up on the first floor.’ I flick on some lights. ‘It also has a little roof terrace up there too. This floor has a couple of smaller bedrooms and the main bathroom, and at the very top is the main bedroom.’
‘It’s amazing,’ Adam says, his head almost swivelling 360 degrees as he follows me up the stairs to the next floor.
‘Who would have thought all this would be hidden inside an adorable little terraced cottage? It’s an incredible place and I love what you’ve done with it.
It’s modern and chic, and I can see you’ve got some of your favourite antiques dotted about the place too, which makes it feel warm and inviting. It’s very you.’
I’m surprised to hear this rather lovely compliment from Adam. And I’m pleased my face is turned away from him as we climb the stairs, so he doesn’t see my delighted expression.
‘Thanks,’ I say quickly. ‘I’m glad you like it.’
We arrive at the first floor of the house with its open-plan living area.
There’s a cream shaker-style kitchen at one end, leading to a small outdoor terrace with views over the city’s rooftops.
On the other side of the kitchen island is the lounge area, where I have a long, green leather chesterfield-style sofa I bought at auction, an armchair in a similar style but in a deep burgundy-red velvet, a wooden coffee table, and some antique Tiffany-style glass lamps.
‘And this was your grandparents’ place?’ Adam asks. ‘I bet they were some pretty cool dudes.’
‘They were pretty cool, yes. But this house didn’t look like this when I inherited it; it was a bit more old-fashioned back then. I’ve done a fair bit of work on it since.’
‘I can tell. A place like this would cost a crazy amount to rent in London. May I take a look outside?’
‘Sure,’ I say, unlocking the door to the terrace. I don’t know why but I’m secretly really pleased to have Adam’s approval.
‘Nice,’ he says, stepping outside and looking around. ‘Is there another outdoor space above too?’
‘Yes, the main bedroom has a little balcony too.’
‘I think I’d better get into the antiques business,’ Adam says, smiling. ‘I’d love a place like this.’
‘Antiques is the wrong game for you if you want to make a lot of money, I’m afraid,’ I say lightly. ‘We do it for love, not money.’
‘You really get a sense of satisfaction from it, don’t you?’
‘Yes, I do. Don’t you get satisfaction from your job, then?’
‘I used to – not so much now, though. I’ve been trying to figure out for a while what I want to do instead, but nothing has come to mind as yet. So I just keep doing what I do.’
‘When you sell the house you’ll have some extra money, surely? Perhaps you could do something new with that?’ I say.
‘There’s the house and what you give me for the clearance. There’s some money in a couple of bank accounts too. Not a lot, but it all adds up, I suppose.’
‘There you go, then.’ I shiver a little in the cool night air. ‘Shall we go back inside? It’s pretty chilly out here tonight.’
Adam follows me back inside and I close the door behind him.
‘Would you like to get your shower first, or shall I?’ I ask a little awkwardly. ‘There’s two bathrooms here – the one downstairs and an en-suite upstairs. But the hot water doesn’t always do too well if you try to use both showers at once. It’s an old building.’
‘You go first,’ Adam says, putting his bag down on one of the kitchen stools. ‘It’s your house; I’m just an interloper. I wouldn’t want to use all your hot water. I know what old buildings can be like – I’ve lived in a few in my time.’
‘You’re a guest,’ I say, correcting him. ‘But if you’re sure?’
Adam looks pleased at my choice of word. ‘Yeah, you go for it. I’ll just chill here for a bit.’
‘All right, then … Well, help yourself to anything you fancy. There’s tea and coffee over there by the kettle, and cold drinks in the fridge.’
‘Will do!’ Adam wanders over to take a look in the fridge.
‘See you in a bit, then.’ I leave him looking inside my fridge and continue up to the second floor of the house where my bedroom and en-suite bathroom are.
As I remove all my dusty, dirty clothes and pull on my robe, I think about the situation I now find myself in.
I met Adam just two days ago and now he’s downstairs helping himself to the contents of my refrigerator while I’m about to have a shower up here.
I really should be a little more wary about inviting strangers into my home.
Usually, I would be much more careful. But I trust Adam.
I don’t know whether it’s because our great-grandparents clearly knew each other, or whether it’s because we’ve spent much of the last thirty hours together?
But I feel comfortable in his presence, and even though he irritates me at times, he is also very relaxed and fun to be around, and it’s been a long while since I’ve found someone’s company this easy.
Still pondering these thoughts, I have a quick shower, put on some clean, comfortable clothes – a sweatshirt and leggings – then head back downstairs.
Adam is standing in the sitting room with a glass of water in his hand, looking at my bookcase.
‘All done,’ I tell him. ‘There are some clean towels in the bathroom downstairs for you when you’re ready.’
‘Thanks,’ he says, turning towards me. ‘I was just admiring some of your books. They’re first editions, aren’t they?’
‘Some of them are, yes. I used to buy them from the shop next door until it closed down. Gerald was very good at putting things he thought I might like aside for me.’
‘Is anything else opening in its place, do you know?’
‘I doubt it. When shops close down in Clockmaker Court, they rarely open up again. The building is usually sold and then rented out as offices or sometimes flats.’
Adam nods. ‘Right, I’ll go get my shower then, shall I? Any thoughts about food?’
‘Do you like Indian?’ I ask hopefully. ‘There’s a really good one not far from here.’
‘Love it!’ Adam says, picking up his bag and heading for the stairs.
‘Great, I’ll find us a menu.’
After Adam has showered, and we’ve ordered and then eaten our food, we sit in the lounge together – me curled up in the armchair and Adam on the sofa.
I’m currently in that contented sort of daze you get when you’re full from a really good meal, tired from a long day, but incredibly comfortable. I let out a long yawn.
‘Sorry,’ I tell Adam as I stretch my arms out. ‘I can hardly keep my eyes open now we’ve eaten.’
‘I know the feeling,’ Adam says, blinking hard. ‘That was really good food. I’m impressed.’
‘Glad you liked it.’
‘Do you have the number of a local taxi firm?’ Adam asks. ‘Or shall I call an Uber?’
I look at him sprawled out on my sofa and I know I’m going to regret in the morning what I’m about to say next. But we’ve had a couple of beers that Adam found in my cupboard and stuck in the fridge while I was showering, so the alcohol has only added to my hazy, comfortable feeling.
‘Why don’t you just stay?’ I say, looking at the discarded boxes and empty beer bottles on the coffee table in front of me. ‘We’ve already agreed on an early start tomorrow morning. It seems pointless you going back to the house tonight when I can just take you in the van in the morning.’
Adam looks surprised.
‘One of the spare rooms is already made up,’ I add, in case he’s got the wrong idea. ‘It’s no trouble.’
‘If you’re sure? Then, yes, that would be great. I’m glad I packed my toothbrush now.’
‘You packed a toothbrush?’ I ask, about to kick off about him being incredibly presumptuous.
‘Yes, I threw it in my bag with my change of clothes so I could freshen up. I didn’t expect to be staying overnight or anything.’
I narrow my eyes at him.
‘Honestly!’ He holds his hands up. ‘I know exactly what this looks like now you’ve invited me.
But truly, I didn’t expect to be staying.
I’ll admit I hoped we might go somewhere after we’d moved all the boxes and stuff, and I knew I’d want to freshen up before going out.
No one likes the smell of sweaty armpits over dinner, now do they? ’
‘That is true,’ I say, trying not to smile.
‘But, please believe me, the toothbrush was just part of that. Otherwise this just makes me look like some sort of sleaze who made assumptions about what might happen and packed his toothbrush just in case he got lucky. And I know you don’t think much of me.
But I’d be mortified if you thought that. ’
Adam looks genuinely worried as he awaits my answer.
‘What make you assume I don’t think much of you?’ I ask.
‘I just get that feeling from you. Am I wrong, then?’
I think carefully before answering. ‘I can’t deny I do find you a little annoying at times. Actually, not annoying … irritating might be a better word.’
‘What’s new?’ Adam shrugs. ‘Most people do.’
‘But that doesn’t mean I don’t think much of you – quite the opposite, in fact.’
Adam looks genuinely surprised. ‘ Really? Or are you just saying that to be nice?’
‘I never say something just to be nice, ’ I say. ‘If you’ve got the impression I don’t like you, it’s probably because I have trouble letting people get close to me. Luca is always telling me I need to drop my guard and let people in more.’
‘Why don’t you like people getting close to you – have you been hurt in the past?’
My hazy state suddenly sharpens. I nearly relaxed a bit too much there …
‘Honestly, Adam, I don’t dislike you.’ I stand up, and begin to collect the packets and plates from the table. ‘You seem like a really nice guy,’ I add quietly, not looking at him. ‘You know, underneath all the bravado and silly jokes.’
I glance at Adam now and I’m pleased to see he’s smiling.
‘Eve, you don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that.’
‘Really?’ I ask – albeit a tad quietly. I’m about to continue, but Adam hasn’t heard me.
‘Then you won’t have any objections if I investigate the possibility of renting the shop next door to yours in the future?’ he asks brightly.
I nearly drop the plates on the floor; I certainly hadn’t expected to him to say that.
‘Whoa, steady,’ Adam says, jumping up to take them from me. ‘It’s not that much of a shock, is it?’
‘Why would you possibly want to rent the shop next door to mine?’
‘Because – like I told you earlier – I need a new challenge in life and owning a little shop in Clockmaker Court seems like a fun idea.’
‘I can assure you owning a shop is not fun. There’s a lot of hard work involved and often very little profit. And … what would you sell?’ I’m still trying to process the thought of Adam in Gerald’s old shop. I just can’t imagine him in Clockmaker Court.
‘Books,’ Adam answers without missing a beat. ‘Like the last owner. I already have a whole library at Past Times House to get me started and I couldn’t help noticing when we were in Clockmaker Court today that the shop has been left with all its fixtures and fittings.’
‘But … what do you know about books?’
‘I know enough to get me started. I’ve been wanting a new challenge for some time, but it wasn’t until I came here to your house tonight and looked at your bookshelves over there that I knew what I wanted that challenge to be.’